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A Colonial Journey Through Virginia's Northern Neck (Self-Guided Tour) --
Various Locations, Heathsville, VA
Let us take you through Virginia's Northern Neck where you will discover some important but little known colonial history. Trace the Washington, Lee, Carter, and Ball families from the original immigrants to their famous descendents. Your self-guided tour will include visits to several Lee ancestral homes and locales, including Ditchley, Burnt House Field, Menokin, and Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. You will learn about Robert "King" Carter and the grand colonial church he commissioned (Historic Christ Church). You'll get to know Mary Ball, mother of our first president, by visiting the Mary Ball Museum, Yeocomico Church, her childhood parish, and the George Washington Birthplace. Along the way, you will look in on the colonial courthouse towns of four county seats. Contact us for a free customized trip design. |
A Walk Through Historic Gloucester --
6467 Main Street, Gloucester, VA
Discover the stories and secrets behind the historic store fronts on Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia. Friendly proprietors, distinctive food and merchandise, and fascinating stories. Join us for a leisurely stroll down Main Street...look into our past, discover the present. |
A Walking Tour of Historic Blackstone --
Schwartz Tavern (Corner of Tavern & High Streets), Blackstone, VA
The town of Blackstone was settled in the mid-18th century at the crossroads of several stage and transportation routes. The community was originally named Black's & White's for its two rival tavernkeepers. There are approximately 400 buildings in Blackstone's historic district. As you tour Blackstone, please take a few minutes to enjoy its tree-lined avenues, its historic buildings, and the sense of Southern hospitality that has long been the town's trademark. |
A.P. Carter Museum --
Rt. 614, Hiltons, VA
A.P. Carter's old general store has been converted into a museum that houses the collections of A.P. Carter, his wife Sara and her cousin Maybelle, who as The Carter Family, were the pioneers of what was to become country music. Artifacts include photos, books, and musical instruments, show clothes, 78rpm recordings and many other memorabilia, such as items donated by family members June and Johnny Cash. Located next door to the museum, is the old log cabin where A.P. was born. Recently restored, it showcases life in southwest Virginia during the early 1900's and includes many family antiques and collectibles. |
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center --
325 Francis Street, Williamsburg, VA
The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, newly re-opened adjacent to the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, houses one of the finest collections of American folk art in the country. The museum store features a beautiful array of distinctive gifts. Items ranging from folk art by contemporary artists to note cards and books complement the museum's superb collection of American folk art.
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Abram's Delight --
1340 Pleasant Valley Road, Winchester, VA
As an early settler, Abraham Hollingsworth traveled the Wilderness Trail when it was still an Indian path. He built one of the first grist mills in the Valley and the Hollingsworth home served as the area's first Quaker meeting house. Constructed of stone in 1754, the home is the oldest in Winchester. It showcases a wonderful example of early settlement life in the lower Shenandoah Valley. Furnishings include a fine collection of period art and antiques. A restored and furnished log cabin, a symbol of earliest America, completes this historic site. Call for hours of operation. |
Abram's Delight Museum --
1340 S. Pleasant Valley Road , Winchester, VA
Conveniently located not far from George Washington's Office Museum where Mr. Washington worked to secure the Valley and western mountains for settlement is Abram's Delight Museum. It is a wonderful example of early setlement life in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The house was built in 1754, the year the French and Indian War began, and today is restored and furnished to reflect the style of that century. |
Adam Thoroughgood House --
1636 Parish Road , Virginia Beach, VA
The Adam Thoroughgood House was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and is one of the oldest surviving colonial homes in Virginia. The House is open six days per week for guided tours. Special programs for schools, scouts and the general public are offered throughout the year. The Adam Thoroughgood House has been operated by the Department of Museums and Cultural Arts since 1999 and was acquired by the City of Virginia Beach in 2003. |
African-American History Tour of Alexandria --
Alexandria Colonial Tours, Alexandria, VA
The journey of African-Americans from an enslaved people to leadership is a journey of hardship and triumph. Alexandria is uniquely qualified to tell that story. This walking tour is perfect for families, student groups, reunions, and group outings. You'll see Market Square, where human beings of dark coloration were bought and sold. It is near a prosperous merchant's home who owned 30 slaves. Nearby is an abolitionist Quaker's shop, who said of slavery, “it sickens my heart to reflect upon it.” And African-Americans staged America’s first sit-in here. Stops include Alexandria's Black History Resource Center, Franklin & Armfield Slave office, and African-American Heritage Park. Join us for a compelling tour that reflects our country’s struggle to live up to the goal of "liberty and justice for all." |
Agecroft Hall --
4305 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, VA
A "transplant" from pre-Elizabethan England, this half-timbered manor house was dismantled and brought to Virginia in 1926 where it was reconstructed near the James River. The great hall, with its original 16th-century oak paneling, rises over two-stories and is surmounted by a minstrel's gallery. A magnificent mullioned bay window, 10 feet high and 25 feet long, bears the ancient coat of arms of its former owners in stained glass. Its 23 acres of lawns and gardens overlook the river. |
Air Force Memorial --
One Air Force Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA
The United States Air Force Memorial honors the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Air Force and its predecessor organizations, including the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps; the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps; the Division of Military Aeronautics, Secretary of War; the Army Air Service; the U.S. Army Air Corps; and the U.S. Army Air Forces. More than 54,000 airmen have died in combat while serving in the Air Force and these historical service arms of the military, the second highest of any of America’s four armed services. Located on a promontory in Arlington, Virginia, overlooking the Pentagon and adjacent to Arlington Cemetery, the Air Force Memorial is easily seen on the skyline of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. |
Air Power Park --
413 W. Mercury Boulevard, Hampton, VA
With over 50 indoor and outdoor exhibits including real fighter aircraft, missiles and rockets, Air Power Park offers a glimpse of Hampton's role in America's early space exploration and aircraft testing. Admission is free to this 15 acre park and museum that includes a children's playground. During current renovations the park is open, but the museum is not accessible. |
Alexandria Archaeology Museum --
105 N. Union St. #327, Alexandria, VA
Step right into the Museum's laboratory and see archeologists at work reconstructing Alexandria's history, fragment by fragment. The Museum displays the results of recent digs and interprets the results of ongoing research through exhibitions, video, publications, seminars and tours. Activities include Family Dig Days and a summer camp for teens. |
Alexandria Black History Museum --
902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA
The Alexandria Black History Museum documents the contributions of African Americans to Alexandria's history and culture from 1749 to the present. The building that today houses the Center was constructed in 1940 as the Robinson Library, the African American community's first public library. The Watson Reading Room is a non-circulating research repository focusing on issues of African American history and culture. The Center offers exhibitions, lectures and special events throughout the year. |
Amazement Square - The Rightmire Children's Museum --
27 Ninth Street, Lynchburg, VA
Welcome to Central Virginia's first multidisciplinary, hands-on children's museum, AMAZEMENT SQUARE! Climb, slide and discover as you make your way through four floors of exciting, interactive exhibits, activities and programs. Visitors of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can explore global and regional topics, the arts and humanities, science and health-related themes, as well as expand their creativity |
American Armoured Foundation, Inc. - Tank Museum --
3401 U.S. Hwy 29B, Danville, VA
Journey thru Military History at the most extensive collection of tank and cavalry artifacts collection found in the world. Primarily a Tank Museum by design, the Museum's diverse collection offers the visitor a great many other interesting items relating to Military History. The collection presently has over 103 tanks and artillery pieces, 150 mid size weapons, over 1500 Tank and cavalry uniforms, 1300 pieces of headgear, pins, patches, and other military memorabilia all pertaining to the Tank and Cavalry. The collection dates from 1509 to present day with all nations represented. Journey with us through the pages of military history. Prepare yourself for an awesome adventure for both young and old alike. |
American Celebration on Parade --
397 Caverns Road, Shenandoah Caverns, VA
The most colorful attraction in the Shenandoah Valley, American Celebration on Parade, is located 2 minutes from Exit 269 of I-81. Open all year, this collection includes parade floats from the Rose Parade, Presidential Inaugurals, and other national celebrations. The exhibit also includes props and settings from important events in America's entertainment and political history. Children love the playful animation of the floats, while adults are fascinated by massive floats they've only seen on TV. Experience the pageantry of a parade up close, then your one-price ticket admits you to beautiful Shenandoah Caverns, outstanding among Virginia's natural wonders, and to Main Street of Yesteryear. These are the only Virginia caverns with elevator service. Both attractions are accessible and offer AAA, senior citizen, and group discounts. |
The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar --
500 Tredegar Street, Downtown Richmond, Richmond, VA
The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, on the banks of the James River in Richmond, Virginia, is the gateway to Civil War travel in the region. A National Historic Landmark and one-time heart of Confederate war production, the Center is now home to the main visitor center of the NPS Richmond National Battlefield Park and a new exhibit, “In the Cause of Liberty,” which provides a national overview of the Civil War. The site offers visitors and students an engaging and interactive exploration of the Civil War on both the local and national levels through the perspectives of Union, Confederate, and African American participants. The Center is a must stop for the Civil War traveler. For more information please call or visit us online. |
Amherst County Museum & Historical Society --
154 S. Main St, Amherst, VA
The Amherst County Museum & Historical Society aims to preserve the history of Amherst County, Virginia through the exhibition of our collections and the operation of a genealogy research library. Housed in a 1907 Georgian home, the Amherst County Museum maintains two rooms of changing exhibits on the history of Amherst County. Amherst County Pathways, our exhibit on the history of Amherst County is a permanent fixture at the Museum. Also on the main floor is a reference library filled with material on the history of Virginia, local history and genealogical files that may be used for research purposes. Hours are 8:30 to 5:00 Tuesday through Saturday, closing for lunch daily from noon until 1:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays and holidays. Admission is free. Donations gratefully accepted. |
Anderson Gallery --
907 1/2 West Franklin , Richmond, VA
Since 1971, VCUarts Anderson Gallery has become one of the most significant venues for contemporary art in the Southeast. Well known for presenting the work of nationally and internationally renowned artists, emerging figures, and regional names, the Anderson Gallery mounts exhibitions that explore currents in contemporary art and design. |
Appalachian Spirit Gallery --
100 North Sheffey Street, Marion, VA
Paintings range from traditional to impressionist, landscapes to landmarks, oil to acrylic, digital gicl'ee, and mixed media. An array of jewelry design, stained glass, fused glass, and fabric art, is also on display. Music on the porch begins at 6pm on the second Friday of each month. Our mission is to celebrate the arts, traditions, lore, and spirit of the Appalachian Mountains and showcase the work of local talent. The building was once the home of Lola Poston Harriman, the artist who painted the large murals in the Lincoln Theatre. We also are a prime spot for Marion visitor information, and our lobby is filled with an array of materials about local attractions and activities. Our artists even lead guided historic downtown walking tours. Gallery hours are Monday - Thursday from 12 noon to 5pm; other times by appointment. |
Appomattox Co. Historical Museum --
123 Court St., Appomattox, VA
The Appomattox County Historical Museum is located in the Court House Square. The Appomattox County Historical Museum was previously a jail started in 1895 and completed in 1897. It was the third jail to have been built in Appomattox County and was in continuous use until May 1981. The museum houses a turn-of-the-century one-room school, a doctor’s office, a jail cell, plus numerous artifacts and interesting memorabilia of the past. The museum is open May through October, Monday through Sunday, 1-5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park --
VA 24, 2 miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Appomattox, VA, Appomattox, VA
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is comprised of many original historic structures along with several reconstructed builings on approximately 1700 acres in rural southside Virginia. The village of Appomattox Court House was the site of the surrender of General Robert E. Lee and the event that signaled the end of four years of Civil War. Living History programs are offered every day during the summer months, and occassionally on weekends in the spring and fall. Actors portray historical figures from the 1860s.
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Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park --
Rt . 24, Appomattox, VA
Here on April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, bringing an end to the Civil War. The war cost more American lives than World War I and II and the Korean War combined. The McLean house and the surrounding village, beautifully restored to their 1865 condition, are now the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. The Courthouse houses a visitor's center with displays and slide shows which vividly depict the circumstances and the monumental events that took place here. |
Arlington Arts Center --
3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA
The Arlington Arts Center is dedicated to presenting and supporting the new work of regional artists. Through exhibitions, studio space and educational opportunities, the AAC serves as a bridge between artists and the public for awareness, appreciation and involvement in the arts. |
Arlington Historical Society Museum --
1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, VA
The Arlington Historical Museum, owned and operated by the Historical Society, is close to the Pentagon City and Crystal City metrorail stations. The two-story brick structure was built in 1891 as the Hume School, named for Frank Hume who gave the property for the school. It is the oldest school building in Arlington County. Following extensive renovation in the early 1960s, the building reopened as the Arlington Historical Museum. The building is designated a Virginia State Historical Landmark and is also on the National Register of Historic Sites. The Museum is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays except in February, when the Museum is closed. Hours are from 1 - 4 p.m. Bookshop offers local historical publications, maps, prints, and cards. Memberships available. |
Arlington House - The Robert E. Lee Memorial --
George Washington Memorial Parkway, McLean, VA
Arlington House was the home of Robert E. Lee and his family for thirty years and is uniquely associated with the Washington and Custis families. George Washington Parke Custis built the house to be his home and a memorial to George Washington, his step-grandfather. It is now preserved as a memorial to General Lee, who gained the respect of Americans in both the North and the South. |
Arlington National Cemetery --
Virginia side of Memorial Bridge, Arlington, VA
Spectacular and sobering, graves of presidents, military leaders and honored citizens symbolize the price of freedom. |
Army Women's Museum --
2100 Adams Avenue, Building 5219, Fort Lee, VA
Visit the only museum in the world dedicated to Army women. Experience women serving the Army from the Revolutionary War to the present. Exhibits on barracks life, uniforms, life and work, overseas and on U.S. posts around the world. Interactive exhibits and videos throughout the gallery, as well as films for viewing in the theater. Unique gift shop. Open Tuesday through Friday 10 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm. Closed Mondays. Easily accessible--just inside the front gate of Fort Lee. Group tours by appointment. |
Art First, Inc. Studio and Galleries --
108 Hanover St., Fredericksburg, VA
Early in 1992, a group of local artists decided they wanted to share gallery and studio space. They found available space in Old Town Fredericksburg, pooled their paint and opened the door a month or so later. From that point, Art First Inc. has evolved into an exciting and innovative artists' cooperative of juried members proudly sharing their quest for visual perfection. Many of Art First's members offer private or group lessons. The first Friday of every month, the gallery participates in Fredericksburg's on-going arts festival, First Friday where local galleries syncronize openings so that interested patrons can "gallery hop" to enjoy the newly displayed works. Art First's opening receptions are always 6-9 PM at the gallery.These receptions are free and open to the public. Please come and meet the artists and enjoy our new works. |
Art Museum of Western Virginia --
2d Floor One Market Square , Roanoke, VA
The Art Museum features 19th and 20th century American art, contemporary and modern art, decorative arts, and works on paper, and presents exhibitions of both regional and national significance. Tours, gallery talks, family days, special events, classes, and camps are part of the Art Museum's regular programming. Take a look and discover all the exciting things that are happening at the Art Museum! |
Art Museum of Western Virginia, Center in the Square --
One Market Square, SE, Roanoke, VA
Located in the Art Museum of Western Virginia, this participatory gallery is designed to make the visual arts come alive to all visitors. Eight hands-on stations highlight masterpieces from the Art Museum's permanent collection and allow visitors to experience them in a fun-filled, unique way. Sure to be a family favorite! |
Artisans Center of Virginia --
Willow Oak Plaza, Waynesboro, VA
Artisans Center of Virginia is the official state center for fine craft. The Artisans Center supports and promotes the culture of the Virginia artisan through education, entrepreneurship, research, galleries and exhibitions. The Center believes that quality, handmade fine craft strengthens the cultural, educational and economic vitality of local communities. Periodic artisan demonstrations and educational classes available. Handmade crafts in wood, ceramic, glass and iron, as well as cloth items and jewelry. Exhibit and retail gallery open 10 am to 6 pm Mon-Sat, 12:30 to 5:30 Sundays. Located just off I-64 exit 94 in Waynesboro. |
Association for Research and Enlightenment --
215 67th Street, Virginia Beach, VA
The Association for Research and Enlightenment was founded in 1931 by Edgar Cayce. The A.R.E. is a non-profit organization that makes available concepts from Cayce's vast body of work in a variety of activities, products, programs, and services. For forty-three years of his adult life, Edgar Cayce demonstrated the ability to put himself into a self-induced sleep state and respond to virtually any question with uncanny accuracy. His responses to these questions came to be called "readings." The majority of Edgar Cayce's readings deal with health maintenance and the treatment of illness. However, in addition to health, major topics include intuition, personal spirituality, and ancient civilizations. We invite you to come and see for yourself the incredible legacy left behind by one of the greatest psychics of all time. |
Athenaeum --
201 Prince Street , Alexandria, VA
Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association programs include:
¨ Art exhibits featuring local and regional artists.
¨ The Athenaeum School of Ballet with classes for students aged three through seven.
¨ Annual Garden Party to raise funds for preserving The Athenaeum
¨ Performing arts events and other special events
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Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum --
1113 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach, VA
The Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, located in the historic de Witt Cottage on the Virginia Beach oceanfront, displays art and artifacts documenting migratory wildfowl that pass through Eastern Virginia. Exhibits of wildfowl and shorebird carvings trace the evolution of this American art form from the simple traditional decoys to the contemporary lifelike carvings. Make sure to visit our museum when you are in Virginia Beach. |
Avoca --
1514 Main Street, Altavista, VA
Avoca, the principal architectural landmark of the Town of Altavista, is an American Queen Anne-style house, designed by architect J.M.B. Lewis and built in 1901. Designated a Virginia Historic Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Avoca is the homesite of Colonel Charles Lynch, Revolutionary War hero. On the 5 acres of grounds of the Museum, visitors may tour the Avoca mansion and original, Revolutionary War era kitchen, as well as 18th century outbuildings. Avoca is home to an impressive Civil War exhibit and the Juliette Fauntleroy Native American Artifact Collection, one of the largest in the state. |
Bacon's Castle - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
465 Bacon's Castle Trail, Surry, VA
Visitors today can step back to the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century through the doors of Bacon's Castle. Using the Allen's inventories from 1711 and 1755, furnishings have been selected to interpret daily life. |
Barrier Islands Center --
7295 Young Street, Machipongo, VA
The Barrier Islands Center is located on Rt. 13, on Virginia's Eastern Shore just 20 miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The "BIC" preserves the most complete almshouse complex extant in the United States, using its buildings to showcase the culture, history, community, and ecology of Virginia's Barrier Islands and the peoples who made them their home: Native Americans, farmers, watermen, hunting and fishing guides, storekeepers, hoteliers, and the Lighthouse and Lifesaving Service among others. The museum is situated on the historic 17 acre "almshouse farm". Though the Eastern Shore's chain of seaside barrier islands are mostly deserted now, the museum preserves the photos, artifacts, and written accounts of the fascinating stories of those who once called these island home. Local art and books available in gift shop. |
Battleship Wisconsin --
Nauticus, the National Maritime Center, Norfolk, VA
Experience the thrill of being aboard the U.S. Navy’s Iowa-class battleship, USS Wisconsin. Stand on the teak decks beneath Wisky’s towering 16-inch guns and make your way to the Tomahawk and Harpoon missile launchers. You can also experience what it was like being a sailor aboard the Wisconsin by peeking into the interior quarters of the ship's officers. Don’t forget to stop in at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum and see over 225 years of local Navy history illustrated in our 50-plus exhibits. Our knowledgeable staff of volunteers is always on-site and eager to answer any questions. There are fun activities for kids such as word puzzles and scavenger hunts, so bring the whole family. USS Wisconsin is operated by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, located next to Nauticus at Norfolk's Elizabeth River Waterfront. |
The Belle Boyd Cottage --
101 Chester Street , Front Royal, VA
Belle Boyd Cottage has served as a tavern, private residence, military headquarters, apartment building, and store room. At the time of the Civil War, this cottage wa the residence of Belle Boyd's aunt and uncle. Belle Boyd stayed in the cottage using the opportunity to spy on Federal troops occupying the town. The cottage has been restored as a museum depicting Warren County during the Civil War.
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Belle Grove Plantation --
336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA
Belle Grove is an 18th-century grain and livestock farm, which, in its prime (circa 1815), encompassed about 7500 acres of land, offering visitors an experience of the life and times of the people who lived there in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. During the Civil War, Belle Grove was at the center of the decisive Battle of Cedar Creek. Today, the plantation includes the main house and gardens, original outbuildings, a classic 1918 barn, an overseer's house, the slave cemetery, a heritage apple orchard, fields and meadows, and scenic mountain views. |
Berkeley Plantation --
12602 Harrison Landing Rd., Charles City, VA
The original mansion, built in 1726 of brick fired on the plantation, occupies a beautifully landscaped hilltop site overlooking the historic James River, between Williamsburg and Richmond. It is the birthplace of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a U.S. President. Good Housekeeping magazine suggests: "If you only have time for one plantation, Berkeley should be at the top of your list." Says U.S. Sen. Charles Robb: "If you haven't been to Berkeley, you haven't lived."
