Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 14, 1994                   TAG: 9408160012
SECTION: DISCOVER                    PAGE: 103   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FROM TRAINS TO TOUCH TANKS, MUSEUMS COVER WIDE RANGE

ART MUSEUM OF WESTERN VIRGINIA: Exhibit of 19th- and 20th-century paintings, sculpture, graphic art and Appalachian folk art. Open Sunday 1-5 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., also Friday 6-9 p.m. in conjunction with First Fridays. Free admission. Suggested donation: $2, adults; $1.50, students and senior citizens; 50 cents children. Galleries on first and second floors of Center in the Square. 342-5760.

BEDFORD CITY/-COUNTY MUSEUM: Admission, $1 adults, 50 cents students. Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 201 E. Main St. (703) 586-4520.

BLUE RIDGE INSTITUTE & FARM MUSEUM: Ferrum. Free institute exhibits daily year round. Farm museum open through Aug. 14 on Ferrum College campus. Admission: $3, adults; $2 for children and senior citizens. The office building with two exhibits is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; on Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and during June through August on Sunday, 1-4 p.m. The farm museum is open on weekdays during April through October by special appointment; and during June through August on Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and on Sunday, 1-4 p.m. The farm museum is closed during winter. (703) 365-4416.

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-MENT: Franklin County. Includes visitors' center and park grounds. Open daily from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days. 12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy (703) 721-2094.

BOTETOURT COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM: Fincastle. Open Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Other times by appointment. Courthouse Square. (703) 992-8394.

CATHOLIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE ROANOKE VALLEY: Guided tour and displays of artifacts, information and photographs of local church history. Open Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Parish Center (former convent) at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 624 N. Jefferson St. 774-5304.

HARRISON MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE: Museum researches, preserves and interprets the achievements of African-Americans relative to Southwestern Virginia. Free admission. Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Located at 523 Harrison Ave. N.W., 24016. 345-4818.

HISTORIC AVENEL: Stately mansion built for William M. and Frances Steptoe Burwell circa 1838. Open for tours on the third Sunday of each month from 2-5 p.m. Group tours by appointment. Admission: $3, adults and $1.50, students. 413 Avenel Ave., Bedford. 586-1814.

ROANOKE VALLEY HISTORY MUSEUM: Museum and library collect and preserve Roanoke-area history. Permanent volunteer rescue squad exhibit, ``To the Rescue.'' Admission: $2, adults; $1, senior citizens and children; under 5, free. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Third floor, Center in the Square. 342-5770.

SALEM MUSEUM: 801 E. Main St., Salem. Exhibits on history of Salem and the Roanoke Valley as well as ``Remembering World War II,'' ``Salem and the War Between the States,'' ``Lake Spring Hotel,'' ``A Brown House Parlor'' and ``A. H. Plecker: 19th Century Photographer''. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Operated by Salem Historical Society. 389-6760.

SCIENCE MUSEUM OF WESTERN VIRGINIA: Chesapeake Bay touch tank with live marine animals, Learning Theatre, energy area, bubble room, health exhibit, weather station and other traveling exhibits are open. Museum hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. On Free Fridays, (second Friday of each month), free admission to exhibit floor only, 3:30-8 p.m. Admission: $4 adults, $2.50 senior citizens and children 3 to 12, free admission to children under 3; planetarium movies exclusively are $2.25, free admission to members. Call for planetarium hours. Fourth floor, Center in the Square. 343-7876.

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION: Largest collection of railroad artifacts in the Southeastern United States. Admission is $4 for adults; $2 for students, ages 13-18; $1.75 for children 3-12; under 3, free; and $3 for senior citizens. Senior citizens can save 20 percent on Wednesdays. Group rates available. Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed on Mondays during January and February. 303 Norfolk Ave. 342-5670.