Browse Museums

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center
Williamsburg, Virginia

Art, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Nature Centers, Park, Specialized

The oldest institution in the country devoted exclusively to collecting, exhibiting, and researching American Folk Art.

Agecroft Hall
Richmond, Virginia

Arboretum, Art, Culture, History, Historic House, Library, Park

Agecroft Hall, an historic 15th century Tudor manor house, was dismantled and rebuilt in 1926 on 23 acres of gardens and grounds overlooking the James River.

Art Works, Inc. Studios & Galleries
Richmond, Virginia

Art, Children's, Culture

Art Works represents over 100 Virginia artists as well as national and international artists in monthly shows. There are 75 studios and 5 galleries at Art Works. Many artists work in their studios; some use their studios as mini-galleries. The public is welcome to spend an afternoon viewing art, visiting with artists and can even see art being made. Children are welcome and can make art at the art-activity table. The public is invited to our monthly all-media, juried art shows, the forth Friday of each month and are encouraged to participate in our programs, shows and events.

Art Works provides an outreach program to children in the neighborhood. This program, Children’s Art in the Neighborhood (CAN) is free and open to children ages 6 – 15.

Avoca Museum and Historical Society
Altavista, Virginia

Arboretum, Cemetery, Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Military, Park

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 home site of Revolutionary Patriot Colonel Charles Lynch.

Bath County Historical Society
Warm Springs, Virginia

Culture, History

The Museum building was originally a law office which was moved from the original courthouse located at the current Warm Springs Inn. The items in the Museum have all been donated by friends of the Society who want to see Bath County history preserved for future generations. These artifacts are of interest to all those who visit, not only the local people, but visitors from all over the world. From antique side saddles, to period clothing, original historic photos, farm implements and tools, Civil War and Indian Artifacts, even a grand piano, there is something here to interest everyone.This Museum and research library is dedicated to presenting and preserving the rich history of Bath County, Virginia.

Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives
Richmond, Virginia

Culture, History

Richmond's museum of Jewish history and culture. The site includes four exhibition galleries with a permanent exhibition "Commonwealth and Community-The Jewish Experience in Virginia"

Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Rocky Mount, Virginia

Culture, History, University

The Institute promotes an understanding of regional folkways among people of all ages and backgrounds. Produces an array of programs and publications - school and public performances, regional surveys of folk music and crafts, video productions, audio recordings, traveling exhibits and online exhibits.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
Bristow, Virginia

Archaeology, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Nature Centers, Park

The Brentsville site consists of 28 acres with five historic buildings and various archaeological sites. These include the 1822 Courthouse and Jail, the ca. 1830 John Hall Home, ca. 1875 Union Church and the 1928 One Room Schoolhouse and the Brentsville Tavern archaeological site. The site also includes a mile long nature trail highlighting the area’s natural resources.

Cape Henry Lighthouse
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Nature Centers, Park, Science

The first federally funded lighthouse, was built to guide maritime commerce at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It is standing near the “First Landing” site where English settlers arrived in 1607. It has stood sentinel since it was completed in 1792. Authorized by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton. Designed by New York architect John McComb. In active use for nearly a century before being replaced by a new cast iron lighthouse still standing nearby. It is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the United States.

Chesterfield Historical Society
Chesterfield, Virginia

Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

The society maintains four historical buildings dating from 1817 to 1892 including Magnolia Grange (1822 plantation), the County Museum with five galleries of Chesterfield history, an 1892 jail with police and fire department exhibits and a gift shop. (The jail at this time is closed for maintenance.)

Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County
The Plains, Virginia

Culture, History

This museum and genealogical resource center is dedicated to the preservation and sharing of African American history and heritage.

Appalachian Regional Studies Center at Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Culture, History, University

A division of Radford University's College of Arts and Sciences, the center sponsors local academic and regional service programs as well as print, audio, and visual materials exploring Appalachian Studies and Literature.

Ash Lawn-Highland
Charlottesville, Virginia

Culture, History, Historic House

Ash Lawn-Highland's visitors enjoy Monroe's elegantly furnished "cabin-castle," his working plantation complete with farm animals and colonial craft demonstrations. Special events occur year round.

Bacon's Castle
Surry, Virginia

Archaeology, Botanical Garden, Cemetery, Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Park

Bacon’s Castle was originally home to a prosperous planter, Arthur Allen, and his family. Following Allen’s death, the house was inherited by his son, Major Arthur Allen II. A loyalist supporter of the colonial government and member of the House of Burgesses, Major Allen was driven from his house in 1676 by followers of the patriot rebel Nathaniel Bacon, whose uprising later came to be known as Bacon’s Rebellion. The episode later gave Bacon’s Castle its name though the house remained in the Allen family until 1844.

Bedford City County Museum
Bedford, Virginia

Culture, History

The Bedford City/County Museum building was built in 1895 as a Masonic Temple. This is the only example of Romanesque Revival architecture in Bedford and is impressive with its multi-colored brick, stone archways, terra cotta ornamentation and bay windows. The museum showcases Bedford's history from early native American life through the War Between the States and into the twentieth century. It is also headquarters for the Bedford Genealogical Society and library.

Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia

Culture, History

Booker T. Washington National Monument
Hardy, Virginia

Culture, History

On April 5, 1856, a child who later called himself Booker T. Washington, was born in slavery on this 207-acre tobacco farm. The realities of life as a slave in piedmont Virginia, the quest by African Americans for education and equality, and the post-war struggle over political participation all shaped the options and choices of Booker T. Washington. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881 and later became an important and controversial leader of his race at a time when increasing racism in the United States made it necessary for African Americans to adjust themselves to a new era of legalized oppression.

Burwell-Morgan Mill
Boyce, Virginia

Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Park, Specialized

The Burwell-Morgan Mill, established in 1785, is the oldest operable merchant mill in the Shenandoah Valley. In the mid-nineteenth century the mill operated twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, processing more than sixty thousand bushels of wheat per year. The community of Millwood grew around this commercial center as related businesses were established, and by way of the seaports at Alexandria and Baltimore, mill products were shipped abroad.

Central Rappahannock Heritage Center
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Church, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Military, Specialized

The Central Rappahannock Heritage Center, Inc. is the nation's first regional archives dedicated to preserving for research and posterity materials documenting the lives and work of the people.The center is a grass-roots history archive for Fredericksburg and the Counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George.

Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum
Surry, Virginia

Culture, History, Nature Centers, Park, Science, Specialized, Zoo

The museum no longer operates as a educational facility.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

RECENT UPDATES

Museums

03/07 Pointe Coupee Parish Museum

New Roads, Louisiana

03/07 Uintah County Heritage Museum

Vernal, Utah

Museum Vendors

03/07 Digiscura

Encino, California

Museum Associations

03/07 Oregon Museums Association

Portland, Oregon

03/07 Virginia Association of Museums

Richmond, Virginia

03/07 American Association for State and Local History

Nashville, Tennessee

03/07 Small Museum Association

Dover, Delaware

03/07 Georgia Association of Museums

Marietta, Georgia