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Big Stone Gap --
619 Gilley Ave, Big Stone Gap, VA
Big Stone Gap is a little town with a big story! The inspiration for the novel, Big Stone Gap, by Adriana Trigiani, shows that good. old-fashioned southern hospitality and a warm sense of humor aren't simply works of fiction in this lovely, Victorian-era town. Many of the town's attractions are featured in Trigiani's books, Big Stone Gap, Big Cherry Holler and Milk Glass Moon. Stop by the Tourist Info Center and pick up your free map to the novel's setting when you come to town! |
Birthplace of Country Music Alliance --
510 Cumberland Street, Suite 103, Bristol, VA
August 1927, downtown Bristol hosted two weeks of recording sessions for the Victor Recording Company. The music recorded in those two weeks influenced generations of country, bluegrass, gospel, and rock and roll musicians. In Bristol, Victor talent scout Ralph Peer discovered Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, and Ernest "Pop" Stoneman. These recordings, now known as the "Bristol Sessions," have been heralded by scholars as "The Big Bang of Country Music," and by musicians like Johnny Cash as "the most important event in the history of country music." |
Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia --
00 Clay Street, Richmond, VA
Significant facets of African-American life in Virginia from Jamestown in 1619 until today are on display here. Located in the heart of the Jackson Ward neighborhood, the museum has a collection of nearly 5,000 artifacts and documents, art, and photography. Experience the history and culture of Virginia's African-Americans. |
The Black History Museum and Cultural Center --
00 Clay Street, Richmond, VA
Statewide resource on the many facets of Black history through exhibitions, discussions and celebrations. The Museum collects documents, limited editions, prints, art and photographs for use in its Black History Archives Program. This program will be of major significance because of the scarcity of written records on the Black experience. |
Blue Ridge Arts Council and Gallery --
305 East Main Street, Front Royal, VA
Founded in 1987, the Blue Ridge Arts Council has served as a cultural oasis in Front Royal and Warren County. Local residents and visitors alike enjoy year-round art exhibits by regional and national artists in their gallery and shop, and satellite galleries in the Warren County Courthouse and Government Center facilities. The council offers a wide variety of programming, including workshops in the arts and educational outreach programs to local schools, and serves as a resource for the arts in our community. Each summer the council presents a summer-long outdoor concert series called "Gazebo Gatherings", through a partnership with the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Town of Front Royal and the County of Warren, on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. at the gazebo in the Town Commons at Main and Chester Streets. Open Monday-Friday. |
Blue Ridge Institute & Farm Museum --
Ferrum College, Ferrum, VA
The Blue Ridge Institute & Farm Museum, the official State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore, highlights the folk traditions of western Virginia, old and new. Located at the eastern gateway of the Crooked Road Music Trail, the BRI galleries explore folklife's many facets--music, crafts, foodways, decorative arts, etc.--through rotating exhibitions. The Institute's Blue Ridge Farm Museum re-creates life on a Virginia-German farmstead in the year 1800, with costumed interpretation, heirloom gardens, historic breeds of livestock, and unique hands-on activities. The museum store offers hard-to-find authentic folk crafts from Virginia and Appalachia. (Galleries and store are open year-round, Mondays through Saturdays. Farm Museum is open weekends mid-May through mid-August or by group reservation any day April through October.) |
Bob Cage Sculpture Farm --
Shanti Road and Cage Trail, South Boston, VA
Bob Cage - local artist, internationally recognized sculptor, champion tennis player, preservationist, and community activist - is also known as the premier tobacco auctioneer. His open field sculpture display is in continual evolution and is definitely a "must see" on any trip to South Boston. Children, especially, love to see the llama, burros, and goats that graze in the field. Bob hopes you have as much enjoyment seeing these sculptures as he did in creating them! The Sculpture Farm is located at the intersection of Shanti Road and Cage Trail in Halifax County, Virginia. |
Booker T. Washington National Monument --
12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy, VA
Booker T. Washington National Monument is the former Burroughs Plantation. In 1850, James and Elizabeth Burroughs moved their children and a few slaves to this 207-acre tobacco farm in southwestern Virginia. The plantation cook, a female slave named Jane, would give birth to three children within the next ten years. Her middle child would simply be called Booker. Here you are able to explore the small plantation where Washington first longed for an education, pondered what freedom meant and eventually took his "first breath of freedom." |
Botetourt County Historical Museum --
1 West Main Street, Fincastle, VA
Since opening it doors officially for the first time at 1 PM on Sunday, November 27, 1966, the Botetourt County Historical Museum has served as a repository for hundreds of artifacts that have helped to interpret the history of Botetourt County for thousands of visitors. Located directly behind the historic Botetourt County Courthouse, the museum is housed in a building that dates back to the late eighteenth century. |
Boykins Museum --
31584 Main St., Boykins, VA
The Boykins Museum preserves the rich, rural railroad history of Southampton County. The 1840 train station serves as a country store with antique automobiles & other antiquities on display. Donations are welcome. Hours are variable...call 757-654-9550 to confirm. |
Brunswick County Museum --
228 Main Street, Lawrenceville, VA
The Brunswick County Museum is located in the historic Courthouse Square in Lawrenceville. Come and see a variety of exhibits documenting the county’s history. The County of Brunswick was created in 1720 and stretched from the fall lines in the rivers east of Emporia to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county was bounded on the south by a surveyor’s line which separated the Virginia and North Carolina colonies and on the north by the Nottoway River. This vast area has been separated into ten (10) counties. The museum houses three distinct display rooms: the Indian Relics, Governor Albertis Harrison Room and the Mrs. Alice Samford Room. There is an exhibit of Fort Christanna and some items from an archeologist “dig” made there in 1797-1981. |
Byrd Theatre --
2908 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA
The Byrd's Mighty Wurlitzer, played by Bob Gulledge, rises out of the floor on Saturday nights before the movie. This is a piece of history that must be experienced to be appreciated. Recent movies are shown nightly with matinees on Saturday & Sunday as well. |
Campbell House, The --
101 East Washington Street, Lexington, VA
150 year old house is the home of the Rockbridge Historical Society whose purpose is “collecting, preserving and disseminating all things relating to the history of the County of Rockbridge and the City of Lexington, Virginia.” Presents special exhibits honoring the county's past. House is excellent example of mid-19th century classicism. |
Canal Basin Square --
249 Main Street, Scottsville, VA
History park depicting the transportation history of Scottsville from the era of the Native American Monacan canoes to modern transportation systems. Emphasis is on the rich history of the batteaux and packet boat travel which occurred in the heyday of America's rivers and canals. The park is located at the original site of the James River and Kanawha Canal Basin at 249 Main Street across from the Scottsville Museum. Self guided tours year around. Guided tours and school field trips by appointment. Canal Basin Square is owned by the Town of Scottsville. |
Cape Charles Museum and Welcome Center --
814 Randolph Avenue, Cape Charles, VA
“Hear” the locomotive whistle of the founding railroad and “smell” the salt air on elegant steamers like the Elisha Lee, thanks to a rich archival photo collection that brings this 1886 bayside railroad town’s past to life. Models of sailing vessels, barges and ferries, mix with many vintage vestiges of daily life - a 1940s telephone switchboard, a local blacksmith’s handcart circa 1920. Outside an original Shore railroad passenger station stands sentinel with classic caboose and baggage car. Walk back in time then walk out the door and down the same streets over a century later. |
Car and Carriage Caravan Museum --
970 US Hwy 211 West, Luray, VA
Experience the history of America at Luray Caverns in an exhibit featuring over 140 items relating to transportation including cars, carriages, coaches and costumes dating from 1725. A prize in the collection of authentically restored vehicles is the 1892 Benz, one of the oldest cars in the country still in operating condition. Other highlights include a Conestoga Wagon, a 1908 Baker Electric, a 1913 Stanley Steamer - and Rudolph Valentino's 1925 Rolls Royce. Entrance fee is included in Luray Caverns general admission. |
Carroll County Historical Museum --
515 North Main Street, Hillsville, VA
Learn about the rich history of Carroll County in the museum located within the Historic District of Hillsville in the Historic Carroll County Courthouse. The facility presents the history of Carroll County and its various communities. Exhibits and artifacts reflect the heritage of Carroll County, which was formed in 1842. Early Native American artifacts recovered from nearby archaeological are also on display. Large Civil War collection including drum used by local unit. Museum has extensive archive and reference materials in its resource section. Guided tours are available of the Historic Courthouse (1872-74), which is an architectural gem and site of tragic courtroom shooting incident in March 1912 (advance reservations requested). Publication and gift sales. The Museum is open Tues.-Fri. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. |
Carter Family Fold --
Rt. 614, Hiltons, VA
The Carter fold is a rustic, 1,000 seat music shed offering traditional music every Saturday night. Museum opens an hour prior to the show. The Carter Family was discovered in 1927 by Victor Recording Studio in Bristol and recorded 300 songs between 1927 and 1942. Playing traditional Appalachian music, the family has often been credited as forerunners of modern-day country music. Today, A.P. Carter's old general store acts as a museum. Recent additions include the newly moved and reconstructed original A.P. Carter Homeplace. |
Center in the Square --
1 Market Square, SE, Roanoke, VA
Restored early 20th century warehouse provides space for the following independent cultural organizations: Art Museum of Western Virginia, Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, Science Museum of Western Virginia and Hopkins Planetarium, History Museum & Historical Society of Western Virginia, and Mill Mountain Theatre. Opera Roanoke and Roanoke Ballet Theater are located at the Jefferson Center, a few blocks away. Each Museum has its own gift shop. |
Centre Hill Mansion --
15 W. Bank Street, Petersburg, VA
Centre Hill Mansion is the third home of the Bolling Family in Petersburg. It was and is the grandest home in the City. Built in 1823, remodeled in the 1840's and 1901, the building illustrates the evolution of architectural styles, room usage, decorative arts and Southern culture. Ornate woodwork and plaster motifs accompany period furnishings. In the basement, the 1840's service tunnel connects the work area of the house to the city below. During the reconstruction period after the Civil War, the mansion was used as Union Headquarters. |
Chasen Galleries of Fine Art --
3554 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA
Chasen Galleries of Fine Art features an amazing collection of original paintings, fine art glass and beautiful sculptures from around the world. Our 23 years in the art industry has enabled us to bring to you a beautiful fine art collection for your home or office. We are located in Carytown in Richmond, Virginia. Please visit us when visiting Richmond. We believe a Fine Home deserves Fine Art. Plenty of Free Parking Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10-6 and appointments are always available. Logon to the website for more information. |
Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society --
312 E. Ridgeway St, Clifton Forge, VA
One of the largest collections on a single railroad; preserves & interprets the rich history of the C & O now CSX; rail car tours by appointment; sales area with publications, art, china, jewelry, T-shirts, collectibles; memorabilia; restored Dining Car the George Washington & others available for lease(restrictions apply. |
The Chesapeake Bay Center --
2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA
This environmentally focused, interactive visitor information center in First Landing State Park is a nature based eco-tourism Information Center for Virginia Beach & a designated Chesapeake Bay Gateways Regional Information Center. The Center showcases a historical exhibition of the first landing of settlers in 1607, three aquariums, environmental exhibits, classroom space, a wet lab and touch tank developed by the Virginia Marine Science Museum. It also has visitor information, a Bay store for gifts and camping supplies, plus a gazebo and amphitheatre for outdoor events. The park is open daily from 7:00 AM until dusk. The Chesapeake Bay Center is open daily, 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM year round. It is closed on Christmas and New Years Day. The park Trail Center is open From April 1 through November 30, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. |
Chesapeake Planetarium --
310 Shea Drive, Chesapeake, VA
Explore the wonders of the universe. Free public programs including telescope observations are offered each week. At the Chesapeake Municipal Center. Reservations required. |
Chesterfield County Museum --
6805 W Krause Rd, Chesterfield, VA
The Chesterfield Museum is a reproduction of the colonial courthouse of 1750. Its collections tell the history of Chesterfield County from prehistoric times through the 20th century. Exhibits include early Indian culture, artifacts from the first iron and coal mines in America, which were in Chesterfield County, early household and farming tools, a country store of the late 19th century, and Fire Department memorabilia. |
Children's Colonial Garden --
16 Loudoun Street, Leesburg, VA
The Loudoun Museum's Children's Colonial Garden recreates those garden varieties maintained by American Colonists for a variety of domestic uses. Whether native to Virginia or imported from Europe each plant in the garden of the first settlers served some distinct purpose. The Museum will use the garden as an educational tool for school children and adults. |
Children's Museum of Richmond --
2626 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Experience one of the East Coast's most exciting, innovative children's museums. It's a museum where you can touch everything! Kids learn through interactive play - they can chase butterflies with Shadow Play, tinker in an inventor's lab, be a star at the CMOR Playhouse, build sand castles in our new Backyard and more! GREAT FAMILY FUN for ages toddler to eight. CMOR is also the home of the one and only Legendary Santa and the Genworth Holiday Village during the holiday season. |
Children's Museum of Virginia --
221 High St., , Portsmouth, VA
So much to see, so much to do. The Children's Museum of Virginia is a feast for young eyes, ears, minds, and imaginations. So many, many fun things - too much to list here! See the website for more details! |
Chimborazo Medical Museum --
3215 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA
The city of Richmond, capital of the Confederacy and primary target of Union campaigns, was also the central destination for thousands of Confederate soldiers wounded on the battlefields of Virginia during the Civil War. Realizing that a long war and thousands more casualties lay ahead, Southern leaders ordered the construction of five general hospitals in Richmond. The largest of these was Chimborazo. Today the Chimborazo Medical Museum houses a collection of equipment used by the doctors and nurses who tended to the soldiers of the Confederacy. Exhibits include a 17 minute film and a diorama of the hospital. |
Chrysler Museum of Art --
245 W Olney RD , Norfolk, VA
Housed in an Italianate-style structure facing the picturesque Hague Inlet of the Elizabeth River, the Chrysler Museum of Art is home to an encyclopedic collection of 30,000 objects spanning nearly 5,000 years of history. Highlights include an impressive and comprehensive survey of European and American painting and sculpture, a world-renowned glass collection, a rich photography program, Art Nouveau furniture, as well as African, Asian, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Islamic art. In the words of New York Times art critic John Russell, the Chrysler boasts objects "...any museum in the world would kill for." |
City Point Early History Museum --
609 Brown Avenue, Hopewell, VA
This charming museum features artifacts and exhibits depicting Hopewell's colonial, Civil War and early 20th-century history. Open April-October. Monday-Saturday, 10:00am-4:30pm; Sunday, 1:00pm-4:30pm. |
Civil War Life - The Soldiers' Museum --
4712 Southpoint Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA
Civil War Life - The Soldier's Museum tells the story of the soldiers who served on both sides of the War Between the States. This impressive collection of relics speaks of the soldier's life from enlistment and training camps to combat on all the famous battlefields of the war. The exhibits and life size dioramas provide a wonderful opportunity for adults and children alike to learn about this turbulent time. Visit the HomeFront gift shop for a fine selection of books for serious buffs and children, hand blown glass, candles, music, jewelry, home accents and other historically relevant gifts. Open daily, admission charged. Handicapped accessible. |
Civil War Museum at the Exchange Hotel --
400 S Main St, Gordonsville, VA
The Civil War Museum at the Exchange Hotel is a museum containing exhibitions on the History of Gordonsville and medical and Civil War artifacts. Three floors of displays in an 1860 Railroad Hotel take the visitor back in time. The Georgian architecture with it's verandas and 2nd floor entry steps are reminiscent of Hotel days. The Civil War displays of uniforms, weapons and surgical artifacts remind the visitor of the era when the building served as a Battlefield Receiving Hospital. It is one of the few Receiving Hospitals in Virginia that is still standing. The Museum is open April 1 - Nov 30. Monday - Saturday 10-4 Sunday 1-4 Closed Wednesdays |
Clarksville Regional Museum --
6989 Highway 58, Clarksville, VA
Tobacco room, a Buffalo Lithia Springs room, and a typical sewing room. Collection of arrow heads and antique agricultural implements. Friday and Saturday (2 to 5 PM). Admission Free. Located in historic Clarksville, Virginia's only lakeside town, on beautiful Buggs Island Lake/John H. Kerr Reservoir. |
Claude Moore Colonial Farm --
6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA
This is a working farm showing how life was in the year 1771. Volunteers dress and talk as they did in that era. They show visitors how to do the daily chores and the visitors are encouraged to help them. On certain dates of the year, they have a secondary exhibit teaching farming skills where you can churn butter, pound corn into meal, etc. |
Collingwood Library and Museum of Americanism --
8301 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA
Originally part of George Washington's River Farm, the Collingwood Library is now a unique library on Americana. With its extensive collection of books on American heritage and a genealogy section on loan from the Mayflower Society of Washington, the library features replicas of the Constitution and the Magna Carta. The nine-acre grounds, situated between Alexandria and Mount Vernon, offer picturesque views of the Potomac River at a place where ferries crossed the river in Revolutionary times. Open Monday and Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Closed Tuesday. |
Colonial National Historical Park --
1368 Colonial Parkway, Williamsburg, VA
Colonial National Historic Park (NHP) administers two of the most historically significant sites in English North America. Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America in 1607, is administered jointly with the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and Yorktown Battlefield, the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781. These two sites represent the beginning and end of English colonial America. Situated on the Virginia Peninsula, these sites are connected by the 23 mile scenic Colonial Parkway. Colonial NHP also includes Green Spring, the 17th century plantation home of Virginia's colonial governor, Sir William Berkeley and the Cape Henry Memorial, which marks the approximate site of the first landing of the Jamestown colonists in April of 1607. |
Contemporary Art Center of Virginia --
2200 Parks Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA
This award-winning facility is dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art. Painting, sculpture, photography, glass, video and other visual media from international, national and regional artists are explored through regularly changing exhibitions. The Center offers a full schedule of adult and children's art classes, a unique gallery shop and educational programming throughout the year. The Center also organizes the Boardwalk Art Show, one of the oldest and largest arts shows on the East Coast, each summer along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. |
Cosmic Putt Cafe --
2002 Nickerson Blvd., Hampton, VA
Cosmic Putt Cafe is a cafe and indoor miniature golf course perfect for field trips, homeschool groups, or birthday parties. Rates are very reasonable. |
Courthouse Galleries Art Museum --
The Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
The Courthouse Galleries is more than just an art museum. It’s a relaxing gathering place where you can learn the art of growing Bonsai trees one week and see a demonstration of glass blowing the next. Every First Friday, the Courthouse Galleries typically offers free musical entertainment. On the First Sunday of each month, educational programs – such as gallery talks and seminars that complement the exhibits –are open to the public, also free of charge. Art classes, lectures, poetry readings and book signings round out the vast array of offerings at the museum. |
Cousteau Society --
710 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, VA
Opened in the Spring of 2003, this downtown waterfront location is the US headquarters for the Cousteau Society. The Gallery displays world-renowned photography, models of the Alcyone and the Calypso, as well as artifacts from past Cousteau expeditions. Gift shop available. Closed on Sundays year-round and on Saturdays from Labor Day to Memorial Day. |
Crewe Railroad Museum --
100 Virginia Avenue, Crewe, VA
We are located on Highway 460 in the heart of town (Crewe), four miles from the junction of 360/460. In the yard climb on a diesel engine, a caboose, and our steam engine # 606 that has recently arrived. View a baggage cart and other railroad articles that were used. In the station, enjoy a room full of pictures and artifacts with their history. We have a display of the Crewe Roundhouse and trains of the steam era by Al Gerard of Washington, N.C. and a model train layout by Ron Timma of Jetersville, VA to delight the young and old railroad buffs alike! During the month of December every year we have a Holiday and Christmas Layout Tour planned to include our trains and a 50ft layout that is fantastic. Possibly others will be included. Don't forget Homecoming the second weekend of May each year! Friday at 5:00 P.M. |
d'ART Center --
208 East Main Street, Selden Arcade, Norfolk, VA
Connect with the Visual Arts! Visit one of Norfolk's finest attractions. See over 30 working studios featuring the work of many of 40 of the region's best known artists. A great place to buy original art (or just to browse), admission is free. We offer a wide range of art classes and throughout the year present a stunning variety of changing exhibitions. A great place to have your child’s birthday party, we also make the Center available for other special functions. Our hours are 10:00 AM -6:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday 1:00-5:00 PM. We are closed Mondays. When in Norfolk, remember to make your connection! |
D. Ralph Hostetter Museum --
Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, VA
Established in 1968, the museum houses more than 6,000 items, including anthropology artifacts; botanical specimens; fossils; marine life; minerals; crystals and gems; rocks, fluorescent rocks and minerals. It also has mounted heads of American and African game mammals; East African birds; Virginia birds, nests and eggs; Virginia and international insects. Special exhibits are occasionally displayed. The musuem is available free to the public on select Sundays. Group tours are also available by reservation and for a fee. |
Daniel Harrison House --
355 North Main Street, Dayton, VA
The Daniel Harrison house was built in the 18th century by one of the early settlers in the Harrisonburg area. The house is located on Cook's Creek just north of Dayton. The house with generous donations of furniture and artifacts, some from the Harrison family, transform this house into a tangible reminder of the pioneer spirit and rich heritage of the Shendandoah Valley. Guided tours are availalbe. Open May - October. |
Dante History Project --
Rt. 63, Dante, VA
The town of Dante developed from the little crossroads of Turkey Foot into a major coal center at the beginning of the 20th century. Once a thriving, multi-cultural mining community of 3,800 people in 1930, today Dante is a quiet town of about 900 people. However, the memories of a vibrant past remain. The Dante History Project documents the struggles and successes of its citizens. The exhibit of oral histories and old photographs is displayed on 22 panels quilted by the Dante Senior Citizens. Open by appointment only. The Dante History Project book is available for sale at the Dante General Store. |
Danville Science Center --
677 Craghead Street, Danville, VA
Discover the secrets of how things work. Explore the impact of science on your life. Hands-on exhibits fill the Danville Science Center. Push a button to make sparks fly. Build a crystal. Enjoy interactive exhibits in Light and Vision, Earth Science and more. Make music in the Outdoor Sound exhibit. Explore many visiting exhibits on topics including biology, ecology and natural history. Discover galleries featuring the Estelle H. Womack Collection, a wonderful array of natural history objects collected and donated by local residents. In the Science Center's Butterfly Station learn about local plants that attract butterflies. Look for cocoons, mix nectar and map a Monarch butterfly's migration. Throughout the year the Science Center features special events and workshops. Weekly programs for children encourage science exploration. |
Daura Gallery Museum --
Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA
The art gallery was established in 1974 and dedicated in 1990 as the Daura Gallery in memory of Pierre and Louise Blair Daura. Since then, the Gallery has expanded its facilities and collection through the generosity of their daughter, Martha Randolph Daura. The collection of works by the Catalan-American artist Pierre Daura, and many other American and Virginia artists, now includes more than 1,000 paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture. Academic year hours: Monday through Friday, 9am - 2pm; Sunday, 1pm - 5pm. Summer hours by appointment. Admission is free. |
Dennis Reedy R. R. & Coal Museum --
21 Main Street, Clinchco, VA
A visit to this private museum is a glimpse into the soul of the region. Dennis Reedy, a school teacher by profession, has been a collector all his life. Three years ago, when his collection became too large for the room that housed them, he built a museum. Recently, he added an extension when that space became crowded. Much of the collection is from the railroad and coal mine operations in the area. There is also a lifestyles collection that includes tools, dishes and other family heirlooms typical of life at the turn of the century. |
Dinosaur Land --
3848 Stonewall Jackson Highway, White Post, VA
Step into the world of the prehistoric past, where visitors can turn back the pages of time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. |
Dodona Manor - The Home and Gardens of George C. Marshall --
217 Edwards Ferry Road, Leesburg, VA
Dodona Manor is a National Historic Landmark located in Leesburg, Virginia. What distinguishes this property is the man who called this place home - General George C. Marshall - one of the most significant and influential individuals of the 20th century. Marshall served our nation as chief of staff of the army, secretary of state, head of the American Red Cross, secretary of defense, special presidential emissary to China, and is known as the author of the Marshall Plan. In 2000, the Brookings Institution declared the Marshall Plan the top Federal Government project of the last century. In 1953, Marshall received the Nobel Peace Prize; he is the only professional soldier so honored. Dodona Manor is open daily by reservation for tour groups of ten or more persons (seven days a week) and to the general public without on weekends. |
Downtown Historic District, Marion, Virginia --
138 West Main Street, Marion, VA
Downtown's alive with arts, music, theater, shopping, and dining. Anchor renovations include a 1929 theater and a 1927 hotel. Add unique antiques, art galleries, resturants and shopping. Catch a live taping of Song of the Mountains, a PBS series celebrating the region's Scots-Irish, mountain, bluegrass and country musical heritage. |
Drewry's Bluff --
3215 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Union soldiers called this Confederate guardian of the James River, Fort Darling. On May, 15 five Federal vessels, including the famous ironclad Monitor; attacked the fort but were driven off. The unsuccessful attack prevented Richmond from being shelled early in the war, and the presence of the fort was a deterrent to other Union naval forays up the James. The fort and surrounding area served as the Confederate Naval Academy and Marine Corps Camp of Instruction during much of the war. Exhibits along a self-guiding trail give details of the fort's history. |
Drug Enforcement Administration Museum --
700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA
The DEA Museum & Visitors Center is the only Museum in the country focused on drugs, drug abuse and drug law enforcement. The Museum features interactive kiosks, a mini theater, literature corner and exhibits on the history of Illegal Drugs in America. See exhibits of an old-fashioned drug store, illegal crack house, '60s head shop and an opium den of the 1800s. Learn about present-day designer-type drugs as well as marijuana, amphetamines and psychedelics. Geared for ages 10 and up. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tu-Fr, free of charge, and located in Pentagon City, Arlington. Groups welcomed. |
Eastern Shore Railway Museum --
Railroad Square, Parksley, VA
Train tracks lead into Parksley’s quaint town square where tiny shops and picture-perfect Victorian homes give the town the look of a model train village come to life. Step into the restored train station and step back in time when passengers purchased tickets or warmed themselves in front of the coal stoves. In the glory days of the iron horse 14 passenger trains a day stopped here. Today the train whistle can still be heard when the Eastern Shore Railroad passes through with freight cars. The main museum building is chock-full of railroad memorabilia from the many that operated on this peninsula since the mid-1800s. The 1927 Diplomat, an elegant parlor/lounge car, a jaunty 1949 caboose and a 1950 sleeper car are available for guided tours. |
Eastville Courthouse Buildings - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
16404 Courthouse Road, Eastville, VA
The old Courthouse(1731), Clerk's Office(1731), and Prison(1814) form a remarkable assemblage of early Virginia Court buildings. The complex is distinguished by original fittings and furnishings. The Clerk's Office contains legal records dating from 1632, remains on its original site and has had almost no restoration. Now a museum, it contains an interesting collection of Indian relics and colonial artifacts. |
Edinburg Madison District Museum --
107 Center Street, Edinburg, VA
Located in the Old town Hall building, Circa 1903. This building was past homes of the Volunteer Fire Department and Town Hall. It was also the home of the Edinburg Teen Center in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and the Campfire Girls in the early 1900’s. The Museum located here in 1997 and houses a collection of local memorabilia and a photographic history of the area. Part of the Edinburg Walking Tour--a great way to learn about the rural life of the area. One of the many stops along the Wilderness Road in Shenandoah County! |
Edward V. Valentine Sculpture Studio --
1015 E. Clay Street, Richmond, VA
The studio and artwork of prominent Richmond sculptor Edward Virginius Valentine (1838-1930) offers the rare opportunity to see a large collection of 19th-century artworks, by an individual artist, within the setting that they were created. Well-known pieces include the full-size plaster models of Valentine’s Recumbent Lee and Thomas Jefferson. Dozens of Civil War figures are represented through portrait sculpture, and Valentine's monumental and classical works are well represented. The building is one of only four surviving 19th century sculpture studios in the United States. The Edward V. Valentine Sculpture Studio is a member of the Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios group of National Trust Associate Sites. Permanent exhibit. |
Elegba Folklore Society, Inc. --
101 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA
A not-for-profit organization that offers services in cultural arts programming and communications. Provides educational and socio-economic opportunities through the arts. Its purposes are to bring to communities a deeper understanding of the rich diversity of their cultural traditions and to encourage participation in those traditions. |
Ellwood Manor --
Route 20 (one mile south of Rt 3. & 20 intersection), Locust Grove, VA
Plantation home perched on a knoll overlooking Wilderness Run, built in 1790. Ellwood plantation has a rich heritage, including a visit by the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824. It served as a Confederate Hospital and later as the Headquarters of three Union generals. Civil War site; burial site of the arm of General "Stonewall" Jackson.
