If you’ve never been to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, or it’s been a while since your last visit, there’s no better time than the present to plan a trip.
Celebrating its grand reopening in May 2022 fresh off a multiyear $30 million renovation, the longtime Richmond landmark has expanded and updated its content and programming with a wide array of innovative new offerings. While the footprint remains the same, the museum has grown vertically, now boasting an airy two-story atrium at the entrance, 50% more overall exhibition space and a revamped research library, along with a new campus connector to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, enhanced green space and plenty of other attractive amenities.
Here are five of the most appealing reasons to pay a visit to the reimagined museum.
1. Our Commonwealth
The museum’s signature long-term exhibition serves as a centerpiece for the revamped facility, bringing Virginia history to life by taking visitors on a memorable, immersive journey through the state’s five major geographic regions — Southwest, Central, Tidewater, Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. With digitally projected murals and customized soundscapes, the exhibit truly captures the sense and place of each area.
Rendering of the Our Commonwealth Shenandoah Valley exhibit room.
2. Commonwealth explorers
Geared toward curious and active young visitors, this vibrant hands-on family gallery gives kids a chance to learn as they play. Interactive features include a food truck, a Community Builders dress-up station and the Virginia Nature play area.
3. “Virginia: As far as you can imagine”
Get up to speed on the indelible moments and events that have shaped Virginia history with this 17-minute film in the new Lettie Pate Evans Orientation Theater (included with museum admission). The movie is a great way for guests to get their bearings before moving on to explore the rest of the museum.
4. Treasures of Virginia
A new gallery highlighting a rotating collection of significant objects and artifacts connected to notable Virginian leaders, “Treasures of Virginia” puts a personal spin on some of the state’s most cherished holdings. From flight jackets and writing desks to George Washington’s personal diary and a civil rights era lunch counter, each piece tells a story all its own.
Celoron Plate artifact located in the "Treasures of Virgina" gallery exhibit.
5. New meeting rooms and a café
Grab lunch in the museum’s sunny café, or reserve one of four newly reimagined meeting spaces for your next community gathering or corporate event.
With these and so many other new features like the Smithsonian-organized “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith” exhibition and Great Hall installations to discover, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture serves up an engaging, immersive learning experience for visitors of all ages.
History matters now more than ever. Established in 1831, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation. With a collection nearly 9 million pieces strong, the museum is dedicated to serving and authentically reflecting all Virginians through robust regional partnerships with institutions throughout the state. For more information, visit VirginiaHistory.org.
