Hi, THe Hillsville gun show opens the Friday before Labor Day and runs through Labor Day. While it is began as a gun show it has grown well beyond that today. I rather suspect that a minority actually pursue the gun side - the masses are there to participate in an open air - huge flea market. Understand that the gun show side in itself is awesome - which is probably what inspired the flea market side. I am fascinated with the breadth and depth of the things available - and I have probably never covered all the folks who appear to market their wares. I cannot speak with any kind of authority on the quality of the genealogical material available in Hillsville - county seat of Carroll county. I have visited the Wytheville Community College following a thin lead on an ancestor. My line spent time in Washington County - Abingdon, VA where I spent an enjoyable day a few years ago. The historical society there has good facilities - unfortunately the original court house was burned in the "War of Northen Aggression" so there is a serious gap in the records for the early history of the area. My personal favorite(s) in the area is the Greensboro Historical Museum, the Guilford Court House Battle site, and the genealogical section of the Greensboro public library. Realize of course that I have a strong personal connection to the first two sites - and have always found an answer and several more questions every time I have been to the library. If anyone does get to the Gun Show stop in at the office for the Howlett street market and say hello. I would like to meet anyone who does show up. Should I be elsewhere let someone know you stopped by - perhaps just on my little chatter here. Larry At 10:13 AM 8/19/2000, bass103@juno.com wrote: >haven't heard of the gun show but when is it? hubby loves his guns..and >if I get him to VA for a gun show I can camp out inthe library with all >the ancestor files..