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Enchanted Castle Studio --
4942 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, VA
Lifelike human figures, animals, cartoon characters, trees, caves, rocks, facades, monsters, mascots, dinosaurs, leprechauns, gargoyles, waterfalls, giants and things you can't even imagine. At Professor Clines Haunted Mansion Museum you will experience his work housed in an old Victorian Manor, displayed haunted house style, to bring you the very best of this type of fun family entertainment. Bizarre and unique, it's like Scooby Doo meets the Twilight Zone. At Enchanted Castle Studio Tours you'll find things for any kid of any age!
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Endview Plantation --
362 Yorktown Road, Newport News, VA
School Programs, Girl and Boy Scouts, Kids Camps, Group Tours all available. Built in 1769 by William Harwood, the ‘T'- frame Georgian-style house renamed Endview in the 1850s, served as a Confederate hospital during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. |
Evelynton Plantation --
6701 John Tyler Highway, Charles City, VA
Evelynton was the site of fierce Civil War skirmishes in 1862, when General George McClellan waged his destructive Peninsula Campaign; J.E.B. Stuart, Stonewall Jackson and John Pelham bravely led the Southern offensive in the Battle of Evelynton Heights. The original house and out-buildings were burned during that conflict, and the current residence was erected two generations later by Edmund Ruffin's great grandson, John Augustine Ruffin, Jr. and his wife Mary Ball Saunders.
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Fairfax Station Railroad Museum & Caboose --
11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, VA
This museum is an historic reconstruction of the 1858 building. During the civil war it served as a Union supply base, field hospital and transport center. The station became part of the Southern Railway System in 1894 and was closed in 1973. The freight room is available for tours, parties, receptions and meetings with a maximum capacity of 50 persons. The Caboose can be used for parties for young children, 12 persons total. |
Farmer's Bank - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
19 Bollingbrook Street, Petersburg, VA
One of the nation's only bank museums, the Farmer's Bank was incorporated in 1812 and opened its Petersburg branch in 1817. The three-story Federal structure became a frequent gathering place for the Petersburg community. The first floor of the building held the banking area with the original vault. The Bank passed eventually became a private residence and passed through many hands before being conveyed to the APVA in 1960. The first floor is now exhibited as a bank.
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Fayette Area Historical Initiative African American Museum (FAHI) --
504 Fayette Street, Martinsville, VA
Fayette Street Museum was created to collect, preserve and interpret the African American experience in Martinsville/Henry County. Located in a historical landmark, the museum showcases African American history and culture through displays and exhibits. Level one represents more than 100 years of African American history on Fayette Street. The exhibits, "Walking down the street what do you see?" and "Where we were...where are we today?" show 2 miles of road along Fayette Steet. While traveling the 2 mile stretch, you will see black owned businesses, doctor's offices, retail stores, and other historic buildings. Level two shows black history on the local and national levels. Photo displays of events, educators, doctors, businesses, churhes and it's all waiting for your eyes only. |
Ferry Plantation House --
4130 Cheswick Lane , Virginia Beach, VA
The current building stands on the site that was originally occupied by Col. Anthony Walke's home as well as the first brick courthouse for Princess Anne County. The present home was built by descendents of Walke after his original home burned down. This site was also used for ferry service operating from 1642 until well into the 19th century. Archaeology conducted on the property has yielded significant findings of intact 18th century artifacts. |
Fincastle Museum --
20 West Main Street, Fincastle, VA
The James Matten Early Cabin was built between 1796 and 1798 of rough hewn logs by the town tailor, James Matten Early and was completely restored by Historic Fincastle, Inc. Today it serves as the Fincastle Museum and is furnished with period antiques from Fincastle and Botetourt County. The museum is open by appointment only. |
Fine Arts Ctr., New River Valley --
21 West Main Street, Pulaski, VA
The center was founded to foster and furnish activities, programs and facilities that increase the understanding and enjoyment of the fine arts. It features exhibitions, poetry and literary readings, musical programs and lectures. Classes, workshops and outreach programs are also offered. The center includes a gift shop.Free concerts are offered in Pulaski's Jackson Park throughout the summer. Visit the Center's homepage via the New River Arts Council for updated information. |
Foamhenge at Natural Bridge --
Rt. 11, Natural Bridge, VA
Stonehenge has inspired awe and mystery from visitors for over 5000 years. This megalithic ruin has withstood the tests of time and captivated our imagination. This year, Mark Cline of the Enchanted Castle Studios unveiled a full size scale replica of Stonehenge on the property of the Natural Bridge of Virginia made entirely of foam. “Foamhenge at Natural Bridge” is painted to resemble the real Stonehenge. Located on the west side of Rt. 11 near the Natural Bridge Zoo, 1 mile north of Natural Bridge. |
Fort Harrison --
3215 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Fort Harrison represented the strongest point on the Confederate line of defenses. From it, one could see all the way to the James River. However, in 1864 most of the Confederate forces were in Petersburg and here the Confederate defenders numbered barely 200. The Union attack pierced the fort quickly, with relatively few casualties. On September 30, Robert E. Lee personally organized a major effort to recapture the lost fort. His attack also lacked coordination, and the well prepared Union defenders-some of them armed with multiple shot weapons crushed the Confederate effort and inflicted great loss on the attackers. |
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site --
4301 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA
Fort Ward is the best preserved of the system of Union forts and batteries built to protect Washington, DC during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Fort Ward Museum interprets the site's history and offers exhibits on Civil War topics, education and interpretive programs, tours, lecture and video series, bus tours, and living history activities throughout the year. The Museum and Historic Site also interpret Alexandria, Virginia, as an occupied city, the city's role as a vital Union Army crossroads, life within the Defenses of Washington, and the everyday life of Civil War soldiers and civilians. |
Francis Land House --
3131 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA
The Francis Land House is a two hundred year old plantation home, built circa 1805 - 1810, that is open to the public six days per week for guided tours. Special programs for schools, scouts and the general public are offered throughout the year. The Land House was purchased by the City of Virginia Beach in 1975 and has been operated as a historic house museum since 1986. |
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania Military Park --
120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, VA
Approximately 110,000 casualties occurred during the four major battles fought in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, Virginia making it the bloodiest ground on the North American continent. In 1927 the U.S. Congress established Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Memorial National Military Park to commemorate the heroic deeds of the men engaged at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. Today the park also includes the historic structures of Chatham, Ellwood, Salem Church, and the "Stonewall" Jackson Shrine. The park encompasses over 8,000 acres making it one of the largest military park in the world. There is a $4 entrance fee per person for those 17 and over to visit the park. |
Fredericksburg Area Museum --
907 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Housed in the old 1816 Town Hall/Market House, the Fredericksburg Area Museum helps tell the story of Fredericksburg's rich and varied past along with that of the surrounding area. Our permanent exhibition, "British Heritage - American Style" displays the remarkable decorative arts history of the Fredericksburg Region. |
The Freedom Museum --
10400 Terminal Road, Manassas, VA
The Freedom Museum, an affiliate member of the Smithsonian Institution, is located at Manassas Regional airport in Manassas, Va., about 32 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. The museum was founded in 1999 by a group of veterans wanting to honor the contributions of the men and women of the Armed Forces and civilian leaders to world peace and freedom. |
Freeman House --
131 Church Street, Vienna, VA
The Freeman House served various times as a residence, store, Civil War hospital, railroad station, post office and fire department. Today, the house contains a museum and old-fashioned general store open to the public on the weekends. |
From Warwick to Windsor Farms: Building Virginia House --
Virginia House, Richmond, VA
The design and building of Virginia House, home of Alexander and Virginia Weddell, is the subject of this exhibit featuring vintage photos and plans. The stones and much of the glass which became Virginia House in Windsor Farms, were once part of a 12th-century priory in Warwickshire, England. When the house was completed in 1929, the Weddells deeded it to the Virginia Historical Society. |
Frontier Culture Museum --
Route 250 West, exit 222 from I81, Staunton, VA
Visit Europe and America's past at four different historic farms moved from their country of origin and reconstructed at the museum site in Staunton, Virginia. See the rare and minor breed animals, walk through authentic gardens, help harvest period crops, watch a blacksmith at work, and visit with the farm interpreters to share a lesson of courage, heritage and determination. |
Gadsby's Tavern Museum --
134 N. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA
Gadsby's Tavern Museum consists of two buildings, a ca. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Hotel. The buildings are named for Englishman John Gadsby who operated them from 1796 to 1808. Mr. Gadsby's establishment was a center of political, business, and social life in early Alexandria. Take a moment to journey back to the 18th-century tavern and hotel where famous historical figures and everyday people dined and slept. Learn about the history, architecture, decorative arts, social customs, food, and clothing of a past era. |
Gallery 108, LLC --
108 Market Street, Roanoke, VA
As a cooperative of regional artists, Gallery 108 offers both quality art and local culture. Items available include painting, sculpture, jewelry, etching, photography, fiber art, turned wood and framing. Gallery 108 also hosts guest artists from around the region on a regular basis. |
Gari Melchers Home and Studio - Belmont Estate --
224 Washington Street , Fredericksburg, VA
The house at Gari Melchers Home and Studio possesses a rich history that predates Gari Melchers. Plan on approximately one and one half hours to view the orientation film, tour the house and studio and walk the gardens. Add 30 minutes if a group garden tour is scheduled. |
Generations: The Wickham Family Collections --
1015 East Clay Street, Richmond, VA
Hourly guided tours of the 1812 Wickham House, a National Historic Landmark, allow guests to explore aspects of life in the early 19th century. In the public first-floor rooms ornate decoration helped the Wickhams and their slaves present a picture of leisure and refinement. Exhibited on the second floor are artifacts from the descendants of the family that first inhabited the house. The self-guided Wickham House basement examines the slaves' private spheres. |
George C. Marshall International Center at Dodona Manor --
217 Edwards Ferry Rd, Leesburg, VA
A restored house museum that is the former home of General George C. Marshall, Architect of Allied Victory for World War II, Special Ambassador to China, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Nobel Peace Laureate. Tours on weekends only or by reservation weekdays for groups of 10 or more. |
George C. Marshall Museum --
P. O. Drawer 1600, Lexington, VA
In 1953 President Truman suggested the establisment of a living memorial honoring General of the Army George Catlett Marshall. Located in Lexington, Virginia, adjacent to the Virginia Military Institute, Marshall's alma mater. The museum draws it inspiration from the life and career of General Marshall. America's greatest soldier-statesman of this centry. The museum and library, dedicated in 1964 preserve the history of the era and are the principal resources for documentation and study of the life and times of George Catlett Marshall. |
George Washington Birthplace National Monument --
1732 Pope's Creek Road, Washington's Birthplace, VA
On the beautiful Potomac River, you get a glimpse of the site where George Washington was born. They have a film to watch in the visitors center, a gift shop, a living colonial farm, costumed interpreters, the Washington family burial ground, picnic pavillion and informative park rangers to answer questions. |
George Washington Masonic Museum --
803 Princess Anne St, Fredericksburg, VA
Young George Washington was raised a Mason in this lodge in 1752. The lodge museum today contains memorabilia and relics relating to his membership, including an original Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington. |
George Washington's Ferry Farm --
268 Kings Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Visitor Center built in the 1960s was once used as a boy's school. Today, it houses a gallery featuring the story of "George Washington - Boy Before Legend", displays of artifacts found on the site, the archaeology lab, and administrative offices. Just behind is a wonderful demonstration garden. Tours are self-guided. You may spend as much time on the grounds and in the Visitor Center as you like during open hours. |
George Washington's Mount Vernon --
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA
Mount Vernon is the most popular historic estate in America. Visitors are invited to tour the Mansion house and more than a dozen outbuildings including the slave quarters, kitchen, stables, and greenhouse. Stroll four different gardens, hike the Forest Trail, and explore the George Washington: Pioneer Farmer site, a four-acre working farm that includes a re-creation of Washington's 16-sided treading barn. George and Martha Washington rest in peace in the tomb where wreathlaying ceremonies are held daily, and the Slave Memorial and Burial Ground is nearby. |
George Washington's Office Museum --
32 West Cork Street , Winchester, VA
George Washington used a little log building, now the middle room of George Washington's Office Museum, as a military office from September 1755 to December of 1756 while Ft. Loudoun was being constructed at the north end of town. Washington planned Ft Loudoun, supervised the work and brought his own blacksmiths from Mount Vernon to do the iron work. It is very appropriate that this early period of Mr. Washington's life should be so honored in the area where he spent so much time during the crucial, formative years. |
Giles County Historical Museum --
Giles County Historical Museum Complex, Pearisburg, VA
Museum complex consists of four buildings: the Andrew Johnston House, the Doctor's Office, the Research Library and the Museum. The "country home estate" of Andrew Johnston (circa 1829) typifies Federal-style architecture of the nineteenth century. It is furnished with many pieces of original furniture, including some that predate the Civil War. Dr. Harvey Green Johnston I built the Doctor's Office in 1857. It was used by area physicians for nearly a century. During the Civil War, the office served as temporary headquarters for two future presidents--Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley. Research Library has records on local history and genealogy. County history exhibits found in the Museum, include Native American artifacts, Revolutionary and Civil War relics and the bank and post office from the town of Eggleston, Va. |
Glencoe Museum --
600 Unruh Drive, Radford, VA
Explore the heritage of Radford and the New River Valley in this 19th-century Victorian home on the banks of the New River. Elegant furnishings, photographs from Radford’s past, an old-time woodworking shop, and more, make Glencoe a place where memories come alive. Call or visit the website for more information. |
Gloucester County Museum of History --
6539 Main Street, Gloucester, VA
The Gloucester County Museum of History is housed in the historic Botetourt Building, a pre-Revolutionary brick ordinary (tavern) built in 1770 at the county seat. Botetourt Towne, as it was called then, was named for Lord Botetourt, the first governor of Virginia. Permanent exhibits include Gloucester Archaeology; Civil and Revolutionary War displays; the Old Country Store with Post Office; and Memories of the Hotel Botetourt. Special exhibits change monthly. |
Goochland County Courthouse --
2938 River Road West, Goochland, VA
This Jeffersonian-inspired courthouse was built in 1826 by master builder, Dabney Cosby, Sr. Major and minor changes and improvements have been made to the interior of the Courthouse during the passing years, but the exterior remains unchanged. On the Courthouse Green there are other buildings which, include a stone jail (1837), a brick clerk's office (1847), and James Clopton Knibb Building (1906). Come see history in Goochland County. |
Goochland Historical Museum --
2875 River Road West, Goochland, VA
The Goochland Board of Supervisors gave permission for the Goochland Historical Society to adapt the Old Stone Jail (c. 1833) on the Courthouse Green into a museum and library. The Jail was constructed when the James River & Kanawaha Canal was being built westward along the James River. River stones were brought up the hill to the site. Recently refurbished, the Jail Museum now houses the Society's new exhibit tracing the history of Goochland from the 1700s to the 20th Century. The exhibit details the formation of the county in 1728 by Sir William Gooch, Lt. Governor. Early Indian relics and the first patent for land dated 1703 begin Goochland's history. Hours: Open by appointment. Call for information. |
Graffiti House and Brandy Station Battlefield --
19484 Brandy Road, Brandy Station, VA
The Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863, was one of history's greatest cavalry engagements with over 20,000 troops, including 17,000 cavalry, engaged in battle. Although the Union advance was repelled, the overwhelming dominance of the Confederate cavalry was broken. The Graffiti House served as a field hospital for both the North and the South during this and other local battles during the war. Soldiers from both sides made drawings and signed their names and units on the walls. Rediscovered in 1993 and recently renovated, much has been preserved. It serves as the headquarters for the Brandy Station Foundation as well as a visitor center. |
Groundhog Mountain Overlook --
Mile Post 188.8, Blue Ridge Parkway, Laurel Fork, VA
Travelers along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Carroll County must stop and visit the Groundhog Mountain Scenic Overlook at Mile Post 188.8. This high point, 3,030 feet above sea level, along the crest of the Blue Ridge Escarpment affords a stunning 360 degree view of the countryside. To enhance the view, an observation tower was constructed that resembles an old tobacco barn. Buffalo Mountain and the Carolina Piedmont can be seen from here in the distance. The site features a picnic area with many tables and grills. A historic cemetery is also located at the site. The National Park Service has an interesting collection of wood rail fence types available for viewing to help interpret a long past fencing approaches once used in the mountain. The overlook is 10.7 miles east of the parkway access point at Fancy Gap (near Interstate 77). |
Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum --
8100 Fordson Road, Gum Springs, VA
Gum Springs is the oldest African American Community in Fairfax County, formaly established in 1833. West Ford, a former slave, founded the community after being freed by George Washington. Located close to the Mount Vernon Estate,the community was a sanctuary for freedmen and runaways. Samuel Taylor, a runnaway slave established the first institution in Gum Springs, The Bethlehem Baptist church. Assisted by Quakers, the first school was established at Bethlehem. The Gum Springs Historical Society And Museum was established to preserve and disseminate the history of the Gum Springs Community. Many activites, including exhibits and lecturers at the Gum Springs Museum ccelebrate the triumph of this historic black community. Today, Gum Springs has more than 2,500 residents, up to 500 descended from the original families. |
Gunston Hall Plantation --
10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck, VA
A visit to Gunston Hall begins with the introductory film, "George Mason and the Bill of Rights" (11 min.). Visitors then can view the center's exhibits which highlight details of George Mason's civic career and the lasting influences of his most famous document, The Virginia Declaration of Rights. Exhibits also focus on facets of his personal life as well as aspects of 18th-century plantation culture such as hospitality, building practices, and horticulture. No visit to Gunston Hall is complete without a stop at the museum shop. Here one can find further information about George Mason, Gunston Hall, and 18th century life as well as souveniers |
Gwynn's Island Museum --
Route 633, Gwynn's Island, VA
Located in Mathews County on historic Gwynn's Island, the Gwynn's Island Museum was established in 1991 as a community project to preserve the rich history of Gwynn's Island and Mathews County. A 100-year-old building, originally serving as the Odd Fellows Lodge and later the Island's first public school, was donated in 1992 and restored by dedicated volunteers to what you see today. Two floors of exhibit space include Gwynn's Island School memorabilia, prehistoric fossils, Indian and Colonial artifacts, antique dresses, gowns, quilts and extensive military and Merchant Marine displays from the Civil War to the present. Other displays feature Island watermen, the Roman connection to Gwynn's Island, and the Battle of Cricket Hill. Open May thru October, Fri, Sat & Sun. Call to arrange tours for 8 or more during off season. |
Hale-Wilkinson-Carter Home --
405 North Main Street, Hillsville, VA
The Hale-Wilkson-Carter Home is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Hillsville Historic District. Initially the home was constructed by Fielden Hale in 1845, but extensively modified in 1924 by Industrialist George L. Carter. The property is owned by the Carroll County Board of Supervisors, but is leased to the Hale-Wilkinson-Carter Home Foundation - a non-profit organization. The building is currently undergoing renovation, but frequently accomodates social events in the restored second floor. Space is available for weddings, luncheons, and such. Future use will include arts and craft sales and display. Tours are available on a limited basis, usually Wednesdays; a scheduled work day of the foundation. Site part of the Historic Hillsville walking tour. Please call for tour information. |
The Haller-Gibboney Rock House Museum --
205 E. Tazewell Street, Wytheville, VA
Take a tour of the museum and garden, enjoy lots of Hands-on-Activities, and check out the Children's Discovery Center. School and group programs can be tailored to the grade and age level of the student group. Curriculum guides are available for educators. Visitors to our museums are encouraged to explore and understand the past, to reflect upon their own lives, and their place in history. Itis our hope that visitors of today will want to preserve local history for future generations. |
Haller-Gibboney Rock House Museum --
P.O. Box 533, Wytheville, VA
Historic house museum was built in 1823. Home of Wytheville's first resident physician. Collection includes period furnishings, personal mementos, medical records and supplies from the 1800's, and a small museum of local artifacts. There is an herb garden with plants typically grown in the 19th. century. |
Hampton History Museum --
120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton, VA
Experience the historical excitement of "four centuries on the bay - from the seas to the starts." From Native Americans and the early colonists, a bustling port, the infamous Blackbeard, "contrabands" and the Civil War, the rise of "Crabtown USA", to modern Hampton. Guided tours provided through ten galleries of permanent and changing exhibits. |
Hampton Roads Naval Museum --
Nauticus, the National Maritime Center, Norfolk, VA
One of ten museums operated by the U.S. Navy, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum in Norfolk introduces guests to over 225 years of naval activity in and around the great harbor of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Over fifty exhibits cover historic U.S. Naval events such as the Battle Off the Virginia Capes, the battle of the ironclads Monitor and Merrimac, the Atlantic Navy in World War II and much more. The museum's trademark artifact, USS Wisconsin, is also open to visitors free of charge. While onboard, visitors will get a first-rate experience of what it was like to be a sailor aboard an Iowa-class battleship. The battleship's signature exhibit, "Wisky Walk: 50 Years of Service" provides an in depth overview of BB-64's proud history. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is located on the second floor of Nauticus, the National Maritime Center. |
Hampton University Museum --
Hampton University Campus, Hampton, VA
The Hampton University Museum is a unique institution and a national treasure. Located in Hampton, Virginia, in the heart of the historic Hampton University campus, the Museum is the oldest African American museum in the United States and one of the oldest museums in the state of Virginia. The collections feature over 9,000 objects including African American fine arts, traditional African, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Island, and Asian art; and objects relating to the history of the University. |
Hardesty-Higgins House --
212 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA
Begun in 1848 by Henry Higgins, and completed by the city’s first mayor, Isaac Hardesty in 1853, the Hardesty-Higgins House is a structure that has played an important role in Harrisonburg’s history. In August of 2005, the restoration of the Colonial Revival house was completed and the staff is always pleased to acquaint visitors with almost 150 years of history. As the second oldest home in historic downtown, it is the first stop in the city’s Downtown Walking Tour. It is home to Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services and Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance. Also, located in this historic home are Mrs. Hardesty’s Tea Room, and the Valley Turnpike Museum, which records the developement of the Shenandoah Valley through the history of the road of many names, including Rt. 11.Come and visit the home where history and hospitality meet. |
Harmon's Museum --
5122 Carrollton Pike (Rt 58 West), Woodlawn, VA
The Harmon Museum has an interesting array of artifacts. The museum exhibits numerous historical artifacts from the Carroll County Courthouse Courtroom Shooting of March 1912, Colonial era, Native American tools, Civil War, World War II, Baldwin Felts Detective Agency, early coal mining relics, and pioneer tools - just to name a few. The museum is located along Route 58 West midway between Hillsville and Galax, in the Woodlawn Community. The museum adjoins Harmon's Outlet Stores. There is no admission fee. |
Harrison Museum of African American Culture --
523 Harrison Ave., NW, Roanoke, VA
The Harrison Museum of African American Culture occupies the first floor of the former Harrison School, the first public high school for African American students in Southwest Virginia. Built in 1916, Harrison School, with its unique architectural design and historical value, is listed in the Virginia Historic Landmark Register and the National Historic Landmark Register. The Harrison Museum's mission is: “to research preserve and interpret the achievements of African Americans, specifically in Southwestern Virginia, and to provide an opportunity for all citizens to come together in appreciation, enjoyment and greater knowledge of African American culture.” All visitors will enjoy an enriching experience of African American history and art. Harrison Museum sponsors the Henry St. Heritage Festival the last Saturday of September. |
Harrisonburg Children's Museum --
30 North Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA
Hands-on, interactive museum where children (ages 2-12) and their families can explore and learn together. The museum offers a wide range of activities including culture, science and technology. All activities and exhibits are designed so young minds can "explore more." |
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society --
382 High Street, Dayton, VA
