O. Winston Link Museum

The O. Winston Link Museum houses a large collection of black and white photographs documenting steam locomotives and railroad communities of the 1950s. The images show operating locomotives, stations, and the people whose lives connected to the railroad system.

The museum opened in 2004 within a former Norfolk and Western Railway passenger station building. This location preserves the story of industrial photography and 20th-century railroad heritage.

The photographs on display capture how people lived and worked in communities connected to the Norfolk and Western Railway during the 1950s. Visitors see the social rhythms and daily routines of families and workers who depended on these rail lines.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday in downtown Roanoke on Shenandoah Avenue. Plan to spend time viewing the photographs carefully, as the collection contains many detailed images worth studying.

The museum displays a reproduction of Winston's own darkroom featuring original photographic equipment from the mid-20th century. Visitors can see the hands-on techniques and tools the photographer relied on to create his images.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 2004

GPS coordinates: 37.27360,-79.93810

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:53