National Genealogy Day

One of the most unrecognized and forgotten dates on our calendar is National Genealogy Day. This unique day occurs every year on the second Saturday of March, but a lot of people are unaware of its existence. For decades people have been interested in discovering the untold roots of their past.  Genealogy is a way to do just that. This study is truly fascinating and requires time and dedication, but is well worth the process. It’s like solving a mystery of yourself with clues and leads to your past.  The study of genealogy digs deeper into family history and explores into the lives of ancestors. It helps determine who our ancestors were, when they were born, who their children were, and who they married so we can gain the proper knowledge about where we stand in our family line.

Think about how amazing it would be to trace your ancestors from decades ago and discover exactly where you came from. Finding the unknown pieces to your puzzle will help better educate yourself and future family on your family’s heritage. When you stumble upon a need to trace your family history or become curious about the depth of your family line, look no further than the Bassett Historical Center located at 3964 Fairystone Park Highway in Bassett, Virginia. Here you will find all of the tools and resources needed to begin your family research. With an educated staff, 10,000 family files, and over 16,000 genealogy books you’re sure to leave with a better understanding of your family history. They also have all records for Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Franklin, and Floyd Counties in Virginia and Rockingham, Stokes and Surry Counties in North Carolina, as well as computers programmed with Family Tree Maker, Family Origins and Ancestry.com to help further your research.

The Bassett Historical Center is known throughout the United States and has served people from Canada, England, Luxembourg, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, and South Africa. They also have a museum with temporary and permanent artifact exhibits: musical instruments, clothing, tools, Appalachian craft, and photographs. With their countless records, collections, and well educated staff you are sure to leave more with a better understanding of your family tree. Who knows, you might discover a famous relative that you never knew about. Whatever the case may be, our family history makes up the foundation of our family tree so take the time to discover where your seeds and roots were planted. To make the most of your visit to the center, start by completing the ancestor chart to the best of your ability. This will help identify gaps for the researchers at the Bassett Historical Center to aid you in filling. 

Watch as WSLS 10's Natalie Faunce explores the Bassett Historical Center here.