In 1972, the city of Manassas was preparing for its centennial celebration the following year. As city staff were compiling historic memorabilia, resident Walser Rohr had the idea to have a temporary museum to house the artifacts, most of which were donated by residents.
After the centennial, the city decided to make the makeshift museum permanent and gave it a home in a historic building on Main Street. Over the years, the museum acquired more artifacts and outgrew that historic building. So, in 1991, the city opened a new museum on Prince William Street with more exhibit spaces and educational offerings for visitors of all ages.
In July 2023, the museum reopened after a remodeling and expansion.
While some of the artifacts in the Manassas Museum date to the Stone Ages, most exhibits span five centuries, beginning with the arrival of the English explorers in the Virginia Colony. The exhibits progress through the centuries with emphasis on indigenous people, Civil War military history, notable Black residents and how transportation advancements transformed Manassas from a rural outpost to a thriving small city…