About

Sibley's General Store is one of three commercial buildings to comprise the Sibley's and James Store Historic District where Mathews County residents shopped for odds and ends for nearly 200 years: Thomas James store (1820), the "1840 store" (which is attached to the rear of Sibley's by a hyphen now serving as the Chesapeake Museum Room), and Sibley's (1898). The Thomas James Store was one of four mercantile stores in the courthouse area, which was moved back the rear of the parcel replaced by the larger 1840's store, which was later moved back to be replaced by the larger Sibley's store. This ensemble of store buildings now shows the evolution of commercial architecture and design that is rare in Virginia.

The only building of twentieth century, folk Victorian architecture remaining in the downtown commercial area, Sibley's General Store is on the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Landmark Register.