History can be felt everywhere in Virginia, from the mountains to the beaches and every place in between. Visit these sites and discover why Virginia’s History is America’s Story and how our Commonwealth helped shape our nation. Notice a historical site or museum in Virginia missing from this list? Click here to add a location to this listing.
Hanover County
The Tavern at Old Church is an important example of a rural Federal-style tavern complex, an increasingly rare but once-common building type in rural Virginia. The property formed the nucleus of the Hanover County crossroads community of "Old Church.... Read More
City of Richmond
For 125 years, the Valentine has been collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond Stories and is the only museum focused on the history and culture of the region. Located in the heart of historic downtown, the Valentine offers many unique experi... Read More
Washington County
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34-mile rail-trail that is considered one of the best bike trails in the nation. From Abingdon to Alvarado the trail crosses rolling farmland, and then slowly changes to a high mountain trail between Damascus, VA and W... Read More
Amelia County
Wigwam was the home of William Branch Giles (1762-1830), who served Virginia in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and was elected governor in 1827. Giles was also a member of the convention that revised the Virginia Constitu... Read More
Shenandoah County
Open MAY - OCTOBER, Thursdays - Saturdays. Other times by Appointment. The museum is housed in two 18th century homes - a dressed limestone structure known as the Marshall House, & log home referred to as the Wickham House. Displays include Civil War... Read More
Loudoun County
Thomas Balch Library is a history and genealogical library located in Leesburg, Virginia. One of the library’s missions is collecting and preserving printed, manuscript, photographic, cartographic and genealogical documentation of Leesburg, Loudoun C... Read More
Pittsylvania County
The Thomas Claiborne Creasy House in Pittsylvania County's Town of Gretna is where Thomas C. Creasy resided during a career that brought him wealth and saw him operating a mercantile warehouse, owning numerous parcels of land, and rising to local pro... Read More
Wythe County
The Boyd Museum provides an opportunity to learn about the history of the people and places of Wythe County. The museum's collection includes Wytheville's first fire truck, c-1855, early farming equipment and tools, military uniforms, Civil War displ... Read More
Albemarle County
Explore Thomas Jefferson's Escape Route While most of us are familiar with Jack Jouett's harrowing ride from Louisa County to Monticello to warn Thomas Jefferson of a conversation he overheard that the British troops were on their way to capture h... Read More
Bedford County
One of only two homes Thomas Jefferson designed for his personal use, the villa retreat at Poplar Forest was the place where Jefferson "came to indulge in the life of the mind and renew his personal creativity." Jefferson and his wife, Martha, inheri... Read More
City of Virginia Beach
One of the oldest surviving colonial homes in Virginia Beach and a National Historic Landmark, the Thoroughgood House still sits along the shores of Western Branch Lynnhaven River where it was built, circa 1719 by Argall Thorowgood, great-grandson of... Read More
Gloucester County
Timberneck, on a broad peninsula bordered by creeks flowing into the York River, was a Mann family homestead in the 17th and 18th centuries. The property was purchased ca. 1793 by John Catlett from John Page of Rosewell. The present house at Timberne... Read More
City of Williamsburg
The Powhatan Creek Trail in James City County links to a number of historic sites along its path including the Tomb of the Unknown Patriot Solider of the American Revolution, the Church on the Main and Mainland Farm.The path is accessible to walkers,... Read More
City of Alexandria
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution, located in the Burial Ground of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, honors an unidentified soldier whose remains were unearthed and reburied at this site in 1826. It honors as well the many ... Read More
Mathews County
Tompkins Cottage, near the Mathews historic courthouse district, is headquarters to the Mathews County Historical Society. The oldest wooden structure in the courthouse, it was used as a mercantile store starting in 1815 by Christopher Tompkins, fath... Read More