Blue Ridge Institute & Museum--BRIM

About Us

The mission of the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum (BRIM) is to document, interpret, and present the folk culture of the Blue Ridge region. The Institute was established in 1973. It is one of the few museums in the nation dedicated exclusively to regional folklife, both historical and contemporary. To achieve its mission, the Institute has developed the living history Blue Ridge Farm Museum (opened in 1979), dozens of groundbreaking gallery and touring exhibitions, the annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival, the Blue Ridge Heritage Archives, and outreach activities across Virginia. In recognition of its work, the Commonwealth of Virginia designated the BRIM as the official State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore in 1986. The BRIM is also a major venue of The Crooked Road, Virginia's heritage music trail.