The Society features an excellent museum exhibit of the history of the Rockingham/Harrisonburg area; an electronic lighted map of Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign; an extensive genealogy library with guides to assist your research; a large selection of history books for sale; and a gift shop with area pottery, folk items, collectibles, and cook books, etc. There is also a temporary exhibit featuring clothing of the past two centuries called "Through the Looking Glass". |
Haunted Monster Museum --
U.S. 11 South, Natural Bridge, VA
At the Haunted Monster Museum you will experience the very best of fun family entertainment. Bizarre and unique, it's like Scooby Doo meets the Twilight Zone. |
Haymarket Museum --
15025 Washington St., Haymarket, VA
The Haymarket Museum chronicles the story of a small, 19th century town and its surrounding agricultural community. Haymarket was established in 1799 and was well known for the Red House Tavern, built along the historic Old Carolina Road, as well as the Jockey Club, an organization that sponsored horse races at the town’s track. In 1862 the town was almost completely destroyed by a Union patrol that, sent to uncover a suspected sniper, wound up setting fire to most of the homes. Decimated by the destruction of the Civil War, the town nonetheless rebuilt and many of the buildings from the reconstruction period survive, as do the only two buildings that survived the 1862 fire. The Haymarket Museum is open to the public from April to December. |
Henricus Historical Park --
251 Henricus Park Road, Chester, VA
Experience what it was like when the first English settlers moved to America by taking a trip to Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield County. Established in 1611 by Sir Thomas Dale, Henricus was the second successful English city in the New World. It was built along the James River on land inhabited by the Appomattocks tribe, where Pocahontas grew up. Harsh battles were fought when the English first arrived in America. It was the marriage between Pocahontas and John Rolfe that helped bring a peaceful coexistence between the two warring factions. Daily, visitors enjoy a very interactive experience as costumed interpreters bring early Virginia history to life! Special events and programs are offered throughout the year including Publick Day in September. |
Heritage Farm Museum of Loudoun County --
21668 Heritage Farm Ln, Sterling, VA
Plant a seed in your young farmer's imagination and watch it grow at one of the Metro area's newest museums. Meet Milkie the Cow, travel back in time to the Waxpool General Store, and be a farmer for a day. Your family will reap the rewards of time well spent. The museum specializes in hands-on classes and programs - check out the Education section of the website for more details. |
Hermitage Foundation Museum, Gardens, and Visual Arts School --
7637 North Shore Road, Norfolk, VA
The Hermitage Foundation Museum, an early 20th century estate of the Sloane family, offers an outstanding presentation of architecture, art, and nature. Docent-led tours on the hour. Visitors may leisurely stroll the waterfront and 12-acre gardens, view contemporary art exhibitions, attend seasonal events, and participate in multi-media art classes. Museum and Grounds open daily except Wednesdays and major holidays. |
Herndon Depot Museum --
Old Train Depot, Herndon, VA
The Herndon Depot Museum houses railroad memorabilia, information on Commander William Lewis Herndon, for whom the town was named; artifacts from the U.S.S Herndon destroyer from WWII, and artifacts from local residents. Operated by the Historical Society of Herndon, the building dates back to the 1850s and served as a train station in the dairy community until 1968. |
Highland County Museum and Heritage Center --
161 Mansion House Road, McDowell, VA
The museum is located in a 1851 home which served as a hosptial during the Civil War Battle of McDowell on May 8, 1862. The home became a stagecoach stop on the Staunton-to-Parkersburg Turnpike and was operated as a hotel. The Highland Historical Society purchased the building in 2001 to renovate it into a local history museum. The grand opening was held May 7, 2005. One of the museum rooms is dedicated solely to the Battle of McDowell including a new documentary film on the battle that was shot on-location in McDowell. Two other exhibit rooms are filled with local artifacts and antiques that tell the story of the rural, mountain community of Highland County, Va. For more information, go to the website. |
Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park --
Rt. 19 & 460, Tazewell, VA
This pioneer park and museum focuses on the history of Southwest Virginia from prehistoric times to the present. Includes Native American artifacts from nearby Crab Orchard archeological site, exhibits on Revolutionary and Civil Wars, agricultural and mining, industries. The museum lobby houses a rotating exhibit area that keeps various themed exhibits such as The Beauty of Photography Jan.-June 2003 and Native American Village July-Dec., 2003. Highway construction unearthed nearly all of the Native American artifacts seen in some of the exhibits. Beads, pottery, tools and weapons are displayed and many others are in storage and also under study at the Smithsonian Institute. Join us on Saturdays for special programs such as lectures, recitals and other presentations. |
Historic Kenmore --
1201 Washington Ave, Fredericksburg, VA
This lovely Georgian mansion was built in the 1770s by Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington's sister. Famous for its beautiful plasterwork ceilings, Kenmore is in the final stages of a meticulous and historically accurate restoration. |
Historic Long Branch --
830 Long Branch Lane (Rts 624 and 626), Millwood, VA
Long Branch was built around 1805 by Robert Carter Burwell, a member of a group of Tidewater tobacco planters who moved to the Shenandoah Valley at the end of the 18th Century. They built large and well-appointed houses and raised tobacco and wheat with slave labor. This new plantation society revolved around the village of Millwood with its store, blacksmith shop and gristmill. Long Branch passed through several owners before being bought and restored by Harry Z. Isaacs, whose Foundation operates the Museum today. |
Historic Long Branch House Museum & Farm --
830 Long Branch Lane, Route 624 & 626, Millwood, VA
An elegantly restored 1811 Greek Revival mansion situated on 400 acres at the foot of the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountins in Clarke County. The house is exquisitely furnished with an opulent collection of period pieces. Guided mansion tours offered Sat/Sun. Apr-Oct. 12-4pm. Private Tours available weekdays/other times by reservation @ $10/person. Groups of 10+ year round, anytime, by reservation. The grounds are embellished by beautiful gardens. The gardens feature herbs, hellebores & hostas, roses, perennials & numerous plant species found in England. The grounds, are open year round, 7 days a week for self-guided garden tours, picnics & walking. The estate, a working horse farm, also features special events; Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon & Wine Festival, Christmas Tours, Lecture Series & more. |
Historic Morven Park --
17263 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg, VA
A Greek Revival mansion on 1,200 acres just outside Leesburg; once home to two Governors--Thomas Swann, Jr., Governor of Maryland, and Westmoreland Davis, Governor of Virginia in 1918.The house tour also includes the Museum of Hounds and Hunting, the only fox hunting museum in the world and the Winmill Carriage Collection, with over 70 horsedrawn turn-of-the-century vehicles. Boxwood gardens, picnic area, special events. The historic mansion and Museum of Hounds & Hunting are closed to the public during extensive interior and exterior resoration. |
Historic Smithfield --
1000 Smithfield Plantation Road, Blacksburg, VA
It was here, at the eastern continental divide - the literal edge of European/American civilization - that leader of westward expansion and Revolutionary War patriot William Preston established Smithfield Plantation. In a land of log cabins and physical hardship, Smithfield provided a haven of aristocratic elegance and became the social and political center of the county. Historic Smithfield is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia Landmarks Register, and is an Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities property. Please allow 1 hour for the tour. |
Historic Tours --
St. John's Church, Richmond, VA
St. John's is an active Episcopal Church, the oldest portion of which was built in 1741. It became famous when over 100 Virginia colonial leaders, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry met here in the spring of 1775. Patrick Henry's famous speech in defense of liberty occurred on March 23, 1775 inside the Church. Historic tours by our knowledable, costumed staff are offered daily. The tour includes a synopsis of the history of Richmond, highlights of the graveyard, a tour of the inside of the church and a description of the vigorous debate of the Second Virginia Convention culminating in P. Henry's famous speech. Today the building features Lamb and Booth stained glass windows and a lovely, painted pipe organ. St. John's Church invites visitors to Sunday services at 8:30 and 11:00. |
History Museum of Western Virginia --
Center in the Square, Roanoke, VA
The History Museum's permanent exhibit, "The Roanoke Valley, A Crossroads of History," uses a wide variety of artifacts, furniture, clothing, and decorative arts to chronicle life in the region from prehistoric times through World War II. The Theatre History Gallery features costumes, pictures and memorabilia from Roanoke's most beloved stage and screen theatres, past and present. Our long-running temporary exhibit, Ships & Shipmates, features the histories of the maritime and naval ships named "Roanoke." A display on local citizens who served in the U.S. Navy is also featured. The Museum & Society also has a library and archives on a limited basis (please call for information), a gift shop, and education programs for school groups. |
The Homeplace Mountain Farm & Museum --
Rt. 224, Gate City, VA
The Homeplace is a collection of authentic structures and artifacts that have been assembled here from their original locations throughout Scott County. Each building has been carefully taken down and reassembled on site. Items include quilts, pottery, brooms, weaving, candles, and soaps. Classes are offered in traditional crafts. |
Hugh Mercer Apothecary - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
1020 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
This eighteenth-century building was restored to house the Hugh Mercer Apothecary. Dr. Mercer served the citizens of Fredericksburg with medicines and treatments of the time. Leeches, lancets, snakeroot, and crab claws made up just some of the remedies. Dr. Mercer practiced medicine for fifteen years in Fredericksburg. Take a guided stroll through the lovely herb garden and learn how plants played an important part in 18th and 19th century medicinal care. |
Hunt Club Petting Farm --
2388 London Bridge Road, Virginia Beach, VA
Come on out to Hunt Club's Petting Farm for a day of family fun on the farm. Our petting farm features a large Rainbow Playground set and plenty of shade. Admission is only $3.00 per person. Children under 2 are admitted free. Pony Rides available every Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 4 pm. Animals include: goats, sheep, llamas, donkeys, zebu cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, swans, pheasants and peacocks. Spend an hour or half the day. Drinks, Snacks and Yoder's Dairy Ice Cream available daily at Hunt Club Farm Market. |
Hunter House Victorian Museum --
240 West Freemason Street, Norfolk, VA
Experience the gracious and elegant Victorian by-gone era with a visit to the Hunter House Victorian Museum. It is a time when children amuse themselves outside with croquet and inside with parlor card games. As gentlemen and fathers spend their days in business establishments downtown, mothers and wives preside over the affairs of the home. Additionally, they interest themselves in gardening and handicrafts. Educational groups and scouting groups always welcome. |
Huntley Meadows Park --
3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, VA
This is a great park with a marsh, teaching kids about various amphibians, insects, plants, birds. A visitor's center has several classes for kids. Adults can learn about birdwatching here. |
IMAX Theater at the Virginia Air & Space Center --
600 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, VA
Bigger is better when it comes to films. See awesome footage in this five-story-high IMAX Theater, accompanied by wrap-around digital sound. Travel the world, soar into outer space, or experience a kaleidescope of color and sound as you are overwhelmed by the power of the IMAX Theater at the Virginia Air & Space Center |
IMAX® films in the Ethyl Corporation IMAX®Dome & Planetarium --
Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, VA
How big can a movie projector be? Really big, as in the 70mm IMAX® projector of the Science Museum of Virginia's Ethyl Corporation IMAX®Dome & Planetarium. Have a seat in the 5-story domed theater. It's the only one between Philadelphia and Charlotte. Hold on as IMAX® whisks you through the inner and outer worlds of science. The screen is so huge that it actually feels as if you are in the film. |
The Inn at Warner Hall-Battle of the Hook --
4750 Warner Hall Road, Gloucester, VA
This historic battle will be brought to life by Revolutionary War reenactors and living historians on the property of the Inn at Warner Hall in Gloucester, VA. Recreated military units from across the country will encamp near the actual battlefields where the American Revolution was won after six long years of fighting. Participating in this event will be units from The Continental Line, The British Brigade and the Brigade of the American Revolution.
A Music and Arts Pavilion will host 12 stations of demonstrations each offering students the ability to ask questions and some will allow participation.
This is a once in a lifetime event showcasing the history of Gloucester. Come Friday, October 17 for a Main Street Parade complete with rider-less horse, drum and fife corp and marching regiments. There will also be Main Street Ghost Tours.
Saturday, October 18,the Battle begins. Come ready for canon fire, the largest calvary reenactment in the US for the year and over 2000 reenactors. This will be a sight for every student and parent. |
Isle of Wight Courthouse - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
130 Main Street, Smithfield, VA
Once typical of courthouses across Virginia, this is one of only four remaining arcaded colonial court buildings. Built in 1750, it features a distinctive semi-circular apse popular in English churches of the era.
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James Madison Museum --
129 Caroline Street, Orange,, VA
Discover the first museum to fully commemorate James Madison, fourth U.S. President and “Father of the Constitution”. Located in Madison's home county of Orange, Virginia, the museum promotes awareness of rural culture along with Madison's contributions to both agrarian economies and American history. Visit us today and see: Madisonian artifacts, an Original 1733 House, antique vehicles, rural Virginian artifacts, special exhibits. |
James Madison University Mineral Museum --
Grace and Main Streets Harrisonburg, VA 22807 U.S.A., James Madison University, VA
Located on the top floor of Miller Hall, the museum features over 500 crystals and gemstones from around the world. |
Jamestown 4-H Educational Center --
3751 4-H Club Road, Williamsburg, VA
The Jamestown 4-H Educational Center, an American Camping Association Accredited camp, is located on the James River less than 1/2 mile from the Jamestown Settlement and 6 miles from Colonial Williamsburg. Our peaceful, rustic setting make it an excellent choice for corporate picnics, meetings and group retreats. The 4-H Center is open year-round for group use. Mid-weeks during the summer months are reserved for 4-H Camping programs. The 4-H Center can provide lodging (bunkbed style), complete food service, educational program assistance, recreational facilities and friendly staff. There are 6 motel type rooms with twin beds and private baths available as well. In the spring and fall environmental education is the focus of educational programming. School groups can visit for the day or contract for an overnight visit. |
Jamestown Settlement --
2218 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA
Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th-century colonial Virginia, explores the world of America’s first permanent English colony. A new introductory film and exhibition galleries trace Jamestown’s beginnings in England, the first century of the Virginia colony and describe cultures of Powhatan Indians, Europeans and Africans who converged in 1600s Virginia. Historical interpreters depict life of the period in outdoor re-creations of the colonists’ fort, their three ships and a Powhatan village, and a riverfront discovery area. Visitors may try their hand at grinding corn, scrape out a canoe, play games, wear armor, and more. Museum open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free parking. Separate admission ticket required for Jamestown Settlement during “America’s Anniversary Weekend," May 11-13, 2007. |
Jeane Dixon Museum and Library --
130 North Massanutten Street, Strasburg, VA
The Jeane Dixon Museum and Library tells the story of one of the most remarkable women of the 20th century. On display you will find her personal possessions, furnishings, and personal and professional papers that chronicle her life as a psychic. Best known as the seer who correctly predicted Kennedy's assassination, Dixon also predicted the fates of several other celebrities with astonishing accuracy. These exhibits thoroughly describe Jeane's accomplishments, and also examine her skeptics' theories explaining paranormal activities. Open Friday's, Saturday's, and Sunday's, May through October, and also by appointment. |
JMU Meteorite Collection --
John C. Wells Planetarium Hallway, Miller Hall, Harrisonburg, VA
Features fragments of meteoroids that survived passage through the atmosphere to fall to the earth's surface as masses of metal or stone; includes specimines from Diablo Canyon, Arizona, the Sahara Desert and the Central European Strewn Field. |
John Fox, Jr. Museum --
118 Shawnee Avenue East, Big Stone Gap, VA
The museum was the home of John Fox, Jr., a famous mountain author of many novels and short stories. Most well known are "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" and "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come". "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" became the nation's first million copy selling novel and was later made into a movie. An outdoor drama based on this novel is staged in the town of Big Stone Gap and has been designated as Virginia's Official Outdoor Drama. Fox, Jr. was not only an author, but he was an avid outdoorsman who served with Teddy Roosevelt as a rough rider. The present museum is the family home that is still filled with original furnishings from the turn of the century. The natural cedar shingled house is rustic in design with large screened porches off both stories. |
John Marshall House --
818 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA
John Marshall, known as the great Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, built this dignified house in 1790 and made it his home for forty-five years. The house is an outstanding example of Federal architecture and retains most of its original features. It contains a rich collection of family-owned furnishings and Marshall memorabilia. The garden features plants popular in the 18th century. The John Marshall House is operated by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. It is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
John Marshall House - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
818 East Marshall St., Richmond, VA
John Marshall built his home in Richmond in 1790, eleven years prior to becoming the third Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Federal style brick house is one of the last remaining structures of the neighborhood that existed in what is now downtown Richmond. Inside the house is the largest collection of Marshall family furnishings and memorabilia in America. |
Kerr Place --
69 Market Street, Onancock, VA
From the moment you enter this elegant Federal home you will be immersed in the atmosphere of the early 19th century. A wealth of details have been painstakingly researched and lovingly restored. This was the world of John Shepherd Ker, in the thriving town of Onancock Virginia. Here you will find museum rooms that interpret the rich history of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Fine period furnishings and decorative arts help to interpret this historic home. |
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection and Study Center --
400 Worrell Drive, Charlottesville, VA
The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection is a collection of over 1600 objects and paintings created by Aboriginal artists from different regions of Australia. Thematic exhibitions are rotated out of the permanent collection. The Kluge-Ruhe Collection is also dedicated to outreach with an active education program for local students. Other special events include lectures and programs such as our Didjeridu program and Tucker Box Tours, guided tours of current exhibits followed by lunch and information discussion in the gallery. All events are free unless specifically indicated and all are open to the public. Tuesday - Saturday, 9 am - 3 pm. Free guided tour of current exhibits each Saturday at 10:30 am. |
L. E. Coleman African-American Museum --
3011 Mountain Road, Halifax, VA
The three major anchors that describe the Museum's public programming may be defined as the African Diaspora, which recognizes the gifts, lineage and the unique cultural expressions that people of African ancestry share throughout the Americas and the world; The Halifax Story, which celebrates local and regional cultural achievements while enlightening our audience about the thirst for freedom and liberty shared by past generations; and The Contemporary Narrative, which relates current events, and focuses on our ever-changing universe. A unifying thread connects the Museum's anchors: each utilizes sound museum practices as an approach to researching and interpreting culture, enabling the Museum to integrate our collections with engaging learning experiences that provoke curiosity and deepen understanding of the human experience. |
Lee Chapel and Museum --
Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
Built at the request and under the supervision of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in 1867 when he was president of then Washington College. The famous recumbent statue of General Lee by Edward Valentine is on the main floor. On the lower level Lee's office is preserved much as he left it. He and his family are buried in the lower level of the Chapel. The Washington-Custis-Lee collection of portraits, including the well-known Charles Wilson Peale portrait of George Washington, are in the Chapel and its museum. General Lee's famous horse, Traveller, is buried outside the Chapel. |
Lee Hall Mansion --
163 Yorktown Road, Newport News, VA
Lee Hall Mansion is the only large antebellum plantation house remaining on the lower Virginia Peninsula. Completed in 1859, Lee Hall Mansion was home to affluent planter Richard Decauter Lee (of the York County Lee family), his wife Martha, and their children. Only three years after the house's completion, the Lees fled their home as the Peninsula became one of the first battlegrounds of the Civil War. Volunteers lead visitors through seven rooms, beautifully decorated in the style of the mid-19th century. Tours highlight plantation life, furnishings, architecture, Richard D. Lee and his family, and the impact the Civil War had on local society. |
Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden --
614 Oronoco Street, Alexandria, VA
The Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden is located in the heart of the Historic District of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The large white clapboard house is situated on historic Lee Corner, at the junction of North Washington and Oronoco Streets, in the neighborhood of several former Lee family homes of the 18th and 19th centuries. |
Leesburg Animal Park --
19270 James Monore Highway, Leesburg, VA
The Leesburg Animal Park offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the friendliest animals around. Pet and feed animals including llamas, donkeys, sheep, goats, deer and other exotic and domestic livestock. Meet exotic animals including squirrel monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs, and parrots. Wagon rides and pony rides available. The park is open in the Spring, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 5 pm. Please call for Summer Hours. Group reservations and discounts available with a two week notice. Birthday parties are also available. Bring the Magic of the Animal Kingdom to You, with Zoo-To-You and the Learning Safari. These programs can bring petting zoos or educational programs with LIVE animals to your next event. |
Legacy Museum of African-American History --
403 Monroe Street, Lynchburg, VA
The Legacy Museum offers rotating exhibitions and programs on all aspects of local African American history and culture, from the first arrival of Africans in Central Virginia until the present day. The museum sponsors exhibit-related programs as well as special events during Black History month. In 2000 the Legacy Museum of African American History opened. New exhibits are mounted annually. The Legacy Museum is open Wednesday - Saturday from 12:00 - 4pm and Sunday from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Other times by appointment. |
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden --
1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA
Year-round beauty on a historic property with more than 40 acres of spectacular gardens, dining and shopping. A classical domed Conservatory is the only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic more than 200 orchids. A Children's Garden offers a wheel-chair accessible Tree House (fun for kids and adults!), an Adventure Pathway, Sand and Water Play areas and an International Village. More than a dozen themed gardens include a Healing Garden, Sunken Garden, Asian Valley and Victorian Garden. Dining options include the Garden Cafe and Tea House, and the Garden Shop offers an extensive collection of items. A must-see destination, the Garden right off Interstates 95 and 64 and one of the most-visited attractions in Richmond. The Garden has some evening hours and many special events; learn more and see what's in bloom at www.lewsiginter.org. |
Library of Virginia --
The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA
Celebrate nearly four hundred years of history at the state's oldest institution preserving Virginia's history and culture. Here are maps, books, manuscripts and artwork - marking the path of America measured by the footsteps of Virginians. Start your genealogy research here! |
Lightship Portsmouth Museum --
London and Water streets, Portsmouth, VA
Step aboard the Lightship Portsmouth, a National Historic Landmark. This floating lightship was put into service in 1915 and operated until 1961. Lightshipmen were often at sea for six months at a time. See how the men of the Lightship Service actually lived. |
Longwood Center For The Visual Arts --
129 North Main Street, Farmville, VA
A community wide art center for Virginia's southern heartland. The Center is the only art museum in Virginia to make the promotion and preservation of contemporary Virginia art its primary focus. Collections focus on Virginia art and crafts and 19th-century American art. In addition to exhibiting work from its permanent collection, the Center for the Visual Arts presents an on-going schedule of changing exhibitions accompanied by related publications and educational programs. |
Loudoun Museum --
16 Loudoun St, SW, Leesburg, VA
Interpretation of the county's cultural history with permanent and changing exhibits, an 1820's Chirdren's Discovery Room, a Children's Colonial Garden, tours, and special events. The restored c. 1767 log cabin is used for groups and special programs. |
Louisa County Historical Society Museum --
P.O. Box 1172, Louisa, VA
Louisa County Museum is located in the old jail on the Louisa County Court House square, in Louisa. The society seeks to promote, publish, and preserve the history of Lousia County. |
Lovettsville Historical Society Museum --
4 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Lovettsville, VA
We are dedicated to the purpose of preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Town of Lovettsville and its surrounding area. Our main function is the collection and display of objects pertaining to a past way of life in the Lovettsville area! We also provide information regarding genealogy - history of families, homes, buildings, business, and organizations - past and present in Lovettsville "The German Settlement." The Lovettsville Historical Society Museum offers Books for sale. These books contain information such as Confederate Burials in Northern Virginia, Legends of Loudoun Valley, Early Church Records of Loudoun County, New Jerusalem Lutheran Church Cemetery and other very interesting books on our local history. |
Lucky Lake Gem and Mineral Mine --
4125 Harpers Road, McKenney, VA
Lucky Lake Gem and Mineral Mine of Virginia was discovered by sheer luck. While creating a lake on the property to honor their mother and father small rocks and colored stones were found. After years of research a major pegmatite was discovered running through the property.
