History

Collage of jazz album covers, a 1959 Addisonian yearbook, and a family snapshot beneath the banner "Rooted in Roanoke.

Rooted in Roanoke

Don Pullen, a Roanoke native, rose to jazz legend status with his innovative style and lasting impact on the genre.
A hand holds a black-and-white print of a brick building over a street scene in color.

Roanoke’s First Auditorium

Once a bustling hub for music, speeches and gatherings—including a visit from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt—Roanoke’s historic auditorium lives on in memories, its former site now a quiet parking lot.
A hand holds a vintage postcard reading "Lutheran Orphanage, Salem, Va." over a modern street intersection.

Lutheran Orphanage

The site for Andrew Lewis Middle School was once home to Salem’s historic Lutheran Orphanage, serving children for over a century.
The staff of the Grandin Theatre poses in front of the cinema in 1938.

The Grandin’s Opening Night

Roanoke’s Junior Woman’s Club held a gala in 1932 to formally open the historic theatre.
Bold black text reading "BY THE DECADES" over a beige background repeating The Roanoker logo.

By the Decades

Our editor-in-chief reflects on five decades of local storytelling and cheerleading beloved people and businesses.
As late the early 1980s, the Roanoke City Market Building still carried the ghosts of butchers past, as the names of some still hung above the meat lockers in a largely abandoned and rundown space.

Market Building Long Ago

A nostalgic journey through the bustling Roanoke City Market Building recalls the vibrant butcher stalls and community spirit of yesteryear.
A hand holds a faded print of a brown high-rise office tower over a sunny city street corner.

The Poff Building

In 1975, Roanoke welcomed a monumental addition to its skyline — the Richard H. Poff Federal Building, a landmark in both size and significance.
Black-and-white view of a grand stone palace facade with a Union Jack flag, a sentry at the entrance, and an empty paved forecourt.

The Royal Flush

A Roanoke novelty company once caused an international stir with the House of Windsor.
The Roanoker staff in the late 1970s. Front row: Brenda McDaniel, Jon Iott, Marty Snortum. Second row: Susan Bowling, Patti Phillips, Sara Boggs Bemiller. Back row: 
Jay Rowe, Richard Wells.

Golden Oldies

Our first editor traces our magazine’s journey from humble beginnings to a beloved local institution.
Mrs. Woo (seated, front left) and the Woos’ five children (front row) with the Chinese Sunday School class at Trinity Methodist Church, Roanoke, in 1926

Mr. Woo and the Celestial Palace

A century ago Roanoke’s first Chinese restaurant opened, but more remarkable was the man who opened it.

Departments

A young child with brown hair in a gray shirt and navy polka-dot skirt paints colorful swirls on a white wall, under the words "Living with Kid Art.
Features

Living with Kid Art

Get great tips on how to display your kids’ artwork at home.

Painted wood statue holding a teacup, a chandelier-lit dining room, and a wood-paneled sitting room.
Features

The House on the Hill

Stewardship of the signature structure on the city side of Mill Mountain is in the very conscientious hands of Drs.