Jefferson Center began life as Jefferson High School, opened in the 1920s with an auditorium intentionally large enough for the wider community. That civic ambition is still visible: the restored building now works as a performing arts centre, with Shaftman Performance Hall hosting concerts, theatre, lectures, and community events.
For travellers, the building matters most when something is on. Check the calendar rather than treating it as a museum stop, but do not overlook it if you want an evening in Roanoke that is not just dinner downtown. It sits close enough to the centre to combine with the Market District before or after a show.