With the acceptance of a Revolutionary War musket in 1856, Superintendent Smith created the VMI Museum, the first public museum in the Commonwealth. Today the museum collects, preserves, interprets and exhibits the heritage of VMI as recorded in the 15,000 artifact collection.

Exhibits illustrate the history and traditions of the Virginia Military Institute and includes Stonewall Jackson's war horse, Little Sorrel, a replica of a cadet room, cadet rings and an important gun collection.