Flume mining! Perfect for all ages... bring your family, friends, or group and they will help you'll find treasures to last a lifetime! |
Luray Caverns --
970 U.S. Hwy. 211 West, Luray, VA
Stroll along the well-lighted, paved walkways that wind through the huge chambers to explore cathedral-sized rooms with soaring ceilings, towering columns and breathtaking stalactites, and then gaze into mirror-perfect pools. Our knowledgeable guides enrich your experience with stories about the caverns' discovery and the science behind the natural wonders being viewed. The caverns also hold the world's only “Stalacpipe” Organ that plays its hauntingly beautiful music on natural formations. |
Luray Zoo and Reptile Center --
1087 US Hwy, 211 West, Luray, VA
The Luray Reptile Center displays the largest collection of reptiles in Virginia as well as 20 wild creatures including exotic cats and our monkey friends Freddy, JoJo and Buttercup. See our unique petting zoo with exotic birds, Fallow Deer, Llamas, African Pygmy Goats, and Sicillian Donkeys. See life size dinosaur replicas and visit our gift shop. Great fun for all ages. Don't forget your camera! |
The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum --
201 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA
Alexandria's History Museum collects, preserves and interprets the history and material culture of the city of Alexandria and the surrounding Northern Virginia area. Features prints, documents, photographs, ceramics, silver, furniture and Civil War memorabilia. The Greek Revival building was constructed in 1839 as the city's first cultural center. In 1974, it was restored and converted to the nation's first bicentennial center. Opened as the city history museum in 1985. Hours of Operation: Mon.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 1-5. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. |
Lynchburg Museum / Old Court House --
Ninth & Court Street, Lynchburg, VA
Journey into Lynchburg's past and see the "Hill City" in a new light. Through the doors of the Museum, you will relive the city's history from when Monacan Indians fished the rivers to the years of Civil Rights. These two hundred years are punctuated with historic images and artifacts, exhibits and displays, bringing yesterday alive for all to see. In July, 2000, a ceiling collapsed in the Court House and exhibits were moved to Bragassa's historic toy store while the Court House underwent a facelift. While scaled-down exhibits are on display at Bragassa's 12th & Court Street location, staff members are working hard to prepare new exhibits for the grand re-opening. Please visit this page for updates. FREE admission; open Mon - Sat, 10:00 - 4:00 & Sun, noon - 4:00; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, & New Year's Day. |
Lynnhaven House - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
4405 Wishart Road, Virginia Beach, VA
Francis Thelaball II built his house with its massive chimneys in 1725. Typical of early colonial planters' homes, the Lynnhaven House features a hall-parlor plan with molded ceiling joists and a closed string Jacobean-type stair. Furnishings reflect the early eighteenth century. In the modern bustling resort city of Virginia Beach, in a lovely, peaceful country-like setting serenely stands a true monument to the 18th century. Lynnhaven House still breathes the air of the life that it knew in 1725 when it was so soundly constructed. This small but stately brick structure was built near the waters of the Lynnhaven River and the Chesapeake Bay. Costumed docents conduct tours of the House and grounds as guests arrive. On the grounds are gardens and a small Revolutionary War graveyard. |
The MacArthur Memorial --
MacArthur Square at Bank Street, Norfolk, VA
Located in Norfolk's restored 1850 city hall, the memorial traces the life and military career of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and honors those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Highlights include military artifacts, photographs, documents, paintings, memorabilia, the general's trademark cap, sunglasses and corncob pipe, plus his 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial limousine. The memorial also features a separate theater, special exhibit galleries and a historical research center. |
MacCallum More Museum and Gardens --
603 Hudgins Street, Chase City, VA
MacCallum More, which is Scottish for Home of the Clan, was begun in 1929 by Lucy M. Hudgins, wife of Edward W. Hudgins, former Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. The organically maintained gardens feature an arboretum, herb, wildflower, rose and theme gardens, as well as, nine fountains and eclectic imported works of art. The museum houses three permanent exhibits: The Arthur Robertson Exhibit contains Indian artifacts dated 9500BC-1600AD; The Thyne Institute Exhibit tells the story of an African-American boarding school est. in 1876; & The Mecklenburg Hotel Exhibit contains memorabilia from the hotel built in 1903 famous for its curative waters. The museum also showcases revolving art displays of varied mediums. The gift shop features many garden related items including books, candles, note cards, herbal soaps and blends. |
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site --
3215 East Broad Street , Richmond, VA
Richmond, VA. is home to many famous Americans including one of the nation's great entrepreneurial spirits, Maggie Lena Walker. Come visit her home in the Jackson Ward community. Through exhibits and guided tours you will experience the life of this great African American woman, who was born during slavery and achieved success despite segregation and the limited opportunities offered to her race. |
Maier Museum of Art --
Randolph-Macon Woman's College 2500 Rivermont Avenue , Lynchburg, VA
The College has been collecting American art since 1920 and now holds a collection of several thousand paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs in the Maier's permanent collection. The Museum hosts an active schedule of special exhibitions and education programs throughout the year. Through its programs, internships, museum studies practicums, and class visits, the Maier Museum of Art provides valuable learning opportunities for R-MWC students and our community at large. |
The Maier Museum of Art --
Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, VA
The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph-Macon Woman's College houses an exemplary, nationally-recognized, collection of American paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs. The collection began in 1907 when the graduating class that year commissioned a portrait of the College's first president. Throughout its 100-year history, the art collection has served both the academic community and the general public, welcoming visitors from next door and from around the world. Special exhibitions change throughout the year and selections from the permanent collection are always on view. The staff and volunteers offer tours and a variety of educational programs year 'round. |
Manassas Museum --
(Directly across from VRE train depot), Manassas, VA
This state-of-the-art museum displays a wide array of artifacts from the area's rich history, including an extensive exhibit of the Civil War era. Nationally noted, the museum has been profiled in a number of national magazines and parts of its collection loaned out to such facilities as the Reagan Presidential Library. |
Manassas National Battlefield Park --
6511 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA
Site of the first major battlefield (also known as the Battle of Bull Run)of the Civil War--and the equally important Second Battle of Manassas (which convinced General Lee to invade the Union's own home ground)--the Park is a "must see" for anyone who truly wishes to gain a sense for the Civil War. The Park's visitor center offers fascinating electronic battle maps, displays of equipment and battle memorabilia, and regular "interpretative" presentations of the battlefield's history by U.S. Park Service professionals.Follow this with a walking or driving tour of the battlefield. See the statue honoring the stand of General "Stonewall" Jackson and his Virginians, visit the blood-soaked grounds of the "stone house", and listen for echos of the rebel yell first voiced below the "Hellfire Line" that marked the cannon batteries above a stream. |
The Mariners' Museum --
100 Museum Drive , Newport News, VA
You'll find one of the largest international maritime history museums filled to the crow's nest with prized artifacts that celebrate the spirit of seafaring adventure. Explore over 60,000 square feet of gallery space with rare figureheads, handcrafted ship models, Civil War ironclad USS Monitor artifacts, paintings, small craft from around the world, and much more. The Museum is set on a 550-acre woodland park with the five-mile Noland Trail around tranquil Lake Maury. Take a Museum backpack to explore the plant and animal life, enjoy a picnic, or climb on wooden playships. |
Mariners' Museum, The --
100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA
Welcome to over 500 years of seafaring adventure at The Mariners’ Museum. In over 60,000 square feet of exhibition space you can escape to the eras of early exploration and mahogany Chris-Crafts, delight in the displays of intricate miniature ship models and fascinating figureheads, see the conservation of artifacts from the famous Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, and experience over 75 small craft from 36 countries in the International Small Craft Center. Spend an entire day at the Museum and enjoy the beautiful 550-acre park with a 5-mile walking trail, the Museum Shop, and the Museum Café. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children (ages 6 to 18), and free for children under the age of 5. |
Marker-Miller Orchard --
3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester, VA
Daily: Monday- Friday 10am-4pm: Fresh produce and baked goods; front porch with rocking chairs, children’s play center and picnic area; pick-your-own raspberries, greens beans, pumpkins and apples (each available by season). Saturdays: 10am-4pm: Wine tasting from local Virginia vineyards; pick-your-own produce (available by season); children’s play area; baked goods sampling. Marker-Miller Orchards offers a wide selection of fresh local produce at reasonable prices, and proves to be a local favorite for it’s family activities. Situated about an hour from DC and in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Marker-Miller has been a summer and fall destination for nearly 100 years. Supplying fresh fruits, vegetables and baked goods, as well as a scenic ride through the picturesque Valley |
Marsh Art Gallery --
Modlin Center for the Arts, Richmond, VA
The Marsh Art Gallery, founded in 1968, is both a forum for the visual arts and a catalyst for widely varied issues of artistic expression, research, and scholarship within the university and throughout the greater Richmond community and region. The museum presents a variety of changing exhibitions throughout the year. In addition to presenting the visual arts through its exhibitions, the museum actively adds to its diverse permanent collection ranging from the historical through contemporary art. To help visitors better understand and enjoy the museum experience as well as its collections and exhibitions, the museum organizes lectures, openings, gallery talks, workshops, concerts, symposia and other programs throughout the academic year. Admission is free and open to the public. Closed on Mondays. |
Marshall Museum, George C. --
On the Virginia Military Institute Post, Lexington, VA
Exhibits trace the career of General George C. Marshall. A 25-minute electric map tells the significant events of World War II. On display is Marshall's Nobel Peace Prize and the Oscar won by General Frank McCarthy (an aide to Marshall) as the producer of the movie "Patton." |
Mary Ball Washington Museum --
P.O Box 97, Lancaster, VA
Named for the mother of George Washington born in Lancaster Co. Extensive library and genealogical research material dating to 1651.Tour the historic buildings, view exhibits, participate in educational programs and trace family histories. The five building complex includes the Old Jail (1820), Clerk's Office (c. 1797), Lancaster House and Steuart Blakemore Bldg (c.1900). Located in the Lancaster Courthouse Historic District.Fun and educational exhibits are on display covering 350 years of history in Lancaster County. Located across the street from Lancaster Tavern. |
Mary Washington House - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
1200 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA
In 1772, George Washington purchased the house in Fredericksburg and moved his mother there to be closer to her daughter Betty. Mary Washington was sixty-four years old and a house in town meant her needs could be looked after. Because of its location on the Post Road, communications were easy to maintain in Fredericksburg. |
Mayfield Civil War Fort --
9101 Prince William Street, Manassas, VA
The Mayfield Civil War Fort, a part of the Manassas Museum System, is the last remaining Confederate earth-work in the City of Manassas. Orientation and directions available at the Museum. |
Maymont House --
2201 Shields Lake Drive, Richmond, VA
A first visit to Maymont is best started at the Robins Nature & Visitor Center—Maymont's front door-but a history lover will soon find a path to the 1893 Maymont House Museum. A plant lover will find the elaborate Japanese and Italian gardens. For animal lovers there are the Nature Center, Wildlife Exhibits and the Children's Farm. Seekers of solitude will select the perfect spot under a stately elm or beside a babbling brook. |
Maymont Nature and Visitor Center --
2201 Shields Lake Drive, Richmond, VA
Watch river otters swim circles around each other at Maymont’s $21 million, 25,000-square-foot Nature and Visitor Center in Richmond. A 20-foot waterfall and 13 huge aquariums holding otters, fish and turtles help tell the story of life within Virginia’s rivers. Maymont, a 100-acre Victorian country estate famous for its elegance, gardens, native Virginia wildlife exhibits, Children’s Farm and Carriage Collection, overlooks the James River. |
Meadow Farm Museum --
Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park, Glen Allen, VA
Meadow Farm, one of the last remaining 19th-century farms in Henrico County, Virginia, is now an 1860 living history farm focusing on middle-class rural life just before the upheaval of the Civil War. Costumed interpreters provide insights into the lives of Dr. John Mosby Sheppard, the owner of Meadow Farm, and his family. On select weekends, they demonstrate daily and seasonal activities in the farmhouse, barn, doctor's office, blacksmith forge, kitchen, fields, and pastures. The Museum also offers a full schedule of workshops, special events, living history programs and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The Meadow Farm Museum Orientation Center features a reception area for visitors, exhibit galleries, a gift shop and program room. |
Menokin- Home of Francis Lightfoot Lee, Declaration of Independence signer --
4037 Menokin Road, Warsaw, VA
1769 home of Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and his wife Rebecca Tayloe Lee. Situated on 500 acres in Richmond County in the Northern Neck of Virginia, this National Historic Landmark features a newly opened conservation and visitors center, as well as a walking tour of the Menokin ruin and grounds. Visitors may also hike the Menokin woodlands along "Becky's Trail" which leads to Menokin Bay and historic Cat Point Creek. |
Michie Tavern Museum --
683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA
Sounds of lively music and laughter often greet visitors shortly before they are formally welcomed to tour Old Michie’s Tavern. Guests are ushered into 18th century tavern life through a sensory experience where taste, touch, sight, smell and sound recreate the past. Visitors experience life of travelers through interactive tours that are educational, fun and appropriate for adults and youth. Activities include dancing a reel, quill pen writing, tasting tavern punch. Youth especially enjoy Mr. Michie’s Treasure Hunt. A bag of (chocolate) gold coins rewards successful explorers. Interactive activities held 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 1-Oct. 31. Self-guided tours, Nov. 1-Feb. 28th. After touring, guests may wish to dine on hearty southern fare or enjoy relaxed shopping in three unique shops – all housed in distinct historic structures. |
Mill Mountain Zoo --
Mill Mountain Park, Roanoke, VA
On top of Roanoke's Mill Mountain, off the Blue Ridge Parkway and alongside the famous Roanoke Star, is an AZA accredited five acre zoo that exhibits 50 plus species of mammals, birds and reptiles. Animals include a Siberian Tiger, Snow Leopards, Red Pandas, Japanese Macaques, Bald Eagle and much more. Special events and educational programs throughout the year, picnic facilities, wildflower garden and a breathtaking overlook view of the Roanoke Valley. Birthday parties and after-hour rentals available. ZooChoo train rides additional cost. Open daily-year round (closed December 25th) hours 10am-4:30pm (grounds close at 5pm). |
Mill Mountain Zoo --
Mill Mountain Park, Roanoke, VA
On top of Roanoke's Mill Mountain, off the Blue Ridge Parkway and alongside the famous Roanoke Star, is an AZA accredited five acre zoo that exhibits 50 plus species of mammals, birds and reptiles. Animals include a Siberian Tiger, Snow Leopards, Red Pandas, Japanese Macaques, Bald Eagle and much more. Special events and educational programs throughout the year, picnic facilities, wildflower garden and a breathtaking overlook view of the Roanoke Valley. Birthday parties and after-hour rentals available. ZooChoo train rides additional cost. Open daily-year round (closed December 25th) hours 10am-4:30pm (grounds close at 5pm). |
Modlin Fine Arts Center - University of Richmond --
University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
The Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond features state-of-the-art performance venues, galleries, studios and classrooms. Called "a work of art itself" by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the $22.5 million, 165,000 square foot facility is highly distinctive and full of interesting details. Built in the Collegiate Gothic style, the Modlin Center is home to the departments of music, art and art history, and theatre and dance—all under one roof. |
Monacan Indian Nation Ancestral Museum --
2009 Kenmore Road, Amherst, VA
The Monacan Indian Nation of Virginia is a small tribe composed of about 1,000 people,located in the Amherst County area and recognized as a tribe by the State of Virginia. Our culture in this region dates back 10,000 years, and the original territory of our tribe comprised roughly half of the state of Virginia, including most of the Piedmont region.We are one of the oldest groups of indigenous people still existing in our ancestral homeland,and we are the only group of Eastern Sioux in the state. The Monacan community today centers around Bear Mountain in Amherst County. At this site, a log cabin was built in the late 1870s and used as a church for the Indian people. |
Monticello - The Home of Thomas Jefferson --
931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway , Charlottesville, VA
Tour the house that Jefferson designed and built for himself and his family and enjoy the grounds of the Monticello Plantation. |
Montpelier - The Home of James Madison --
11407 Constitution Highway , Montpelier Station, VA
Montpelier is a 2,750-acre estate that includes farmland, racecourses, a terraced two-acre formal garden, a panoramic landscape, a National Landmark Forest, active archaeological sites, and more than 130 buildings, including the main house. Archaeology sites dot the Montpelier landscape and help us understand more about Montpelier's rich history. The formal garden features formal walks, magnificent marble urns, lions and other carvings, sweeping flower beds, and an herb garden. Themed guided tours available on weekends April through October. |
Morefield Gem Mine Museum --
13400 Butlers Road, Amelia, VA
The Morefield Gem Mine Museum is an exciting place for the whole family. The museum displays materials found from it's underground mining operation. There is also a display of old mining machinery and petrified wood. The museum and outdoors displays are free. For more than 70 years the mine has produced many varieties of mineral specimens and is open to the public. You may view the exhibits, visit the gift shop, or mine your own gem stones from our tailings, for a fee. Check the Season Schedule on our website for days and hours of operation that the mine is open to the public. The Morefield Gem Mine is the only operating gem mine in Virginia that is mining gem stones underground. Be sure to see the large Morefield Mine display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC |
Morgan-McClure Motorsports Museum --
26460 Newbanks Road, Abingdon, VA
The Morgan-McClure Museum is located adjacent to the main racing facility on Interstate 81. Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays except for special local events, such as the Bristol race. Exhibits include the 1994 and 1995 Daytona 500 winners, as well as numerous other racing related exhibits. Participating sponsors are encouraged to utilize Morgan-McClure's facilities. Features at the Museum include the Morgan-McClure Motorsports Race Team from the early years to the present. See cars that roared into victory lane to win three Daytona 500s in the 1990s and also view wrecked editions from Talladega, Alabama and Motegi, Japan. Other exhibits include a pictorial history of past drivers; past and present uniform display and pit equipment display. Museum Gift Shop, too. |
Mount Jackson Museum --
5901 Main Street, Mount Jackson, VA
This museum is dedicated to the historic preservation of Mount Jackson and surrounding areas. Open May-September, Friday's 1PM-4PM, Saturday's 10AM-4PM. |
Mount Vernon, George Washington's Estate and Gardens --
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mount Vernon, VA
The riverside estate of George Washington now includes the Ford Orientation Center and Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, new facilities with 25 galleries and theaters, more than 700 artifacts, and interactive displays that introduce visitors to the real George Washington. The most famous dentures in the world are on permanent display, along with three life-size models of Washington created from a forensic investigation. The historic area features the restored Mansion, original outbuildings, the tomb where the Washingtons are buried, beautiful gardens, and heritage breed animals who work at a four-acre farm site near the river. George Washington’s Whiskey Distillery opens March 31, 2007, and is located adjacent to the Gristmill. |
Muscarelle Museum of Art --
603 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA
This collection of art has grown to almost 4,000 works of art from many cultures and historical eras. The strength of the collection is the holdings in English and American portraits of the 17th and 18th centuries that are nationally important; a survey collection of European and American prints and drawings from the 16th through the 20th centuries; Japanese prints; African art; Asian ceramics; and a major collection of Abstract Expressionist paintings, drawings and watercolors. Check out the youth and education programs from preschoolers on up! |
Museum and White House of the Confederacy --
1201 E. Clay St., Richmond, VA
The Museum of the Confederacy's rich collection of civilian and military Civil War artifacts relating to the Confederate States of America, as well as the post-war “Lost Cause” era, is a valuable resource for the study of the role of the Confederacy in the War and in our society today.
