The Roanoke Story Initiative

In 2026, the historic community of Cave Spring was added to Preservation Virginia’s list of Endangered Sites. An influx of commercial development now threatens the very places that tell its story. You can help. The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation and Roanoke Public Libraries invite you to contribute to the Roanoke Story Initiative — a community-powered effort to save Cave Spring’s history before it’s lost. Bring your stories, old photographs, letters, and documents. We’ll digitally scan them and add them to a free, public, searchable database on the Virginia Room’s website: virginiaroom.org/digital Oral histories are also welcome. We’ll record yours on site. This is an ongoing project. Each year, we’ll host story-sharing events for threatened neighborhoods and sites across the Roanoke Valley. But this year, Cave Spring needs you first.