Until the 1920s, prominent sharpshooter Annie Oakley called Leesburg home during the winters. “The Champion Markswoman” was known for many things, such as her ability to shoot an apple off her dog’s head with precision without fail. Her dog, Dave, was run over by a car in 1923, which resulted in Annie Oakley leaving Leesburg for good. She would publish a book about Dave, titled “The Life of Dave”, which is told from the perspective of Dave and is available here in the museum.

A glimpse into the past! Before we had cell phones that instantly connect to whoever we please, telephone lines were operated by hand. This machine was used right here in Leesburg, and it was essential to how phone calls used to work.