The Museum organizes and sponsors a variety of lectures and other special events and programs, inviting the public to join us in our exploration of American society in the 1800s. Please explore online at the website for what's happening at the Museum and for more information on our schedule of these activities and their content. |
The Museum and White House of the Confederacy --
Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, VA
Come face to face with history at The Museum of the Confederacy, the leading center for the study of the Confederacy in the American Civil War! A private non-profit educational & preservation organization, the Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts, manuscripts & images associated with the domestic, military & political life during the period of the Confederacy. Exhibits feature the personal effects of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and other Confederate figures of the Civil War. Take a guided tour of the White House of the Confederacy, home to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family throughout the war. The mansion contains over half the furnishings that were here with the Davis family. Find unique Civil War items at the Museum's Haversack Store. |
Museum of American Presidents --
130 North Massanutten Street, Strasburg, VA
Did you know that four of the first five presidents, eight in all, were Virginians, born and raised to reflect the values of the Old Dominion? For these and several more presidents, the Shenandoah Valley provided respite, formative experiences and inspiration. Mementos of the Story of America as written by the Presidents, and inspired by Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley are on display. Be part of a learning experience at the Museum of American Presidents. Children have their own speical room for games, puzzles, and costumes. I-81, Exit 298, 2 miles on Rt. 11 south, next to the Strasburg Emporium. |
Museum of Culpeper History --
803 S. Main Street, Culpeper, VA
What do T Rex, George Washington, Daniel Boone, Clara Barton, Walt Whitman and Eppa Rixey have in common? Culpeper, of course! The Museum of Culpeper History houses long-term and changing exhibitions illuminating Culpeper's rich heritage. Some of these displays include artifacts from local dinosaur activity millions of years ago, American Indian life before the advance of the European settler, the American Revolution, the Civil War, WWI, WWII, and a wide variety of 20th/century displays on social life, sports, and events unique to Culpeper. A museum shop is on the premises. Special exhibits, hands-on activities, educational tours, and special events are part of the Museum's creative programming. The Museum is open from Monday through Saturday, 10-5. It is closed in January but special tours can be arranged. |
Museum of the Middle Appalachians --
123 Palmer Avenue, Saltville, VA
Step back in time at the Museum of the Middle Appalachians. Learn about the unique geology of the region and how it has influenced the area for millions of years. See the full size replicas of ice age mammals that roamed the area over 15,000 years ago. Visit the site of annual archeological and paleontological digs and see artifacts and fossils that have been recovered locally. View a display of Woodland Indian artifacts which includes an extensive collection of bead work. See evidence of two Civil War battles which occurred at "The Salt Capital of the Confederacy". Learn about Saltville's over 70 year history as a company town. Whether you're a native of the area who wants to know more about your heritage or you want to learn about the area as you visit, you'll find something to interest you. |
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley --
901 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA
A visit to this museum is a must in any trip to the Shenandoah Valley! First opened in the spring of 2005, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) tells the story of the great region for which it is named. Designed by Michael Graves, the MSV anchors a regional history museum complex that also includes the Glen Burnie Historic House and six acres of spectacular gardens. There is something for everyone here: European, American, and Shenandoah Valley furniture, decorative arts, and paintings; an amazing collection of furnished miniature houses and rooms; state-of-the-art audio and video presentations; hands-on activities for children; a Tea Room serving lunch and desserts; and a Museum Store. The museum is open year-round, the house and gardens March through November. All are open Tuesday-Sunday, 10-4. Experience the Valley at the MSV! |
Museums of Colonial Williamsburg --
Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA
The Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, which include the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, allows each entity to keep its identity. The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum houses the foundation's renowned collection of English and American decorative arts dating from 1600 through 1830. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, the nation’s leading center for the research, preservation and exhibition of American folk art, will maintain folk art presence at the Wallace Museum with the exhibitions: “Outside In: Folk Sculpture for the American Landscape,”“Treasures of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum" and “Principles of Freedom.” Construction of a new, expanded folk art museum began in late 2004 and will be completed in mid-2006. |
Museums on the Boulevard --
P.O. Box 11782, Richmond, VA
Museums on the Boulevard (MOB) is a consortium of seven institutions stretched out along Richmond's Boulevard, a main north-south corridor. The seven institutions present a sampling of gardens, art, history, science and children's themes and include: The Children's Museum of Richmond, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Maymont, The Science Museum of Virginia, The Virginia Department of Historic Resources, The Virginia Historical Society, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The MOB works together in promoting collaborative efforts and creating a strong sense of place for the Boulevard and the surrounding neighborhoods, thereby enhancing Richmond as a tourism destination. |
NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center --
Route 175, Wallops Island, VA
The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center offers an exhibit hall, observation deck, videos and family activities. Free admission. The Visitor Center is open year-round. Located near Chincoteague Island, Virginia on Rt. 175. Wallops Flight Facility is NASA's primary facility for suborbital missions. The facility launches sounding rockets, scientific balloons and performs aircraft research. Tours of the facility are available for organized groups with advance reservations. |
National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center --
The National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, VA
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, an extension of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, opened December 15, 2003. It is located near Dulles Airport off of Route 28, just north of the intersection of Routes 28 and 50. The huge facility houses important icons of aviation and space history. Special features include a soaring observation tower from which visitors can watch air traffic at Dulles, flight simulators, and an Imax theater. Other amenities include a museum store and food service. Education and family activities are also offered. Parking is available for a $12 fee. Admission is free. |
National Capitol Squadron - Commemorative Air Force --
12499 Beverly Ford Road, Brandy Station, VA
Formed in 1957, the Commemorative Air Force is dedicated to preserving the history of American military aviation. The National Capitol Squadron is based at the Culpeper Regional Airport in a hangar/museum building equipped for the maintenance and display of a fleet of aircraft known as the Ghost Squadron. The NCS Now Has a Total of Six Aircraft Assigned or Associated with the Unit - Our assigned L-5 and BT-13, and a T-6G, deHavilland Chipmunk, YAK-3, and L-4 Owned and Operated by Squadron Members! The hangar is open on the second Saturday of each month, staffed by members who are ready to welcome visitors. |
National Firearms Museum --
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA
The National Firearms Museum in Fairfax displays more than 2,000 historic firearms spanning 600 years in its 15,000-square-foot facility. The museum's 14 galleries, located at the National Rifle Association Headquarters, trace the development of firearms and their relevance to America's heritage. Notable guns include a selver-decorated revolver awarded to Gen. George Gordon Meade for his victory at Gettysburg and a rifle belonging to sharpshooter Annie Oakley. |
The National Sporting Library --
301 W. Washington St., Middleburg, VA
A research center for horse and field sports. Over 12,000 books on horse & field sports dating from the 1500's. Open weekdays 10am-4pm. Appointments encouraged. |
Natural Bridge Zoo --
5784 Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, VA
Over 400 specimens of exotic birds, mammals, and reptiles. The Naural Bridge Zoological Park is home to the largest, most complete collection of animals and birds in the state of Virginia and is a breeding center for rare and endangered species. A Safari gift shop and picnic areas are on grounds. Elephant rides are held on the weekends, with occasional photo opporunities with specific baby animals. Take a walk on the wildside with llamas, goats, donkeys, camels, tigers, bears, cougars, servals, giraffes, zebras, baboons, gibbons, lemurs, macaques, macaws, cranes, flamingos, deer, pigs, aligators, snakes, turtles, and many more. Too many babies to list. |
Natural Bridge Zoo --
5784 Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, VA
Over 400 specimens of exotic birds, mammals, and reptiles. The Naural Bridge Zoological Park is home to the largest, most complete collection of animals and birds in the state of Virginia and is a breeding center for rare and endangered species. A Safari gift shop and picnic areas are on grounds. Elephant rides are held on the weekends, with occasional photo opporunities with specific baby animals. Take a walk on the wildside with llamas, goats, donkeys, camels, tigers, bears, cougars, servals, giraffes, zebras, baboons, gibbons, lemurs, macaques, macaws, cranes, flamingos, deer, pigs, aligators, snakes, turtles, and many more. Too many babies to list. |
Nauticus, The National Maritime Center --
One Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA
Located on the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront, the National Maritime Center is a unique thriving campus of visitor attractions that explore the economic, naval and natural power of the sea. Consists of Nauticus, The Battleship Wisconsin, The Hampton Roads Naval Museum, NOAA@Nauticus and Cruise Norfolk. |
Naval Shipyard Museum, Portsmouth --
Naval Shipyard Museum, Portsmouth, VA
Contains artifacts of naval history, primarily from the Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, the oldest shipyard in America. See ship models, artillery, uniforms, and much more. Price of ticket admits you to both the Naval Shipyard Museum and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum. |
New Market Battlefield State Historical Park --
8895 George Collins Parkway, New Market, VA
Interprets 1864 Battle of New Market with emphasis on role of Virginia Military Institute Cadets. National Historic Landmark accredited by American Association of Museums. |
The Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center --
2803 Oak Avenue, Newport News, VA
The restored 1899 home of the African-American attorney J. Thomas Newsome and his wife Mary Winfield Newsome. Newsome was a respected attorney, journalist, churchman and civic leader and a member of the postwar Civil War south's new urban African-American middle class. His elegant Queen Anne residence served as the hub of the local black community from which he led the fight for social justice within Virginia. Listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register, the National Register of Historic Places and Recipient of a 1992 National Historic Preservation Award. |
Norfolk Botanical Garden --
2700 Azalea Garden Rd., Norfolk, VA
The Norfolk Botanical Garden has grown from humble beginnings as a WPA project to an 155-acre garden filled with thousands of plants. More than thirty themed gardens are spread across site. Some gardens focus on a single plant (camellias, hydrangeas, roses), others look at a plant from a specific region (Japan, Virginia), while others provide homeowners with great ideas and or new plants to use in their own garden. In the World of Wonders Children's Garden, children of all ages can visit Passport Gardens to explore six different habitats and the people and plants that live there, dig, climb, and play in the Dirt Factory, and splash around the world through bubblers, fountains, and misters in the World Plaza. Educational programs and special events are listed on the garden's website. |
O. Winston Link Museum --
101 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA
The largest collection of O. Winston Link's acclaimed black and white photographs of steam locomotives and Southern railroad towns is housed in a renovated N&W railroad passenger station across from the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in downtown Roanoke. The old passenger station, which was re-designed in 1947 by world-renowned Raymond Loewy, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum also exhibits Link's photographic equipment, his sound recordings, and N&W Railway artifacts. The Museum's gift shop features books, recordings, posters and Link estate prints. A gallery devoted to the transportation designs of Raymond Loewy will open in the O. Winston Link Museum in Spring of 2005. |
Oatlands Plantation --
20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA
A stately mansion, beautiful rolling farmland, exquisite gardens, a repository of more than 200 years of American history and culture - all of these can be found at Oatlands Historic House and Gardens near Leesburg, Virginia. Now a National Trust Historic Site and a National Historic Landmark, Oatlands is flourishing with four full seasons of activities. Come visit this beautiful part of Virginia with its important historic landscape, hear the stories Oatlands has to tell, discover the history of the place and its personalities, and enjoy the many programs and events at Oatlands. |
Old Cape Henry Lighthouse --
583 Atlantic Avenue, Fort Story, VA
In 1607 Captain Newport came ashore at Cape Henry, now called First Landing and erected a giant cross to mark the spot. The Old Lighthouse was built in 1792 near that very spot. After years of service to seaman, the Old Lighthouse was replaced by the New Lighthouse in 1881. The old lighthouse is now owned by The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and can be visited on the base at Fort Story. For more information visit their web site at |
Old City Cemetery --
401 Taylor Street, Lynchburg, VA
Also known as the Old Methodist Cemetery, this registered historic landmark opened in 1806 as a public burying ground. The 26-acre site features more than 2000 historic gravestones, monuments, and ironwork enclosures; Butterfly Garden & Lotus Pond; garden of 19th-century shrubs and local architectural relics; Pest House Medical Museum, depicting conditions in a Civil War quarantine hospital; Cemetery Center, housing an office and small museum of mourning customs; Hearse House & Caretakers' Museum, featuring an original 1900 horse-drawn hearse and gravemarkers exhibit; Station House Museum--an 1898 C&O Railway depot that interprets local railroad history; and Confederate Section containing 2200 graves of Civil War soldiers from 14 states. Significant African-American history, from slavery to integration. Gates open daily, dawn to dusk. |
Old Coast Guard Station --
24th Street & Boardwalk, Virginia Beach, VA
The Old Coast Guard Station museum pays tribute to the seamen of the many Coast Guard Life Saving Stations once located up and down the Virginia Shore Line. It is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only existing station in Virginia that is open to the public. |
Old Country Store Museum (est. 1941) --
14424 Fancy Gap Highway, Cana, VA
Travelers to Carroll County must stop to visit one of its newest attractions - "Old Country Store Museum." Located in the Cana community along Route 52, the museum is convenient to both the Blue Ridge Parkway (Fancy Gap access point) and Interstate 77(Exit 8). Owner Ron Leonard has transformed his family's 1941 country store - produce market into a unique museum setting. Items on display are reminders of what would have been in use while the store-produce market flourished from the 1940s to 1980s. Such include: wooden cash register; old soda pop bottles, tobacco items, and many others products available during the 1940 - 1950 period. There is also a large collection of Carroll County local history and genealogy items. Ron Leonard has his artwork on display. "Come and sit down on the front porch and rest a while with us...ye'hear!" |
The Old Court House Civil War Museum --
20 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA
The Frederick County Court House, in Winchester Va was built in 1840 and was used as a prison and hospital during the Civil War. |
Old Court House Civil War Museum --
20 N. Loudoun St., Winchester, VA
Winchester's newest Civil War museum, located in the historic 1840 courthouse. The courthouse served as a prison and a hospital to both Northern and Southern troops. Soldiers from both sides wrote their names on the walls. The museum remembers these soldiers and tells their stories through the equipment they carried, photographs of the period, and the weapons and ammunition they used. Exhibit contains graffiti from captured soldiers and a nationally recognized collection of relics. Conveniently located on the Old Town Pedestrian Mall, next to unique shops and great dining. Come be a "Witness to War" at the Old Court House Civil War Museum. Open year-round, Friday & Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1pm - 5pm. |
Old Jail Museum --
Courthouse Square, Warrenton, VA
One of the few perfectly preserved old jails in Virginia. Two buildings (1808 & 1823) house Civil War, Revolutionary era, Indian artifacts and Col. John Mosby exhibits. |
Old Stone House - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
1914 East Main Street, Richmond, VA
Reputedly the oldest residential dwelling in Richmond, this modest house is now surrounded by the Shockoe Valley commercial district. Tree ring dating suggests that the house was built in 1754. The small stone house is now a part of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum complex which contains a collection of items relating to the life and work of this famous American poet and storywriter. |
Oyster and Maritime Museum --
7125 Maddox Blvd, Chincoteague Island, VA
Guiding sailors for nearly a century the original Assateague Lighthouse Lens –one of the largest in the country –is reason enough to walk through the door, learning about life on and around the island is reason to stay a while. A group of island women founded the museum in 1965 and it was expanded in 1996. Fascinating exhibits focus on the Chincoteague Oyster so renowned in Civil War times that the island didn’t succeed from the Union in part to avoid a blockade of its shellfish to Yankee ports. Along with traditional tools used in the oyster industry there’s a wealth of information on the gathering and processing of the bivalves, once a major part of the island’s economy. |
P. Buckley Moss Museum --
150 P. Buckley Moss Drive, Waynesboro, VA
The P. Buckley Moss Museum is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley in Waynesboro, Virginia. Closely resembling many of the larger houses built by early 19th century settlers, it is an appropriate setting for exhibiting works by P. Buckley Moss, one of America's most recognized and most popular artists. Since the early 1960's, Moss has found her inspiration and much of her subject matter in the Valley scenery and in the Amish and Mennonite peoples of the area. She considers the example of the lifestyles of these traditional "Plain People" to hold an important message for modern society. The Museum reflects in its exhibitions and programs a similar concern for this cultural and environmental heritage |
Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier --
6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA
A National Historic Landmark and one of “Virginia’s Best Places to Visit” according to the Travel Channel, Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is a 422-acre campus offering high-tech museums and hands-on experiences. Called "the new crown jewel of Civil War History destinations in America" by Pulitzer Prize historian James McPherson, the Park has four world-class museums, three antebellum homes and costumed living history daily. The Park is also the site of the Breakthrough Battlefield of April 2, 1865, where Union forces broke through Petersburg's defense lines, and a new exhibit, Many Thousands Go: African Americans and the Civil War. Pamplin Historical Park is the vision of Robert B. Pamplin and his son, Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr., and is recognized as one of America's finest Civil War attractions. |
Pamunkey Indian Museum --
175 Lay Landing Road, King William County, VA
Located on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation, the museum gives a comprehensive learning experience in "A living memory of Powhatan's People." Tools, pottery, clothing and more, representing the Ice Age to present, are among the artifacts on exhibit. The Pamunkey women continue to make pottery in the centuries-old manner which can be purchased at the museum. Open 6 days a week. HOURS - Tuesday-Saturday 10-4; Sunday 1-5; Closed Mondays and all major holidays. ADMISSION- Adults - $2.50; Children $1.25; Seniors - $1.75 |
Peninsula Fine Arts Center --
101 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA
The Peninsula Fine Arts Center, an affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting art appreciation and education via a diverse schedule of changing exhibitions, featuring contemporary art as well as more historically-based work. Open Tues - Sat 10 am to 5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Pfac's "Hands On For Kids" gallery is a permanent installation space designed for children and families to interact in a fun, educational environment that encourages participation with art materials and concepts. "The Gallery Shop" features works by regional and national artists and craftsmen, as well as museum reproductions, jewelry, books and related gifts. Each year, Pfac's Studio Art School offers three sessions of classes and workshops for children (ages 4 and up) and adults in a variety of media. |
Petersburg Area Art League --
7 Old Street, Petersburg, VA
Art gallery with permanent collection - there are rotating exhibits by area artist. The Art League offers art classes in different mediums and holds lectures on various topics on art. Sponsor of the Arts in the Park festival in April. Gallery Hours: 10:30-2:30, Tues.-Sat. |
Philpott Lake Natural and Cultural History Exhibits --
1058 Philpott Dam Road, Bassett, VA
Aside from the natural beauty of Philpott Lake, other gems await to be experienced by its guests. The Visitor Assistance Center offers a unique display of exhibits pertaining to the natural and cultural heritage of Philpott Lake. These include a number of interpretive displays, such as: the Four Seasons of the Whitetail Deer; Fish that reside in Philpott Lake and Smith River; American Black Bear; American Beaver, and regional Native American and local history. Local lore includes interpretive panels featuring construction activities associated with the massive Philpott Dam - even historic photographs of flooding that used to occur in nearby towns before dam was built. HOURS OF OPERATION: Mon-Fri 8-4 and weekends 9-5. The facility is open year round, except the off season (Nov 1-Mar 31)when it is closed on weekends. FREE ADMISSION. |
Piedmont Arts Association --
215 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, VA
Piedmont Arts Association is a not for profit organization and a Statewide Partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. PAA plays a vital role in our community, striving to develop community awareness and appreciation of the arts. Our goal is to offer every individual the opportunity to experience the arts. We offer exhibitions of local to international scope as well as lectures, classes, a Performing Arts Series, a Family Theater Series, and music recitals. Programs and exhibitions presented by PAA are made possible, in part, by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Henry County, the City of Martinsville, and through the generosity of our corporate and individual contributors. |
PJ's Carousel Collection --
5223 Wilderness Road, Newbern, VA
Located in the Historic District of Newbern, VA is the only business in the country that makes limited edition, hand painted, numbered and certified hand crafted carousel animals. The animals are made from Gemwood. Great care is taken to insure that each animal maintains a close resemblance and proportionality to the actual carousel piece that it represents. They are painted the same colors of the actual carousel animal making it rich and unique. Factory tours and a small museum are available. No admission fee. Open Weekdays. |
Plains District Memorial Museum --
107 McCauley Drive, Timberville, VA
The Plains District Memorial Museum is full of the stories and artifacts of life in the Shenandoah Valley. The Plains District is comprised of small towns connected by the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, with stunning views of Massanutten Mountain to the east and Shenandoah Mountain to the west. The walls of the museum are full, the floor is full, even the ceiling is crowded with a lively collection that paints a portrait of early American homes, farms, and businesses. Whether you are in search of genealogical history or the joy of yesteryear, come and spend some time at the Plains District Memorial Museum. The museum is free and open Thursday through Sunday 1:00pm to 4:00pm. |
Pleasantfields Farm --
1765 Neisons Bridge Road, Hanover , VA
This is a small family farm of 73 acres that harvests around 50 acres of mixed products. They grow all types of vegetables, small fruits, cut flowers and hanging baskets. They offer agritourism to educate on how fruits and vegetables are grown on black plastic mulch and trickle irrigation. They do several farmer's markets. At this farm you can pick your own strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. In the fall they have hayrides and haunted forest. There is a self-serve produce stand out at the road for purchasing fresh veggies. They do group tours by appointment only. |
Plumb House Museum --
1012 West Main Street, Waynesboro, VA
Tour the streets that now cover the grounds of the Battle of Waynesboro. Stop at the Plumb House Museum, which was between the battle lines, and pick up a map and the story of the battle. The map features the battlefield location of the various military units involved. Restoration continues on this peice of history that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia Landmarks Register, and Virginia Civil War Trails. |
Pocahontas Exhibition Mine & Museum --
Machine Shop Hollow Road, Pocahontas, VA
Step into the historic Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine; listen as guides explain the story of mining the famous Pocahontas Number Three coal, and how the hand-loading era of the industry slowly succumbed to mechanization, and how the coal produced the energy which made this country great. |
Poe Museum --
1914-16 East Main Street, Richmond, VA
The Poe Museum provides a retreat into early 19th century Richmond where Edgar Allan Poe lived and worked. The museum features Poe's life and career by documenting his accomplishments with pictures, relics, and verse, and focusing on his many years in Richmond. |
Point of Honor --
Daniel's Hill, Lynchburg, VA
Legends of duels fought for honor gave this remarkable Virginia landmark its name. Completed in 1815 by Dr. George Cabell, Sr., his Federal style mansion features carefully restored interiors that preserve the classical designs popularized in 19th century America by Owen Biddle and England's William Paine. Remarkable vivid colors and rich, stylish furnishings echo the builder's affection for entertaining in the manner which defines our own notions of Southern hospitality. Dufour's dramatic Monuments of Paris mural paper graces the parlor and compliments the glorious vista of the historic James River seen from its windows. Visit Point of Honor and experience a time of legends and elegance when America was new and Virginians were creating their enduring mark upon the land. Admission: Adults:$6; 60 & over:$5; Children 6-18:$2; Under 6:free |
Poplar Forest --
1008 Poplar Forest Drive, Forest, VA
Poplar Forest was an important part of Jefferson's life – a private retreat, situated far from the public scrutiny and demands on his time. It was his most personal architectural creation and landscape, a place where he came to find rest and leisure, to rekindle his creativity, and to enjoy private time with his family. Poplar Forest was also a working plantation, critical to his efforts as a farmer. The lives of the enslaved men and women who worked for Jefferson are an important part of its history.
Wonderful outside walking tour. The house tour is very educational. Lots of hands on for the children using architectural materials on the lower level, including a video and displays of excavational finds. |
Port Republic Museum --
Water Street, Port Republic, VA
The Port Republic Museum is housed in a Federal style home, built in the 1830's for Benjamin Franklin Kemper. It is often referred to as the Turner Ashby House, for here the body of the Confederate general was prepared for burial. Included in the museum is the River Room which illustrates the history of Port Republic as a typical colonial river town from its settlement, mid-1700's and the growth of surrounding farms, to its heyday as a booming industrial town and major river port. The Turner Ashby Room describes Port Republic as the site of the last days of General Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign. Exhibits include the death of Ashby, Jackson's narrow escape during Federal invasion of the village and the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic. Open Sundays 1:30 - 4:00 April - October, closed November - March. |
Portsmouth Museums - The Naval Shipyard Museum and the Lightship Portsmouth --
420 High Street , Portsmouth, VA
Come explore the fascinating history of America's oldest and largest naval shipyard, which is located on the Portsmouth waterfront. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum offers a unique perspective on U.S. history, from Colonial to Civil War times and beyond. You'll find beautiful ship models, uniforms, military artifacts and exhibits portraying life in 18th, 19th and 20th century Portsmouth.
Exploring the Lightship PORTSMOUTH is both fun and enlightening. The Lightship PORTSMOUTH was built in 1915. She served for 48 years off the coasts of Virginia, Delaware and Massachusetts helping mariners avoid dangerous shoals or enter safely into harbors at night. Now a museum, the ship's quarters are fitted out realistically and filled with fascinating artifacts, uniforms, photographs, models, and more. |
Presidents Park --
211 Water Country Parkway, Williamsburg, VA
Presidents Park, the creation of David Adickes, internationally renowned sculptor and painter, features 16-18 foot busts of all 43 Presidents of the United States, placed in a garden setting. The park has a museum building which will house classrooms, meeting/banquet rooms, a gift shop, cafe, and other amenities. This is truly an educational outdoor museum committed to advancing interest in the presidency, the democratic process, and civic participation among youth and adults alike. |
Radford University Art Museum --
Jefferson & Main Streets Powell Hall 200, Radford, VA
Radford University Art Museum offers a wide range of visual arts in two galleries and a sculpture court on campus, and a satellite gallery in downtown Radford. The Museum creates about fifteen exhibitions each year, presenting national and international artists, student works, and in the summer, selections from our Permanent Collection -- there is always something new to see! |
Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center --
249 Clintwood Main Street, Clintwood, VA
The Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center features the life and music of the legendary music performer. Recognized as a pioneer in traditional Appalachian old-time music, Stanley has donated his extensive collection of memorabilia – ranging from vintage instruments to countless musical awards – to the museum. Located in an historic Victorian home the collection includes exhibits on Dr. Stanley, the region’s musical roots, and on popular successors like Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless. The facility is a resource center for students and music fans to learn more about traditional American and Appalachian music. The facility, housed in the four-story Chase House, includes a 2,200-square-foot museum on two levels of the facility, a welcome Center, a retail store, and office and storage. |
Reedville Fishermen's Museum --
504 Main Street, Reedville, VA
The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, founded in 1986, is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of the fishermen and watermen of Virginia’s Northern Neck and the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to the Covington Building housing its permanent and changing exhibit galleries, the Reedville Fishermen's Museum features the William Walker House, a typical waterman’s home of the early 1900s. In the water, the museum showcases the Claud W. Somers, a 42-foot skipjack built in 1911, and the Elva C., a 55-foot traditional workboat built in 1922. The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum is in growth mode as it begins a significant expansion to its campus, including an addition to the Covington Building, as well as new buildings dedicated to boat building and model making enterprises. |
The Refuge Waterfowl Museum --
7059 Maddox Blvd, Chincoteague Island, VA
Over 8000 square feet of beautifully displayed waterfowl history. Treasures include antique boats, guns, traps, art and decoys by various craftsmen distinguished in their fields, includes an extensive collection by island legends. |
Reston Museum --
Lake Ann Village Center, Reston, VA
The Reston Museum opened in 1997 to explore and celebrate the history of Reston, Virginia. The museum offers walking tours, community exhibits and children's workshops. Open from Wednesday-Sunday only. |
Reuel B. Pritchett Museum --
Bridgewater College, Cole Hall, Bridgewater, VA
Visit a fascinating general history museum with artifacts from Native-Americans, the American Civil War, and pioneer life. Coinage, currency, bottles, and weaponry are just a few of the unique artifacts displayed. See rare books and bibles as well as missionary history and memorabilia from the Church of the Brethrens' missions to India, China, Nepal, and the Middle East. Come and celebrate over fifty years of an incredible museum collection. |
Richmond County Museum and Visitor Center --
Richmond County Museum and Visitors Center, Warsaw, VA
Located in the 1872 jail on the courthouse green, the museum tells the story of Richmond County from prehistoric times. Exhibits highlight the Rappahannock Tribe, early English settlement, Francis Lightfoot Lee, signer of the Declaration of Independence and William Atkinson Jones, author of Philippine Independence. An old country store has been recreated,including a rural post office of the early 20th Century.Open Wednesday through Saturday. |
Riddick's Folly --
510 North Main Street , Suffolk, VA
While Mills Riddick's contemporaries may have mocked his Greek Revival home when it was built in 1837, the house now stands as a beautiful reminder of the past. This most impressive structure on Main Street in Suffolk features striking architectural details. Riddick's Folly has four floors, twenty-one rooms, and sixteen fireplaces. All four floors are open to the public. The building features elegantly furnished double parlors, a gentlemen's library, and adult and children's bedchambers. Also open are the laundry and dining rooms. Special exhibit galleries include those honoring former Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., an exhibit celebrating the peanut industry in Suffolk, and a gallery for quarterly changing exhibits. Riddick's Folly also offers a tastefully stocked Gift Shop. |
Rising Sun Tavern - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
1304 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Built by Charles Washington around 1760 as his home, this frame building became a tavern in 1792, operating in the bustling town of Fredericksburg. The Tap Room features a reconstructed bar cage and fine collection of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century English and American pewter. Another spacious room provided a space for meetings and private dinners by patrons of the tavern. "Tavern Wenches" provide visitors with a lively interpretation of eighteenth-century tavern life. The tavern is filled with period furnishings and stories of early life in Fredericksburg. |
Roaring Twenties Antique Car Museum, The --
Rt. 1, Hood, VA
Virginia's Largest Family Collection is off the beaten path but well worth a trip for the car enthusiast.Examples of Carter, Star, Stephen, Cleveland, Hupmobile, Paige, Nash, Essex and the big iron - Packard and Cadillac are among the unique cars displayed. Most of the collection is comprised of cars from the 1920s and 1930s. The oldest being a 1904 Carter Electric Motorette and the most recent a 1948 Playboy Model A-48.The museum features 32 vintage cars on display along with Stationary Engines, Horse-Drawn Equipment, Old Farm Tools, Period Advertising and a myriad of relics. The exhibit presents the preservation of many once-everyday items whose purpose and meanings were almost forgotten as the race towards progress rendered them obsolete - things many people wouldn't have thought to save. However, collector and Curator John Dudley |
Robert Russa Moton Museum --
900 Griffin Blvd, Farmville, VA
The Robert Russa Moton Museum...the national center for the study of Civil Rights in Education. Named a National Historic Landmark in 1998, it was the site of the first non-violent student demonstration (1951), an action that led to the Brown vs. Board of education case before the U.S. Supreme Court which mandated equal education for all Americans. |
Rosewell Ruins --
5113 Old Rosewell Lane, Gloucester, VA
One of colonial America's grandest mansions, Rosewell was built 1725-1738 and gutted by fire in 1916. Four massive chimneys, one wall, and a vaulted cellar are now silent witnesses to history. Stabilized, but not rebuilt, Rosewell allows visitors to inspect 18th-century brickwork from a perspective that no intact building can offer. The Rosewell mansion was the centerpiece of a 3000-acre plantation where slaves grew tobacco and grain. Countless artifacts now lie beneath its soil. While preservation and archaeology are ongoing, there are no plans to rebuild the mansion. It is left to the imagination to reconstruct it as known to Gov. John Page and his friend Thomas Jefferson. Open 10AM-4PM Mon.-Sat., 1PM-4PM Sun. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Dec.24-25, Dec.31-Jan.1. Visitor Center with exhibits, video, archaeology lab, and gift shop. |
Route 11 Potato Chips Factory --
7815 Main Street , Middletown, VA
Come watch the spudmasters at work—watch through the window—and sample the chips. The best time to see the action is a.m. to early p.m. Full factory tours not available at this time. |
Rowena's --
758 West 22nd , Norfolk, VA
Charming teas are available for young and old. The tearoom is the perfect setting for bridal showers, birthday parties, bridge groups, or just a fun gathering of friends. Choose from a simple tea to a elegant full afternoon tea. Browse through the Gift Shop that is full of wonderful products, a full range of tea items, and whimsical gifts for all ages. Children and adults are welcome January 15 – October 15 to come and tour Rowena's facility, which includes the Jam and Jelly Factory, retail store and warehouse. There is no charge; however, reservations are required.
