We’re honored to share that the Roanoke History Museum has been selected as a Top 10 Honoree in the 2026 Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts Program, presented by the Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) and supported by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC). Now, we’re asking for your help to protect a fragile yet powerful piece of Virginia’s revolutionary past.
A Letter Written at the Brink of Revolution
Our endangered artifact is a 1775 letter written on behalf of Royal Governor Lord Dunmore by his secretary, James Minzies, requesting that Colonel William Preston—a signer of the Fincastle Resolutions—survey land to be sold in the name of King George III.
What makes this document extraordinary is its timing.
The letter was written on the very same day Patrick Henry delivered his legendary “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death” speech in Richmond—a moment that helped ignite the American Revolution. While Henry was rallying Virginians toward independence, Lord Dunmore was still attempting to assert royal authority and maintain a position of neutrality amid rising unrest.
That effort did not go unnoticed.
The contents of the letter provoked a sharp response from Virginia patriots. Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson famously declared that the King had “no right to grant lands of himself,” a sentiment that further galvanized resistance to British rule and strengthened the resolve for independence. This single document captures a pivotal turning point—when loyalty to the Crown was unraveling, and a new nation was taking shape.
Why This Artifact Is Endangered
Today, this remarkable letter is extremely fragile. The paper is brittle and stained, and portions of the text have already been lost due to deterioration. Without professional conservation, continued damage threatens the survival of this irreplaceable link to Virginia’s revolutionary history. Preserving this document means safeguarding not just ink on paper, but a moment when the future of America hung in the balance.
How You Can Help
Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts Program invites the public to help select the People’s Choice Award through online voting.
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- 🗳️ Vote once per day
- 📅 Voting is open now through February 20, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
- 🏆 The artifact with the most votes receives the People’s Choice Award, including a $1,500 conservation grant
In addition:
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- One Juried Award ($1,500) will be selected by museum professionals
- The remaining eight honorees will each receive $500 for conservation and/or professional development
All Top 10 Honorees will be recognized at statewide events, including the Preservation Virginia Legislative Reception and the 2026 VAM Annual Conference at Colonial Williamsburg.
Vote Daily & Share the Story
This nationally recognized program has helped preserve artifacts at more than 200 organizations, ensuring that the stories of Virginia’s people, struggles, and achievements are not lost to time.
👉Vote Now for Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts
By voting—and by encouraging others to do the same—you are playing a direct role in preserving a document that witnessed the birth of American independence. Thank you for helping us protect this extraordinary piece of Virginia’s history.
Press release from VMHC/VAM is here.
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