Museums Virginia History
T

Browse Museums

Taubman Museum of Art
Roanoke, Virginia

Art, General, History

The new Taubman Museum of Art, an 81,000 square-foot Museum in downtown Roanoke, has been constructed. The new facility, designed by architect Randall Stout, is transforming western Virginia with an architectural achievement like no other. The facility houses state-of-the-art exhibition galleries, a stellar permanent collection, and an education center that provides innovative and exemplary education initiatives that will enhance and improve K-12 and higher education programs in the region.

The Taubman Museum of Art is the boldest public-private economic development project ever undertaken in the western region of the Commonwealth.

The American Historical Foundation
Richmond, Virginia

History, Military

The U.S. Marine Raider Museum, The Military Knife and Bayonet Museum, and the Monument Avenue Museum are all housed in the architecturally significant 1817 Federal Mansion, "Columbia," listed on the National Register.

The Cole Digges House
Richmond, Virginia

Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

Cole Digges, a Revolutionary War hero, built his house in Richmond in 1805. Renovated in 1995, the building now houses the statewide offices of Preservation Virginia, which are open by appointment. The Cole Digges House is located in the Historic Franklin Street District of Richmond.

The Heritage Museum
Dayton, Virginia

Art, Culture, History, Historic House, Library, Military

The Heritage Museum has been called the “Valley’s Best-Kept Secret!” With several galleries, changing exhibits, the Electric Map of Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign of 1862, and an extensive Genealogy Library, The Heritage Museum is a repository, resource and a reminder.

The Library of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia

History, Library

Dedicated to the collection and preservation of the records of the Commonwealth. Spanning nearly 400 years of history, the collections consist of 114 million archival items including 1.7 million books, serials, federal documents, audiovisuals, and maps as well as photos, family histories and more. The Library mounts exhibitions and sponsors lectures.

The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum
Alexandria, Virginia

History

The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum in Alexandria, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

The Mansion and Museums at Morven Park
Leesburg, Virginia

Botanical Garden, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Military, Park, Specialized

Built in stages over more than 100 years, Morven Park started as a simple field stone farmhouse in the mid-18th century, and grew to become the grand mansion that it is today through the course of several construction phases. The primary purpose of the closure of the mansion at Morven Park for the last several years has been the preservation of the house in order to protect it and the collection it contains within its walls. Repairs made by Governor and Mrs. Davis, and by the Swann family that preceded them at Morven Park, were fine for a residence of the period, but were no longer sufficient for a modern house museum. This restoration is now complete and the Mansion is open to the public for tours.

The Museum At Colonial Beach
Colonial Beach, Virginia

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society

Colonial Beach, Virginia, along with its surrounding area, is rich in history. The jewel of the Northern Neck, it has been home to inventors, fishermen, writers, gamblers and statesmen since its incorporation in 1892.

The Museum of Valor
Spotsylvania, Virginia

History, Military

The museum tells the story of the men and women who shaped our history in America's military conflicts of the 20th century. Memorializing their contributions and preserving their history is the Museum's mission. A permanent site is being sought for the collections and the Education Resource Center. The library, temporary exhibit area and archives are open for research and viewing.

The Old City Cemetery
Lynchburg, Virginia

Cemetery, History, Historic House

Historic cemetery site that consists of 4 museums, 20,000 graves, 2,200 Confederate graves and an arboretum with 19th century horticulture, including a famous antique rose garden. Self-guided tours are free, guided tours have a fee.

The Allen E. Roberts Masonic Library and Museum
Richmond, Virginia

Culture, History, Library

The mission of the Masonic Library and Museum is to preserve, collect, and exhibit Masonic items and to assist with researching the history of Freemasonry and Freemasons in Virginia

The Casemate Museum
Fort Monroe, Virginia

History, Military

See Black Hawk's peace pipe, Civil War exhibits, a scale model railroad and Jefferson Davis' prison cell. Explore the history of Coast Artillery Corps. Gift shop and walking tours available.

The Haymarket Museum
Haymarket, Virginia

History

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 Kinsale Foundation
Kinsale, Virginia

History

The Kinsale Foundation in Kinsale, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

The Lyceum
Alexandria, Virginia

History

The Lyceum in Alexandria, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

The MacArthur Memorial
Norfolk, Virginia

History, Library, Military, Specialized

The memorial depicts the life and times of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Housed in Norfolk's 1850 city hall, it is the final resting place of Gen. and Mrs. MacArthur.

The Mariners' Museum and Park
Newport News, Virginia

Archaeology, Art, Culture, General, History, Library, Military, Park, Science, Specialized

The Mariners' Museum and Park connects people to the world's waterways through exploration and engaging experiences. The Museum is filled with fascinating stories, captured in priceless artifacts that celebrate the spirit of the open sea. Designated by Congress as America’s National Maritime Museum, The Mariners’ Museum is one of the largest and most comprehensive maritime museums in the world.

The Museum of Culpeper History
Culpeper, Virginia

History

The museum takes visitors on a journey through American history. Exhibits include dinosaurs, Native Americans, explorers, the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Reconstruction, and Modern Culpeper. Gift shop and tours available.

The Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center
Newport News, Virginia

History

The Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center in Newport News, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

The Old Coast Guard Station
Virginia Beach, Virginia

History

The museum is housed in a 1903 Coast Guard Station on the Boardwalk, exhibits tell of shipwrecks, rescue methods and the Battle of the Atlantic in W.W.II. It is also the home of TowerCAM, an interactive camera that shows the museum and surrounding beach.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

Wednesday, September 10 - Saturday, September 13, 2025

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hosted by: American Association for State and Local History

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email [email protected].

view all conferences
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 Public Lands Alliance

Washington, District of Columbia

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