2025 Exhibit: Lena Artz, Botanist, and Fort Valley resident

Lena Artz (1891-1976) was a trailblazing botanist who documented the unique plant communities of Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties. She published 40+ papers, created thousands of herbarium specimens, and was the first to describe species such as black ash and Ozark milkvetch in Virginia. But her accomplishments were never recognized in her lifetime.

We know Lena had connections in Woodstock, Fort Valley, Middletown, Winchester, and surrounding areas. Over the years, she worked as a schoolteacher in Port Republic, led nature programs at a summer camp at Elizabeth Furnace, was an active member of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and served as a matron at Winchester Memorial Hospital. If you have Lena stories to share, please come see our new 2025 exhibit at the Old Brick Church and share your stories.

More about Lena: Fort Valley was once home to a pioneering botanist of the Massanutten Mountains, Lena Clemmons Artz (1891-1976). A Woodstock native, high school biology teacher, and owner of a cabin near Elizabeth Furnace, Lena dedicated her life outside of the classroom to documenting the unique plant communities of Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties and advocating for their preservation. Until an archive of her field notebooks and personal papers was discovered at Lord Fairfax (Laurel Ridge) Community College herbarium, little was known about her remarkable life story and accomplishments. 

Fort Valley Book Available

Welcome To Fort Valley is available, and can be shipped.  

The book cost is $80.00. If you prefer to have it shipped, the shipping cost by USPS costs an additional $6.00 ($86.00 total for the book, plus shipping). Cash, check, or credit card payments are available. Checks should be made out to "Fort Valley Museum."  Checks should be mailed to: Fort Valley Museum, PO Box 32, Fort Valley, VA  22652. If you wish to pay via credit card, please email us for an online invoice: fortvalleymuseum1830@gmail.com

Oral Histories Available on YouTube Channel

A video channel has been created to provide online access to a collection of recorded oral histories.
 Check it out!