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Salem Museum & Historical Society --
801 E. Main Street, Salem, VA
In a lush valley of the Blue Ridge-along what was once the "Great Road" leading westward through Virginia-sits the historic Williams-Brown House. A two-story brick home listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Brown House is typical of buildings which served travelers in the mid-19th century. Originally used for the dual purpose of a residence and post office/general store, today it is home to the Salem Museum. As an educational and cultural resource center, the Museum maintains an important collection of local artifacts-including Native American pieces recovered from an early Indian settlement, relics of the Civil War, and mementos of daily life from the span of Salem's history. The Museum Shop features books, crafts, replicas, educational toys, and more. Group tours may be scheduled in advance by calling the Salem Museum. |
Sanders House Center --
200 Sanders Lane, Bluefield, VA
The Sanders House Center includes a late 19th century home was once the centerpiece of a 3,000 acre farm. The house was built in 1896 and has gorgeous solid oak woodwork, original murals and furniture. The grounds include a granary, smokehouse, and cottge outbuildings and are graced with an oak tree beleived to be more than 250 years old. The Sanders House is historical treasure, preserving aspects of past and contemporary grace. The Tazewell County Visitor Center is housed in the "Rosie Trigg Cottage" and sells traditional mountain crafts by local artisians. |
Sandusky Historic Site & Civil War Museum --
757 Sandusky Drive, Lynchburg, VA
“Sandusky” is one of the finest examples of formal Federal style architecture in Virginia’s Piedmont region. Built in 1808 by Richmond merchant Charles Johnston. Thomas Jefferson was an occassional guest at Sandusky. Charles was uncle to noted Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. The home was used as Union headquarters by General David Hunter during the June 18-19, 1864 Battle of Lynchburg. The yard and barn was used as a field hospital. Sandusky had been a private residence since 1808. In 2000 it was purchased by the Historic Sandusky Foundation for the purpose of developing it into an historic site interpreting Lynchburg’s role in the Civil War. The house is open to tour groups and individuals by appointment. Please call ahead. |
Saunders Brothers Orchard & Farm Museum --
2717 Tye Brook Hwy., Piney River, VA
At the Packing Shed farm market at Saunders Brothers you will find one of the largest privately-owned collection of farm antiques in the state of Virginia. Indian artifacts and much more. Open for the season end of June through early November. Closed Sunday. |
Sawhill Gallery --
First Floor, Duke Hall, Harrisonburg, VA
Sawhill Gallery features art of international, national and regional interest. rotating exhibitions. |
Science Museum of Virginia --
2500 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Touch, observe and explore the impact of science on your life from astronomy to computers, from flight to crystals, from DNA to electricity — all within the elegant grandeur of a historic, renovated railroad station. Enjoy hundreds of permanent and visiting exhibits. Find out how a computer works, play laser pool, and examine gem specimens from around the world. Watch the Foucault pendulum as it proves the Earth's rotation. Visit the ZOOM™zone. See Bioscape — the new inter-active life sciences exhibition. See a film in the museum's Ethyl Corporation IMAX®DOME & Planetarium. The five-story theater with its tilted-dome screen and digital sound system puts you in the middle of the action. |
Science Museum of Western Virginia --
One Market Square, Roanoke, VA
The Science Museum is a fun place for adults and children to explore the wonders of science through hands-on experiences. Permanent exhibits include a state-of-the-art weather gallery; The Science Arcade, with more than 45 interactive exhibits, explore light, sound and color; Hardbottom Reef Tank, 750-gallon marine aquarium featuring fish native to the Atlantic Coast; Geology Gallery; Body Tech, a state-of-the-art exhibit designed to explore the machinery of the body, and the Illusions Gallery where things aren't always as they appear. Explore the reaches of the universe in Hopkins Planetarium and then back down to earth to experience giant screen films in the MegaDome Theater, an exciting new way to learn about the world around you. The Science Museum Shop is located on the first floor, full of fun, educational toys, games, and gifts. |
Scotchtown - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
16120 Chiswell Lane , Beaverdam, VA
Patrick Henry, orator of the American Revolution and first governor of Virginia, made his home at Scotchtown from 1771 to 1778. One of Virginia's oldest plantation houses. |
Scottsville: Historic River Town --
401 Valley Street, Scottsville, VA
Older than the Nation, Scottsville was founded in 1744. Located on the Horseshoe Bend of the scenic James River in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Albemarle Country. A quietly charming village, Scottsville celebrates its history with various events and festivals throughout the year including a Farmer's Market, a June Batteaux Festival, a Traditional Hometown Fourth of July parade, and in September, JamesFest. Folks come from near and far to enjoy Scottsville's relaxed atmosphere, federal architecture, local history museum, Canal Basin Square, Confederate cemetery, scenic countryside, restaurants, country inns, B&Bs, antiquing, Virginia wine tastings, fishing, canoeing, river tubing...and above all...warm, friendly people.Come visit Scottsville...a place where echoes of yesterday blend with visions of tomorrow. |
Second Street Gallery --
201 Second Street NW, Charlottesville, VA
Second Street Gallery, a non-profit contemporary art space, provides Central Virginia with access to the best of national and regional contemporary art. Exhibitions change monthly, and there is an opening and artists's talk for each new show on the first Friday of the month, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.(see the related events page for information about individual exhibitions and the exhibition calendar). Situated in the heart of historic Charlottesville's downtown district, just one block off the city's dynamic, newly-renovated pedestrian mall, the Gallery is located inside the McGuffey Arts Center, a large complex of artists's studios and exhibition spaces. (For more information on location and related activities, click the "Charlottesville" button on the right.Travelers' Info:Second Street Gallery is located in the heart of Charlottesville. |
Settler's Museum --
1322 Rocky Hollow Road, Atkins, VA
A visit to The Settler's Museum of Southwest Virginia is like stepping one hundred years into the past. Visit this 67 acre open air museum and learn the story of the people who settled the area. View the Migration Story and map at our visitor's center, visit the restored 19th-century living history farm complete with farmhouse and 8 original outbuildings, and tour the restored 1894 one-room Lindamood schoolhouse. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking as the Appalachian Trail runs through the property, as well as Virginia's Wildlife and Birding Trail number MBW10. We invite you to relax with us on the porch at the farm, and learn about life in the mountains over one hundred years ago. |
Shenandoah Caverns --
261 Caverns Road, Shenandoah Caverns, VA
Experience the color of Virginia's most beautiful caverns as well as the convenience of elevator service and wide, level pathways on your tour. |
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum --
54 S. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA
Capture the sense of fascination and excitement you had as a child. Here, at the Discovery Museum, families come to feel that wonder, together. The hands-on exhibits and programs, focused on the sciences, mathematics, the humanities and the arts, are here to ignite creativity, spark curiosity and inspire learning. Examine, crawl around, explore, discover and have lots of fun at the Discovery Museum! |
Shenandoah Valley Folk Art and Heritage Center --
PO Box 715, Dayton, VA
The Shenandoah Valley Folk Art and Heritage Center in Dayton, Rockingham County, Virginia is home to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, an excellent genealogy library, a giftshop and bookstore, and an electric map depiction of General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson's Valley Campaign. On permanent display are two fine exhibits of local culture and history: Shenandoah Valley Folk Art is a collection of local treasures in the arts of basket making, pottery, fraktur, metal working, gunsmithing and furniture making just to name a few. "Invincible Spirit: History in the Heart of the Shenandoah" is an extensive exhibit telling the story of local history, from the Native Americans through today. This exhibit features both documents and artifacts from our collection, as well as rich photographic and illustrative content. |
Sherwood Forest Plantation - Home of President John Tyler --
14501 John Tyler Memorial Highway, Charles City, VA
Sherwood Forest is the home of President John Tyler, the first Vice President to ascend to the presidency. The House, circa l730, is Virginia Tidewater in architectural design, and is the longest frame dwelling in America. It was expanded to its present length, 300 feet, by President Tyler in 1845, when he added the 68-foot ballroom designed for dancing the Virginia Reel. The original 17th century tobacco barn, garden house, milk house, smoke house, law office and kitchen/laundry comprise one of the few complete plantation yards in America.
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Shirley Plantation --
501 Shirley Plantation Road, Charles City, VA
A visit to Shirley Plantation affords a panorama of rare historical continuity. Shirley was founded six years after the settlers arrived at Jamestown in 1607 to establish the first permanent English Colony in the New World.The home is recognized as an architectural treasure. Its famous carved walnut staircase rises for three stories without visible means of support, and is the only one of its kind in America. The superb paneling and elegant wood carving are fine examples of the work of 18th-century artisans. Shirley is a home filled with family portraits, furniture, crested silver, and memorabilia.
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Smith's Fort Plantation - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
217 Smith Fort Lane, Surry, VA
Built sometime between 1751 and 1765, the story-and-a-half brick house is laid in Flemish bond and was home to Jacob Faulcon and his family. Its architectural significance lies in the interior where much of the original woodwork still exists. However, Smith's Fort had a long and varied history in Virginia. Directly across from Jamestown on Gray's Creek, Smith's Fort offered a strategic location in the early seventeenth century. Later in that century, Chief Powhatan gave his new son-in-law, John Rolfe, a grant of land as a dowry gift on the occasion of his marriage to Pocahontas.
The APVA acquired Smith's Fort Plantation in 1933. It has been fully restored and has a fine collection of English and American furnishings. Today, visitors can see the site of the retreat fort, the house, and its small herb garden. |
Smithfield Plantation --
1000 Smithfield Plantation Road, Blacksburg, VA
Built in 1773, Smithfield Plantation was the home of Revolutionary War patriot William Preston. The home, designed in the tidewater plantation style, provided a haven of aristocratic elegance and became the social and political center of this backcountry area. The glazed windows, Chinese Chippendale railings and an impressive mantle are a testament to Preston's effort and expense.The Prestons raised and educated their 12 children at Smithfield. Their descendents continued the family tradition of nation building with three Virginia governors, four senators, legislators, educators and military leaders.Today Smithfield's simple exterior belies the grandeur and turmoil of its past. Costumed interpreters share the culture and the lives of the early Prestons including Col. Preston's wife Susanna, after whom the house was named. |
Smithsonian Institution Naturalist Center --
741 Miller Drive SE, Leesburg, VA
This satellite education center of the Smithsonian offers hands-on access to 30,000 natual history objects for group or individual study. For visitors 10 years or older. |
Smyth County Historical & Museum Society --
PO Box 710, Marion, VA
The Smyth County Historical & Museum Society was founded in 1961 to preserve the County's heritage through the collection of artifacts, photographs and manuscripts and presentation of public programs and publications. Since its founding, the museum has acquired an impressive collection from prehistoric to the modern era. Two collections of special significance are the Southwestern State Hospital Collection of artifacts and photographs from 1887 through the 1950's and a collection of period clothing and textiles from 1808-1965. The Museum offers an interesting "tour through time" that reflects the economic and social development of the county and, in general, rural Southwest Virginia. Special exhibits highlight unique periods of the County's heritage and offer insights into what life was like. |
South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History --
1540 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA
Moving into the Future with an Appreciation of the Past. The South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History provides a place for the collection, display, and preservation of art and historical memorabilia pertinent to South Boston, Halifax County, and Southside Virginia. The museum's exhibits include Civil War Artifacts, Glassware, Hummels, Indian Artifacts, Military Uniforms, and Collections from Halifax County founding families. Exhibits are changed in the Main Gallery each month to reflect different aspects of the history and art of Southside Virginia. We also have a Genealogy room to trace your family history. Come and visit our gift shop and find the perfect gift. |
South River Meeting House --
5810 Fort Avenue, Lynchburg, VA
In the mid-eighteenth century, pioneer Quakers settled the Lynchburg area. South River Meeting was organized in 1757 when Sarah Lynch gave 2 acres of land for the Quaker's first meeting house. The first meeting house burned in 1768, and a framed building was was erected. Within 25 years the increased membership made necessary the building of a larger one. In 1791, John Lynch, Founder of Lynchburg, gave 10 acres of land and a stone building was built. The building has been restored to its late 18th century appearance. Group tours are available, conducted by a costumed historical interpreter with 3 days notice. Self guided tours are available M-F 09:00 to 2:00. |
Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park --
10 W. First Street and Wood Avenue, Big Stone Gap, VA
Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park, a Virginia State Park, is located in Big Stone Gap and chronicles the exploration and development of the town and surrounding area. The four-story mansion was started as a neighborhood attraction by Rep. C. Bascom Slemp. It opened as a state museum in 1948. The gift shop features "one of a kind" items. Closed Mondays, Open 1pm-5pm Sundays and and 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday. |
Springfield Rosseechee Museum --
289 Tisdale Lane, Clarksville, VA
Home of the legendary artifact collection of the late Judge John W. Tisdale. The collection includes more than 20,000 stone artifacts, from Folsom points to 17th-century Indian relics. Open Saturdays: 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Other times by appointment only. Located in Clarksville, Virginia's only lakeside town, on beautiful Buggs Island Lake/John H. Kerr Reservoir. |
St. James' House - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
1300 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA
This small, gambrel-roofed house is a fine example of an eighteenth-century gentleman's house. It contains a collection of period furnishings, including silver, glass, porcelain, and furniture. It was built by James Mercer, first judge of the General Court in Fredericksburg. The house is open three times a year and serves as a residence. |
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum --
105-107 South Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, one of the oldest pharmacies in the nation, exists today to promote a greater understanding of historic public health issues, inspire people with the values of Quaker founder, Edward Stabler, and engage the visitor in an appreciation of our local and national history by sharing the story of this business and family's profound effect on the community in such diverse areas as education and the abolition of slavery. |
State Arboretum of Virginia Museum --
400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, VA
The State Arboretum of Virginia is part of Blandy Experimental Farm, a research field station for the University of Virginia. The Arboretum collection includes the largest variety of boxwood cultivars in North America and more than half the world's pine species as well as a Virginia Native Plant Trail, an herb garden, extensive collections of perennials, a native plant meadow, and more. The collection emphasizes native trees and woody shrubs and their exotic relatives. It is the only mature arboretum on limestone soils on the east coast. A 3-mile loop drive, walking trails, and a 4-mile bridle trail offer many choices for visitors. The arboretum is open to the public dawn to dusk, 365 days a year, at no charge. |
Steamboat Era Museum --
156 King Carter Drive, Irvington, VA
A collection and depository of artifacts and information pertaining to the romantic Steamboat era of Virginia's tidewater. Exhibits include artifacts, dioramas, models, oral histories, artwork, photographs, as well as interactive displays.2007 features new exhibit"The Bay at War" concerning the Civil War on the Chesapeake Bay. "whoever contolled the Bay would win the war" |
Stone Cross Mountain Museum --
17529 A.L. Philpott Highway, Martinsville, VA
This Staurolite Crystal (Fairy Stones) Museum presents a self-guided tour of displays with descriptive information beside each display. Helpful staff is on hand to answer any questions. Gift shop with a large selection of fairy stones mounted for pendants, along with polished stones, Gem and Mineral specimens. Visit our Website to see these cross-shaped specimens. Large parking lot, groups welcome, men and ladies bathrooms. Admission charge of $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children under 12 years. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays. Link to Fairy Stone State Park on our web site, and where to hunt for these Crosses. |
Stonewall Jackson House --
8 East Washington Street , Lexington, VA
The only home that the famous Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson ever owned. Jackson and his wife, Mary Anna Morrison, lived in the house while he taught at the Virginia Military Institute before the Civil War. The house, a Registered National Landmark, is owned and operated by the Stonewall Jackson Foundation. |
Stonewall Jackson Museum at Hupp's Hill --
Museum of American Presidents, Strasburg, VA
Part of an estate established by George F Hupp in the 1750's, Hupp's Hill commands breathtaking views of Strasburg, the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain. The hill and the manor house were used by contending forces throughout the Civil War. Relict Confederate entrenchments and Federal gun positions can still be seen on the grounds. The Children's Room has period costumes, soldier's tent, wooden horses, and discovery boxes to explore a historic topic through games, puzzles, and artifacts. I-81 Exit 298, Rt. 11 South 1 mile. |
Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum --
415 N. Braddock Street , Winchester, VA
The museum has on display Jackson's personal prayer table, initialed prayer book, and many other interesting artifacts. Jackson described the room he used as his office in a letter to his wife, and wrote that the walls were "papered with elegant gilt paper". A remnant of the wallpaper was found and today a reproduction is on the walls in Jackson's office for visitors to enjoy. The museum is interpreted to honor the memory of General Jackson's military genius as Robert E. Lee's most valuable officer. His sincerity and valor moved men's spirits to follow him against any odds. General Jackson's office is essentially the same as when he used it, so it does preserve the essence of his surroundings at that time. |
Strasburg Museum --
440 East King Street, Strasburg, VA
A Shenandoah Valley Community presents its past with blacksmith, cooper, and potter shop collections, Indian artifacts, displays from colonial farms, homes, barns, and businesses, relics from Civil War and Railroad Eras. Open May--October 10AM-4PM. |
Stratford Hall Plantation - The Birthplace of Robert E. Lee --
483 Great House Road, Stratford, VA
Stratford Hall is one of the great houses of American history. Its magnificent setting on a high bluff above the Potomac River and its bold architectural style set it apart from any other colonial house, but its highest distinction is the family of patriots who lived there. The Plantation is still managed as a farm today on 1670 of its original acres. Come and enjoy an unhurried visit to the country! Several special tours available by appointment. |
Suffolk Museum --
118 Bosley Avenue, Suffolk, VA
As a community partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, this museum offers changing art exhibits as well as concert series, artists' demonstrations, and array of art classes. The museum is also home to the Suffolk Art League. Partially supported by the Suffolk Fine Arts Commission and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. and Sunday 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. |
Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum --
326 North Main Street, Suffolk, VA
The Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum is owned and operated by the Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Touring the museum enables the society to continue preservation efforts in and out of the community. |
Surry Nuclear Information Center --
5570 Hog Island Road, Surry, VA
Ever wonder how a nuclear power station works? At Dominion's Nuclear Information Center at Surry, you can find out. See a model of a nuclear reactor. Generate your own electricity using muscle power. See a full-scale model of the containment structure. Learn about the entire nuclear energy path, from uranium mining to electricity production.
Nuclear Public Affairs personnel are energy educators who help you understand how energy powers our world and why nuclear energy is important to all of us. Informative guided tours are available, or you can explore the displays at your own pace. |
Sutherlin Mansion --
975 Main Street, Danville, VA
The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History is housed in the Sutherlin Mansion which was the former home to Major William T. Sutherlin, wartime quartermaster for Danville and among its most prominent citizens. For one week, 3-10 April 1865, Major and Mrs. Sutherlin opened their home to Jefferson Davis and the Confederate government. The Confederate President occupied a bedroom upstairs, now restored. In this house, he wrote and delivered his final proclamation to the Confederacy on April 4th and later that day, met for the last time with his full Cabinet (with the exception of his secretary of War, General Breckenridge). Largely because of the events documented in this house during the Confederacy's final week, Danville has become known as the "Last Capitol of the Confederacy." |
Sweet Briar Museum --
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA
Sweet Briar College was founded in 1901 with the money which the Founder, Indiana Fletcher Williams had willed to open a center of higher learning for young women. Indiana gave the money in remembrance of her only daughter, Daisy Williams, who tragically died in the flower of her youth at the age of 16. Many of the objects included are furnishings that belonged to the Fletcher-Williams family. The College has amassed collections of art, archives, rare books, archeology, antiquities and natural history artifacts. Many objects are still used in classes today. The Farm Tool Museum contains Sweet Briar's collection of farm machinery and artifacts both from the Sweet Briar Plantation and from the time period. On display are farm implements of all descriptions, along with plow tack, and a forge. The Farm Tool Museum is located behind the Sweet Briar Museum.
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Thistle Cove Farm --
Cove Road (Rt. 608), Tazewell, VA
Thistle Cove Farm is a no kill, low stress farm and the animals respond by producing incredible wool. The sheep fleeces are long, with an incredible handle and beautiful crimp making them an absolute joy to process, spin, knit, crochet or weave. The fleeces have received the Virginia’s Finest seal of approval which means the wool has met quality standards established by industry experts and approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Thistle Cove Farm is only the third farm in the Commonwealth to receive this designation.
