Exhibitions

Now on Display
The Madison Room
Hall of Transportation and Agriculture
Special Exhibits

The Sporting Life

During earlier times, hunting, fishing, and trapping were necessities of life and means of survival for both the indigenous peoples and the settlers who came to this new world. Over the years, agriculture was established, providing food and other products used in daily life. Individuals were no longer dependent on their prowess in securing food and other necessities from the wild. Hunting, fishing, and (to some extent) trapping evolved into recreational activities enjoyed by many.

This exhibit includes items from both the past and present times. There are arrowheads and early handmade fishing and trapping implements. There are samples of the guns used for various types of hunting. They range in time from the early 19th century percussion cap musket to the much more recent Sears and Roebuck Shotgun. The importance of the hunting dog is illustrated in the various prints and paintings as well as the books on dog training. Varieties of fishing equipment include a collection of beautifully hand-tied flies. And a part of the taxidermy collection of John Johnson gives a wonderful feeling of the wild in which all these activities occur. Objects on display are from the Museum collection and from local collections. The exhibit continues until July 1, 2007.

The Madison Room features the personal belongings of James and Dolley Madison, including furniture, correspondence, clothing, books, and other period artifacts. The focal point of the exhibit is Madison’s favorite chair—a Campeche chair given to him by his good friend, President Thomas Jefferson.
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To honor Madison the farmer, the museum’s Hall of Transportation & Agriculture displays an impressive collection of antique farm tools. And, to provide a record of local culture, the hall displays a partially reconstructed 1733 “cube” house and examples of evolving modes of transportation including an original 1924 Model T Ford and a rare 1922 Velie.

The Hall's main exhibit is titled: Planting a Legacy. Farming in Orange County. The goal of the exhibit is to present the local impact James Madison had on farming communities while providing objective views of the culture for you to explore. |Back to top|

The museum also presents special exhibits changing quarterly, with an emphasis on Madison’s Orange County (which once stretched to the Mississippi and included seven states). Focus of Exhibits include: area history, popular culture, and historical collections. Pictured: Musical instruments from the exhibit "People of the Blue Ridge". |Back to top|