Under-the-Radar Finds in the EPIC 100 Bucket List

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Camera Heritage Museum

Many of the places and spaces on the Shenandoah Valley EPIC 100 Bucket List are not a surprise; they’ve garnered attention for years. Some, however, have been flying under the radar. You might even say they’re hiding in plain sight. We say: NO MORE. We’ve chosen five that deserve a place on your getaway itinerary. They’re niche but authoritative and/or highly contributive. Check ’em out.

Camera Heritage Museum | Staunton

More than 7,000 cameras and accessories are cataloged at the Camera Heritage Museum in Staunton, Virginia. That volume makes it the largest public camera museum in the United States (maybe the world?), and it continues to grow. A non-profit, the museum relies on donations and aspires to obtain a larger space to be able to display more of the collection.

Of Interest:

  • More than 200 Daguerreotypes
  • A Konica Aerial GSK-99 used to capture the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
  • Tintype cameras
  • Spy cameras
  • 1868 is the oldest camera in the collection

James Madison University Mineral Museum | Harrisonburg

Raise your hand if you had a rock collection as a kid. Keep it raised if you still have a rock collection. JMU Mineral Museum is the place you’ve been waiting for with minerals from at least 39 countries and 24 states, including a generous (and gorgeous!) donation valued at nearly $17 million!

Among their collection are beautiful examples of Cavansite from India, Malachite from Zaire, Calcite-Cobaltian from Republic of Congo, Elbaite-Tormaline from Afghanistan, Red Beryl from Utah, a magnificent sculpture-like Gold and Quartz dubbed “Gold Moose” from California, and a Game of Thrones-esque Stibnite from China.

Route 11 Potato Chips | Mt. Jackson

The process of making potato chips is on display in the Shenandoah Valley at Route 11 Potato Chips in Mt. Jackson. Carefully kettle cooked in small batches that yield only about 20 pounds of chips at a time, the folks of Route 11 are far more focused on quality than quantity. And you can taste it. They use 100% expeller-pressed oleic sunflower oil to create their zero cholesterol, super crispy chips.

Fun Facts:

  • Started in 1992
  • Gluten- and wheat-free
  • Vast majority of potatoes are locally sourced
  • Hand mixed for gentle seasoning prior to bagging
  • Product circle of life benefits local farmers

Virginia Quilt Museum | Dayton

The Virginia Quilt Museum in Dayton dedicated to preserving quilts based on their historical, technical, or aesthetic significance. The permanent collection of more than 300 quilts is a treasure trove yo-yo’s, stars, Sunbonnet Sue’s, nine-patches, log cabins, Grandmother’s Flowers, Stars of Bethlehem, and more. If your grandma was a quilter, this is a sentimental visit to the past.

In addition to the vast number of quilts, the museum also has a sewing machine collection that visually recounts the history of the machine itself as well as those with historical significance in Virginia.

Want to see your quilt on display at the Virginia Quilt Museum? Don’t worry; you don’t have to donate it to get on the wall. The museum offers themed Mini Quilt Challenges with participants’ entries displayed at the museum. For 2025 the themes are At the Zoo and Harvest Time. Learn more about these challenges and other events at VAQuiltMuseum.org/Events.

Barns of Rose Hill | Berryville

Two 1900s dairy barns comprise Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville, a non-profit cultural center hosting performing arts, workshops, live music, and much more. The history of the barns and former expansive estate are just as intriguing as the current use and offerings.

Currently displayed at Barns of Rose Hill are handcrafted works of wood, be they furniture, sculptures, or instruments. Consider the transformation from a raw material to something intricate and exquisite. Those functional pieces, part of World of Wood, can be appreciated with a visit before March 1. Speaking of instruments, Barns of Rose Hill hosts four concerts series, each highlighting a different genre of music: Bluegrass and BBQ, Classical Music, Celtic Music, and Jazz & Blues. Click the link to see the schedule for all four.

It’s easy to learn or experience something new at Barns of Rose Hill. Workshops – both paid and free – run the gamut from instructor-led yoga to freeform acoustic jam sessions. Glean new perspectives or historical tidbits when you attend a speaker event like the upcoming “A Story in Threads: The Clothing of Enslaved Women in the Antebellum South” on February 23 at 2 p.m.


Which of these amazing sites will you add to your own Shenandoah Valley bucket list? Show off your stops by tagging us on Instagram or Facebook.

Epic 100 Bucket List

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