About

The Virginia Spirits History Timeline provides a virtual overview of key moments and characters from the state's long history in distilling and fermenting. Part one covers the period from 1585-1775, examining 16th century exploration around the Outer Banks (then-part of Virginia), early settlements along the James river like Berkeley Plantation and Jamestown, the impact of the rum trade, and the growth of taverns.

This free, digital timeline will remain available at spritismuseum.org and can be updated as new information becomes available. Part two of the timeline will release in June, 2026. There is a submission feature on the webpage where visitors can share their own suggestions on what points should be included in the timeline, encouraging community engagement.