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Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest --
1548 Bateman Bridge Road, Forest, VA
Poplar Forest offers 40-minute guided tours of Jefferson's octagonal house. Tour topics range from Jefferson's design and construction of his retreat, his landscape design, the plantation community, the rescue of the property, and its restoration. Self guided grounds tours are also available. Visitors can walk the grounds with brochures describing the site and the enslaved workers. They can also view the exhibits at the restoration workshop, archaeology laboratory, slave quarter site, and in the lower level of the house. Also available in the lower level of the house is a 15 minute film on the restoration work and archaeological excavations. |
Tobacco Farm Life Museum of Virginia --
306 West Main St., South Hill, VA
The Tobacco Farm Life Museum focuses on the life-style and activities of the farm family during the early 1900's and offers displays on the production of tobacco from seed to market through exhibits and film. |
Torpedo Factory Art Center --
105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA
Experience the process of art in action. Daily from 10am to 5pm. Over 160 professional artists create, display and sell sculpture, painting, jewelry, stained glass, weaving, printmaking, ceramics, enameling and photograpy in 83 studios. Six galleries feature monthly exhibits by regional artists. Our Target Gallery features revolving exhibitions from national and international artists. |
Toy Museum at Natural Bridge --
6477 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, VA
The Toy Museum At Natural Bridge is the largest collection of childhood memorabilia on display in the world. 45,000 toys that represent more than a quarter of a millenium of American childhood heritage and culture in an educational and entertaining manner that provides an interactive, intergenerational experience for visitors of all ages. The museum collections feature many full sets and series of collectible toys particularly since 1975. There are hundreds of thousands of parts and pieces to many of the more than 45,000 items comprising the museum's holdings in toys, games and dolls which date from 1740 to 2000. |
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Museum --
600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA
Invention knows no boundaries. Visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Museum and marvel at the ingenuity of mankind. Visitors to the museum see how intellectual property is integrated into their lives, improving the way they live. Our nation's founders recognized the importance of intellectual property and included provisions for its protection and encouragement in the Constitution. The U.S. Patent nd Trademark Office works to record, share, and preserve the inventive spirit. |
University of Mary Washington Galleries --
Ridderhof Martin Gallery, 1301 College Avenue , Fredericksburg, VA
The University of Mary Washington is named for the mother of George Washington, who lived most of her life in Fredericksburg. The University of Mary Washington Galleries present art exhibitions and educational events of interest to the University community and the general public at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery and the duPont Gallery. Exhibitions are brought in from museums around the country, or are drawn from the permanent collection of more than 5,000 artworks. Mid-20th-century American and Asian art make up the largest parts of the permanent collection. Exhibitions of works by art faculty, art students, and senior art majors are held annually. |
University of Virginia - For Kids and Families --
P.O. Box 400229, Charlottesville, VA
Wide variety of programs and activities that are available for kids at U.Va., ranging from sports camps to writing workshops. |
University of Virginia Art Museum --
155 Rugby Road, Charlottesville, VA
The University Museum exhibits American and European painting and sculpture of the 15th -19th centuries including art from the "Age of Thomas Jefferson" (1775-1825); art from the ancient Mediterranean; Asian art; and 20th century art. Highlights of the collection of 20th-century paintings, sculpture and works on paper include American figurative art and photography. Each year the Museum presents 10-12 temporary exhibitions drawn from the collections and sources nationwide. The collection of Old Master and later prints and photography, as well as ethnographic holdings - African, Native American, Oceanic, and pre-Columbian art - are presented in temporary exhibitions. |
US Army Women's Museum --
2100 Adams Avenue, Fort Lee, VA
The museum traces the history of women in the military from American Revolution to today. Enjoy memorabilia throughout the gallery as well as videos and interactives. |
US Quartermaster Museum --
1201 22nd Street, Petersburg, VA
Although Petersburg is most famous for its role in the Civil War, the city has a long history of military activity---from its founding as a frontier fort to its 20th century role as the home of Fort Lee. The city is an especially appropriate site for the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum. In the museum inside of Fort Lee, visitors can see military artifacts dating back to the Revolutionary War, when Petersburg again played a strategic role on the road to Yorktown because of its location and flourishing tobacco trade. Here in a single museum are life-sized exhibits of colorful uniforms, well-worn weapons---even General Patton's jeep---assembled in tribute to the corps that has supplied food, clothing and military equipment to American armed forces. |
Valentine Richmond History Center --
1015 East Clay Street , Richmond, VA
Explore Richmond's beautiful historic districts through a series of delightful, educational strolls and guided bus tours! Historic Richmond Tours' master guides share our city's stories and rich architecture. Regularly scheduled tours include a series of Sunday walking tours, themed guided bus tours, as well as, tours of historic Hollywood Cemetery. Visit the Valentine Richmond History Center, the John Marshall House, the 1812 Wickham House and don't miss Monumental Church, built to honor those lost in the Richmond Theatre Fire of 1811. |
Valley Turnpike Museum --
212 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA
You traveled the road-- now learn it's story. The Valley Turnpike Museum, celebrates the history and heritage of today's US Route 11, aka The Valley Turnpike. Once the main thoroughfare throughout the Shenandoah Valley, it aided migration from the north to the south, both in pioneer days and today. The museums highlights the road's history from its beginnings as a buffalo path to the Civil War and Stonewall Jackson, to today's use of it as a more scenic way to experience the Valley. |
Violet Bank Museum --
303 Virginia Avenue, Colonial Heights, VA
In 1777, shipping mercahnt Thomas Shore purchased 144 acres atop Archer's Hill naming the property, Violet Bank. The present building, owned by the City of Colonial Heights, replaces the first house constructed by Thomas Shore, destroyed by fire in 1810, and rebuilt by his widow, Jane Grey. Violet Bank Museum is a superb document of Federal design and American Interior Decorative Arts. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and a Virginia Historic Landmark. With an interpretive period spanning 1815 to 1873, the Museum served as General Robert E. Lee's Headquarters during the first six months of the Petersburg's campaign in 1864, the Southern Confederacy's "Last Stand" in its fight to achieve independence. The Museum maintains an array of artifacts: guns, furnitrue, swords, glass and ceramics. Museum is closed on Monday's. |
Virginia Air and Space Center --
600 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, VA
The birthplace of America’s space program, the Virginia Air & Space Center features dozens of hands-on air and space exhibits, a premiere interactive aviation gallery that spans 100 years of flight, more than 30 historic aircraft, unique space flight artifacts and more! Your imagination will soar as you launch a rocket, pilot a space shuttle, become an air traffic controller, fly an airplane, and climb aboard a WWII bomber! Come face to face with the Apollo 12 Command Module that went to the moon, a Mars meteorite, a DC-9 passenger jet, a replica 1903 Wright Flyer and more! There is always something new landing at the Virginia Air & Space Center! Experience a 3D IMAX film in the giant-screen Riverside IMAX Theater...you have to see it to believe it! |
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center --
717 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA
An adventure you won't soon forget! Formerly Virginia Marine Science Museum. Explore over 700,000 gallons of one of the best aquariums and live animal habitats in the country at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Check out the hundreds of hands-on exhibits, outdoor aviary, nature trail, and marshlands. Plus you won't want to miss the 3D IMAX® Theater. Of course with a screen six stories tall and eight stories wide, it'd be impossible to miss! From the rivers to the Chesapeake Bay and finally, into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, this journey of water through Virginia introduces you to the many aquatic animals and plants that are native to the state. See the largest collection of Chesapeake Bay fishes and meet a horseshoe crab at the Chesapeake Bay touch pool. Observe Loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and Green turtles in the Chesapeake Light Tower Aquarium. Watch in wonder as sharks, stingrays and other ocean dwellers navigate Norfolk Canyon Aquarium. Learn about the science of oceanography through engaging, hands-on exhibits. Does a stingray really feel like wet bologna? What do a horseshoe crab's mouth and a toothbrush have in common? Find out for yourself at the two touch pools. Examine skulls, shells, shark jaws, and other artifacts at the Curiosity Carts. Try out some of the 300 interactive exhibits to learn more about marshes, the Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. |
Virginia Aviation Museum --
5701 Huntsman Rd, Richmond, VA
At the Virginia Aviation Museum enjoy unlimited opportunities to view 30 historic aircraft, including airworthy Wright Brothers reproduction aircraft – the 1899 kite, 1900, 1901, 1902 gliders and 1903 Flyer. See Capt. Dick Merrill’s 1930s open cockpit mail plane and the Stars and Stripes - the first American scientific research aircraft to fly in Antarctica - used by Virginia’s legendary Adm. Richard E. Byrd. Examine a World War I SPAD VII in mint condition! Learn which planes earned the nicknames: Rolls Royce, Cadillac and Flying Bathtub. Stroll past exhibits on pioneer aviation, World War II and the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame. Enjoy aviation films and lectures in the Benn Theater. If that’s still not enough, how about the incomparable SR-71 Blackbird! That’s right, a real SR-71 is on permanent display at the Virginia Aviation Museum |
Virginia Beach City Public Schools Planetarium --
Plaza Middle School, Virginia Beach, VA
The Virginia Beach City Public Schools Planetarium has served as the community's source for astronomical enrichment since 1969. During the weekdays (including the summer), the Planetarium serves public & private schools, child development centers, churches, community groups, etc. free of charge. Call us two weeks in advance for available dates and times. Lessons and presentations are tailored to specific age levels and instructional requests. The Planetarium also provides FREE presentations every Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. for the general public. The programs change monthly and can be viewed on our website under "Public Programs." Reservations are suggested. Please check the website, email or call for summer schedule. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. |
Virginia Center for Architecture --
2501 Monument Ave., Richmond, VA
The Virginia Center for Architecture, one of the nation's few museums devoted to the building arts and design, is dedicated to creating understanding of the value, meaning, and influence of built environments in our lives, our communities, and our world. Located in a 1919 27,000-square-foot landmark Tudor Revival mansion at 2501 Monument Ave. in Richmond’s historic Fan District, the Center is open to the public 10 am - 5 pm Tuesday through Friday and 1-5 pm Saturday and Sunday. Exhibitions, programs, and house and neighborhood walking tours are offered throughout the year. The Virgnia Center for Architecture Museum Shop features outstanding array of books and gifts. Suggested donation: $5. For more information, call 804-644-3041, or visit the Center on the web at www.virginiaarchitecture.org. |
Virginia City Gem Mine & Museum --
P.O. Box 542, Wytheville, VA
Enjoy mother nature's panorama overlooking the Jefferson National Forest Scenic Byway. Fantastic family fun in our preserved, restored and recreated 1880's perion buildings. Gems from around the world are found in our 120 Ft. covered sluice. Delight in specimens from near & far. Catch gold fever panning 22kt from Alaska. Picnic, hike, bike or ride your horses on the 6 miles of trails on 240 acres. With a day's notice, groups of 10 or more get a 20% bucket discount. Open daily 10am to 6pm, April 15 -October 31. Rent Virginia City for special event such as weddings, reunions or bithdays. Rent the penthouse for your honeymoon or for a private getaway. Just minutes from Wytheville and from the Big Walker |
Virginia Discovery Museum --
524 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA
permanent exhibits appeal primarily to children of preschool age through fourth grade. Some special exhibits and some permanent exhibits may be appropriate for older children. This is definitely a hands-on children's museum, with exhibits on the arts, sciences, humanities, history and nature. Families can explore the Museum together -- everyone is free to play and explore together. One of the top 50 children's museums in the United States! |
Virginia Historical Society --
428 N. Boulevard, Richmond, VA
The Virginia Historical Society, the Museum of Virginia History, offers the most comprehensive collection of Virginiana in the world and features the largest display of Virginia artifacts on permanent view. At its center is "The Story of Virginia, an American Experience," the state's only exhibition covering all of Virginia history from prehistoric times to the present. Throughout this 10,000 square-foot exhibition of more than a thousand objects--including a 17th-century dugout canoe, a Conestoga wagon, an 18th-century smokehouse and kitchen, and 1918 streetcar--Virginia's past is delightfully portrayed using a multi-media approach of videos, storyphones, computer games, and other interactive components. Visit our site for more information about programs, genealogy research, exhibits, the library, museum shop, and membership. |
Virginia Holocaust Museum --
2000 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA
The Virginia Holocaust Museum was established in May of 1997 to teach tolerance through education to middle and high school students, to combat racism and anti-semitism. It was soon discovered that persons of all ages experience a historic awakening. The time line is Europe from 1933 to W.W.II's end, 1945, as seen through the experiences of the Ipp family, Holocaust survivors who survived the Kovno Ghetto-Concentration camp by hiding for 9-months under a potato field. An excavated chamber 9 ft. x 12 ft. x 4 ft. high, accessed through a tunnel that starts in a potato storage hole 5 ft. wide by 10 ft. deep. 13 Jews, of which 4 were children under the age of 9, survived with the assistance of Mr. & Mrs. Paskovsky and their son Stanislavas Krivicius, who risked their lives, so others might live. |
Virginia House --
4301 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, VA
Overlooking the James River, the house was built at the end of an American era called the "country place movement." This 12th-century European home was transported in 1925 from Warwickshire, England to Richmond where it was redesigned and rebuilt. Complete with expansive gardens by the renowned Charles Gillette. Changing exhibitions from the historical society's collections and traveling exhibitions. Owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society. |
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) --
Rt. 1208, Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA
In addition to the Visitor's Center, there are various opportunities throughout the year for tours to learn more about our marine environment and current research at the Institute.
VIMS' annual Marine Science Day open house takes place on the third Saturday in May. This fun, educational event gives visitors an opportunity to examine high-tech science equipment, tour a laboratory, collect and observe aquatic animals, and discover the importance of wetlands in VIMS' Teaching Marsh. Cooking demonstrations, mini-lectures, and "hands-on" activities take place throughout the day, and a Children's Center provides lots of hands-on activities for the younger set. |
Virginia Living Museum --
524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News, VA
Virginia's natural heritage comes alive through living exhibits that encompass all the state's geographic regions from the mountains to the ocean. Each exhibit tells a story. There is the predator-prey relationship between the chipmunk and the corn snake; the survival adaptations of the flounder and puffer fish; the endangered status of the once plentiful sturgeon, and the geological changes that have created caves.
From the Coastal Plain Gallery to the Underground Gallery, to the Discovery Center, Observatory, Planeterium and more, you wil surely be intrigued as you explore them all. |
Virginia Military Institute Museum --
VMI Campus, Lexington, VA
Shelled and burned by the Union army after the battle of New Market. In Jackson Memorial Hall is a mural of the famous cadet charge during that battle. Includes Stonewall Jackson's war horse, Little Sorrel, among other Civil War exhibits. |
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts --
200 N Blvd , Richmond, VA
World art from ancient times to the present. VMFA is Virginia's statewide art museum. Features include French Impressionism, Post-Impressionism; Arts & Crafts, Art Deco and Modern decorative arts, Modern and Contemporary art; Russian imperial Easter eggs by Fabergé; European and American painting masterpieces; Ancient, Classical and Egyptian art; and a collection of the art of India, Nepal and Tibet.
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Virginia Museum of Natural History --
21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, VA
The Virginia Museum of Natural History is a place where scientific research about the Commonwealth of Virginia's natural history and public understanding merge. With over 22 million items in the collections, the museum is at the forefront of scientific discovery of the natural world in Virginia. Several scientists actively engage in research ranging from dinosaurs to millipedes and the museum shares those new discoveries. Check out all the exhibits, programs, publications, field trips, and teacher education available. |
Virginia Museum of Transportation --
303 Norfolk Ave., Roanoke, VA
Located in Roanoke's historic freight station, the Museum is the official transportation museum for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Celebrating Roanoke's rich rail heritage, the Museum exhibits diesel, electric and steam locomotives including the 611 steam locomotive, a National Mechanical Engineering landmark, and the A-1218, known as "The Mercedes of Steam." The Museum houses antique automobiles, trucks, carriages, model train exhibits, African American transportation heritage exhibit, and interpretive, hands-on exhibits. Phase I of an automotive wing will be opening late 2004, with Phase II planned for late 2005. |
Virginia Quilt Museum --
Virginia Quilt Museum, Harrisonburg, VA
The Virginia Quilt Museum is nestled in the heart of Harrisonburg’s downtown historic district. The Virginia Quilt Museum is the Commonwealth’s official quilt museum and is open to the public as a resource center for the study of quilts and quilting in the cultural life of society. Quilting is not just a pioneer skill, but an art form filled with present-day meaning. The historic Warren-Sipe House which is home to the Museum was built in 1856, and offers opportunities to view significant work by both early and contemporary quilt artisans. |
Virginia S. Evans Doll Museum --
201 S. Mecklenburg Ave, South Hill, VA
If you like dolls you will love the Virginia S. Evans Doll Museum located in the Historic Depot. There you will find a collection of over 500 dolls dating back to the 1800's. This collection includes both familiar and exotic dolls from around the world. There is something for everyone and surely you will remember one or more of these dolls from your childhood. |
Virginia Safari Park --
229 Safari Lane, Natural Bridge, VA
Virginia's largest, and only drive-thru, zoo. Hundreds of animals roaming free on a 180-acre preserve. Feed, touch and observe camels, herds of zebras, elk , llamas, bison, ostrich, many varieties of deer and antelope, giraffe and much more. 3 miles of safari roads winding through beautiful Shenandoah Valley countryside let you enjoy animals in a natural environment. Visit animals from 6 continents without ever leaving Virginia! Safari wagon rides operate on weekends at 1pm and 3pm or by special appointment. Group rates available. Gift shop. Petting area featuring domestic animals for the kids to pet and feed. Monkeys , kangaroos, tortoise area. Large picnic area. |
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum --
206 High Street, Portsmouth, VA
In April 2005, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum opened its new 35,000 square-foot facility in Downtown Portsmouth. The new family attraction includes college sports, media, Olympic, golf and Redskins exhibits, hands-on baseball, basketball, football and soccer activities, interactive games and activities, and NASCAR simulators. The Hall’s Digital Theater features a 16-foot HD projector screen and is a great place to learn about Virginia’s sports traditions -- and to watch the game! Since 1972, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum has been proud to honor Virginia’s contributions to the world of sports as the Commonwealth’s official hall of fame. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday 11am-5pm |
Virginia War Memorial --
621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, VA
The Virginia War Memorial's Shrine of Memory is a soaring tribute to the service and sacrifice of Virginia veterans and citizens in time of war. The Memorial was built to honor all veterans and particularly those Virginians killed in world War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf. The Memorial's primary features are a Shrine of Memory, with more than 11,600 names of Virginia veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in war engraved on its walls, the majestic statue Memory, the Torch of Liberty eternal flame, a Reflecting Pool, Flag Court, Rose Gardens, a Visitors Center, Memories of War artifact displays and Memorial Shop. Free with ample free parking. |
Virginia Zoological Park --
3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA
From the plains of Africa to your own backyard, your Virginia Zoo has a world of discovery waiting for you. Open year round, the Virginia Zoo offers family fun, education and excitement for everyone. Travel to Africa and enter a world of wonderment. Just beyond the African market village lays an African savannah - home to giraffes, rhinos, mandrills, bongo and more. The boardwalk through Africa allows you to take a walking safari and experience the animals in their naturalistic habitats of Africa .
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Virginia's Explore Park --
Milepost 115 Blue Ridge Parkway, Roanoke, VA
During a leisurely outdoor stroll, immerse yourself in compelling living history presentations that will captivate and inspire you. Experience the life of the 1671 Native American, the rugged existence of the 1757 frontier fort dweller, and the evolution of an 1850s community in young America. Historic Areas open the first Wednesday in April and close the third Sunday in November from Wednesday through Saturday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 5 p.m.). Admission: General (16-54) $9, Seniors (55+) $7, Youth (4-15) $5, 3 and under free. Enjoy a bevy of recreational venues, including mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and picnicking. Most open dawn to dusk daily at no charge. Enjoy a delightful meal at the Historic Brugh Tavern restaurant. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and Friday and Saturday for dinner. Off-season hours vary. |
Walter Reed Birthplace - The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities --
Rt. 616 and 614, Gloucester County, VA
Dr. Walter Reed, famous U. S. Army physician and medical hero of the Spanish-American War, was born here on September 13, 1851. The small, two-room and loft building was built prior to 1850. The Reed family lived here while they awaited construction of the manse. Reed's father was a Methodist minister for a nearby church.
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Walton's Mountain Museum --
6484 Rockfish River Road, Schuyler, VA
The Walton's Museum, in Nelson County is a special blend of history, nostalgia and entertainment. The same building young Earl Hamner, Jr. attended school, now houses replicas of sets from the The Waltons, the memorable television series he created. Step back in time and memory to John-Boy's bedroom, the Waltons' kitchen and living room and Ike Godsey's store, which also serves as the museum's gift shop. Near Wintergreen Resort and Blue Ridge Mountains. |
Washington and Lee University --
Washington and Lee University Campus, Lexington, VA
Cradled between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountains in Lexington, Virginia, Washington and Lee University has, since 1749, produced not only peerless scholars, but principled leaders with a commitment to civility, service, and honor. One of the nation's top fifteen liberal arts colleges, W&L offers a unique convergence of arts & sciences, law, journalism and commerce.
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Watermen's Museum --
309 Water Street, Yorktown, VA
Watermen harvest seafood from the rivers and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay and have played an important part in the economy, history, and ecology of coastal Virginia for over 400 years. This museum preserves and interprets their material culture with exhibits that feature paintings, photographs, tools, and equipment, full sized boats and models. Located on the York River, the museum hosts the Heritage Festival in July, with work boat races, seafood, crafts, and demonstrations. Polular education programs based on Virginia SOLs, designed for kindergarten through third grade, are offered in spring and fall. Programs for scouts, older students, and adults may also be arranged. Sightseeing and fishing cruises depart regularly from the museum's pier. The museum shop features a unique selection of work by local artists and nautical gifts. |
Waynesboro Heritage Museum --
420 West Main Street, Waynesboro, VA
Explore Waynesboro's history featuring Native American artifacts, Civil War Relics, items for the industrial past and present, a collection of international dolls including the presidents and their wives from Washington to Reagan. Folk dolls from Colonial times incording corn cob and apple. British dolls from Henry VIII to Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana, mementos of summer resorts, public and private scholls. |
Westover Plantation --
7000 Westover Road, Charles City, VA
Westover was built circa 1730 by William Byrd II, the founder of Richmond. It is noteworthy for its secret passages, magnificent gardens, and architectural details. The house is considered one of the most outstanding example of Georgian architecture in America.
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Whidbee Lane Farm --
8499 Southwestern Blvd., Suffolk, VA
A family operated farm in the Holland Village area of Suffolk offering kid-friendly fun and education about farm life. Petting zoo, hayride, fresh vegetables and corn maze. Seasonal. |
White Oak Civil War Museum --
985 White Oak Road, Falmouth, VA
White Oak Museum houses an extensive collection of Civil War artifacts, representing both Union and Confederate troops. Most items were discarded or lost by troops camping or fighting in the Stafford County and Fredericksburg areas. Displays will amaze the novice as well as the serious Civil War Buff - including replicas of soldier huts that were used as temporary housing during the winter months. Many Civil War soldiers died of wounds and disease. To give proper remembrance to these brave soldiers, White Oak Museum exhibits both military and personal items to honor the soliders, from private to general, who suffered both in battle and behind the front lines. |
William King Regional Arts Center --
415 Academy Drive, Abingdon, VA
William King Regional Arts Center is the only facility of its kind serving far Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Located in an historic 1913 building - a fully renovated former school - the Arts Center features museum-standard galleries showcasing art of the region and of the world. From the region's most compelling contemporary works to its historical decorative arts to art of the world - often that of non-Western cultures - you'll find it here.
Group Tours: Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more at no charge, but must be scheduled in advance. Contact the Arts Center at 276-628-5005, ext. 115. |
Wilton House Museum --
215 S. Wilton Road, Richmond, VA
Come and step back in time at Richmond’s own 18th century James River Plantation house. Situated on a bluff overlooking the James River, Wilton is an impressive example of Colonial American architecture and is a superb essay in Georgian design. Built in circa 1753 for William Randolph III, Wilton was the centerpiece of a 2,000 acre tobacco plantation and home to the Randolph family for more than a century. It was here that they entertained George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Marquis de Lafayette.
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Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribal Museum --
Stonewall Court, Suite 2 A, Stuart, VA
Indian artifacts adorn this lovely museum. From deer skin regalia to arrow heads and historical pictures, you will thoroughly enjoy this museum in historic downtown Stuart. Visit with Littlewolf Griffith or Chief Griffith as they talk about the Native American Indian Museum. |
Women In Military Service For America Memorial --
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
Relive the past, experience the present and envision the future at the Women's Memorial, located at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. This unique, living memorial honors servicewomen--past, present and future--who have courageously and selflessly served in America's defense from the American Revolution to the present day. The memorial and its education center feature exhibits filled with never-before-seen artifacts, photographs, documents, memorabilia and uniforms; the film In Defense of a Nation; and a computerized Register containing the stories of some 350,000 military women. A new exhibit "Faces of the Fallen: America's Artists Honor America's Heroes" features 1300 portraits of servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Uncover the stories of America's extraordinary patriots at the Women's Memorial. |
Wood Brothers Racing Museum --
21 Performance Drive, Stuart, VA
Wood Brothers Racing, now owned equally by Glen Wood and his children Eddie, Len and Kim, is the oldest continuously operating NEXTEL Cup Series team in NASCAR, and the team has always raced Ford products. Located just 30 minutes from Martinsville Speedway. |
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Gardens --
18-24 North Coalter St., Staunton, VA
Experience the eve of the Civil War to the dawn of modern America at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. Located in historic Staunton, this site includes the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson, the Woodrow Wilson Museum, period boxwood gardens, and library. |
The Woodstock Museum of Shenandoah Co., VA, Inc. --
140 S Muhlenberg Street, Woodstock, VA
The museum is housed in a circa 1772 cut limestone two storey home. It was said to have once been the temporary home of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Thomas Marshall, father of Supreme Court Justice, John Marshall. Displays include Civil War artifacts, local pottery, frakturs, tools, local furniture, and all the necessities of 18th, 19th and early 20th century life. |
Yorktown Victory Center --
Route 1020 (near the Colonial Parkway), Yorktown, VA
The Yorktown Victory Center, a state-operated museum of the American Revolution, chronicles America’s struggle for independence, from the beginnings of colonial unrest to the formation of the new nation. Thematic gallery exhibits highlight the experiences of ordinary men and women who lived during the Revolutionary era. Outdoors, visitors can muster with troops in a re-created Continental Army encampment to experience a soldier’s life and, on a re-created 1780s farm, help with chores such as weeding the garden and processing flax. Museum open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free parking. |
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