Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is a museum complex located in Winchester, Virginia, that opened in 2005. The institution comprises the museum building designed by architect Michael Graves, the historic Glen Burnie House, and a surrounding landscape of formal gardens. The museum focuses on the art, history, and material culture of the Shenandoah Valley and its surrounding region.

WWW shenandoahmuseum.org

House

The Glen Burnie House originated on land settled in the early 18th century by surveyor James Wood, who later donated portions of his property for the establishment of Winchester, Virginia, in 1744. His son, Robert Wood, constructed the central portion of the house in the 1790s. Ownership of the property remained within the Wood and Glass families for several generations until it was acquired by Julian Wood Glass Jr. in 1955.
Beginning in 1959, Glass, with the assistance of his partner R. Lee Taylor, developed the property as a private country estate and designed what became known as the Glen Burnie Gardens. Prior to his death in 1992, Glass established the Glass-Glen Burnie Foundation and directed that the property be preserved and opened to the public as a museum. The Glen Burnie House and Gardens opened to visitors in 1998.
Today, interpretive panels tell the story of those who lived in the house from 1796 to 1992, and exhibitions are presented annually in the drawing room.
The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Gardens

The Glen Burnie Gardens were developed beginning in 1956 and expanded throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Designed for formal use, the gardens include sculptures, fountains, and ornamental structures. Identified areas include the Rose Garden, Statue Garden, Vegetable Garden, Asian Garden, and Perennial Garden. The Water Garden includes a pond stocked with golden trout. Each fall, the Gardens host an event called "Garden Lights," which allows visitors to take a self-guided walking tour of seasonal light displays.

Museum

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley was designed by architect Michael Graves and opened to the public in 2005. In December 2024, Scott Stroh was named Executive Director and CEO of the museum. The museum includes four main galleries: the Shenandoah Valley Gallery, Founders Gallery, R. Lee Taylor Miniatures Gallery, and a Changing Exhibitions Gallery.