Explore Your State History Museum
![Civics Connects A classroom with students seated at desks and a teacher at the front of the room.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_widescreen_590px_breakpoint_/public/HomepageSlider_CivicsConnects%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=KyejF1Gb)
"Julia Child: A Recipe for Life" exhibition
Explore the key ingredients that led to Julia’s personal evolution & America’s culinary revolution.
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life A blue background with icons of cooking implements and a full color illustration of Julia Child laughing and cooking at a countertop.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_widescreen_590px_breakpoint_/public/JC%20Homepage%20Slider%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=C3GjIoFp)
"A Better Life for Their Children" exhibition
Explore the history of Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools That Changed America.
![A Better Life for Their Children exhibition A black and white photo of a man and a woman holding a framed portrait of a man and a woman.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_widescreen_590px_breakpoint_/public/HomepageSlider_DBGradient.jpg.webp?itok=Q5f0YvX9)
Explore Your Reimagined State History Museum!
![Your History Museum, Your Story Two children with backpacks look at paintings in a gallery. Text above them reads: Your History Museum, Your Story](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_widescreen_590px_breakpoint_/public/VMHC-Your-Story-Kids.jpg.webp?itok=69CYdXYK)
![Our Commonwealth Silhouettes of two people looking at an exhibition of artifacts about Virginia regional history](/sites/default/files/styles/col_6_fp_landscape_384x288/public/2022-05-14_Grand-Reopening-66.jpg.webp?itok=ziwNJW_Y)
Our Commonwealth
This signature exhibition provides an in-depth, multi-sensory journey through the five major regions of Virginia and features stories and artifacts from across the state to reveal that place is not only about geography, but also the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.
Featured Events
Featuring award-winning speakers, tours, and family activities for all ages and interest levels. To browse all upcoming events, please click through to our calendar.
![Naturalization Ceremony A person holds up a miniature American flag in a crowded auditorium.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Naturalization%20Ceremony%20%2841%29_0.jpg.webp?itok=6FtFBEhY)
July 4th Ceremony
![First Fridays at VMHC First Fridays for the Whole Family blue banner above yellow icons for food trucks, happy hour, live music, family activities, and museum admission.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/First-Fridays-at-VMHC.jpg.webp?itok=s_d7q1gb)
First Fridays at VMHC
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![Front Lawn Fun A color photograph of children playing on the VMHC front lawn.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/FrontLawnFunEDITED.jpg.webp?itok=faqyaYNu)
Front Lawn Fun
![Stories at the Museum An educator reads a historical story to a family seated in a gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Stories%20at%20the%20Museum.jpg.webp?itok=HWV0bXh4)
Stories at the Museum
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![Front Lawn Fun A color photograph of children playing on the VMHC front lawn.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/FrontLawnFunEDITED.jpg.webp?itok=faqyaYNu)
Front Lawn Fun
![The Unvanquished book cover](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/O%27Donnell-cover_web%20crop2.jpg.webp?itok=nPCQMmYt)
Lecture: The Unvanquished
![Stories at the Museum An educator reads a historical story to a family seated in a gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Stories%20at%20the%20Museum.jpg.webp?itok=HWV0bXh4)
Stories at the Museum
![Virginians on Vacation A row of women in 1950s-era dresses and bathing suits sit on a metal railing in front of an ocean beach.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/July-CUC---VaBeach.2000.136.196_web.jpg.webp?itok=SLYg5Vyx)
Collections Up Close: Virginians on Vacation
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![Virginians on Vacation A row of women in 1950s-era dresses and bathing suits sit on a metal railing in front of an ocean beach.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/July-CUC---VaBeach.2000.136.196_web.jpg.webp?itok=SLYg5Vyx)
Collections Up Close: Virginians on Vacation
![Front Lawn Fun A color photograph of children playing on the VMHC front lawn.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/FrontLawnFunEDITED.jpg.webp?itok=faqyaYNu)
Front Lawn Fun
![Good Food For All School lunch on a black tray including lasagna, roll, apple, kale caesar salad, and a carton of milk.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/MCV%20Lecture%202024-Good%20Food%20For%20All.jpg.webp?itok=S8TviMTK)
Good Food For All: An Institutional Dining Revolution
![Stories at the Museum An educator reads a historical story to a family seated in a gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Stories%20at%20the%20Museum.jpg.webp?itok=HWV0bXh4)
Stories at the Museum
![The Witch of Pungo Illustrated cover of The Witch of Pungo](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/7.25.24_Witch-of-Pungo_web.jpg.webp?itok=xLVJ50t1)
Lecture: Legend of the Witch of Pungo
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![Front Lawn Fun A color photograph of children playing on the VMHC front lawn.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/FrontLawnFunEDITED.jpg.webp?itok=faqyaYNu)
Front Lawn Fun
![Educator Programs Icon of person writing on whiteboard with banner that reads Educator Programs](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/VMHC-Educator%20Programs-EBlast-Banner_final_0.jpg.webp?itok=7T6HqoS1)
Beyond the Bullet Points
![Stories at the Museum An educator reads a historical story to a family seated in a gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Stories%20at%20the%20Museum.jpg.webp?itok=HWV0bXh4)
Stories at the Museum
![First Fridays at VMHC First Fridays for the Whole Family blue banner above yellow icons for food trucks, happy hour, live music, family activities, and museum admission.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/First-Fridays-at-VMHC.jpg.webp?itok=s_d7q1gb)
First Fridays at VMHC
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![Four smiling people hold glasses of beer in front of a blue background with an icon of a hand holding a beer mug](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/2021-09-07_BrewHaHa-6_0.jpg.webp?itok=gn9Bbio0)
Virginia Brews
![Front Lawn Fun A color photograph of children playing on the VMHC front lawn.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/FrontLawnFunEDITED.jpg.webp?itok=faqyaYNu)
Front Lawn Fun
![Stories at the Museum An educator reads a historical story to a family seated in a gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Stories%20at%20the%20Museum.jpg.webp?itok=HWV0bXh4)
Stories at the Museum
![You'll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love Book cover for You'll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/8.18.jpg.webp?itok=_iQxZCzo)
Lecture: You’ll Do: A Southern History of Marrying for Reasons other Than Love
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![Front Lawn Fun A color photograph of children playing on the VMHC front lawn.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/FrontLawnFunEDITED.jpg.webp?itok=faqyaYNu)
Front Lawn Fun
![Stories at the Museum An educator reads a historical story to a family seated in a gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Stories%20at%20the%20Museum.jpg.webp?itok=HWV0bXh4)
Stories at the Museum
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![This Fierce People book cover](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Crawford%20cover%20crop.jpg.webp?itok=2FdJL1PP)
Lecture: This Fierce People
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![Julia Child: A Recipe for Life People view a large illuminated cookbook model in a gallery.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/_DSC1507.jpg.webp?itok=LE2vl9a_)
Julia Child Highlight Tours
![First Fridays at VMHC First Fridays for the Whole Family blue banner above yellow icons for food trucks, happy hour, live music, family activities, and museum admission.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/First-Fridays-at-VMHC.jpg.webp?itok=s_d7q1gb)
First Fridays at VMHC
![First Fridays at VMHC First Fridays for the Whole Family blue banner above yellow icons for food trucks, happy hour, live music, family activities, and museum admission.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/First-Fridays-at-VMHC.jpg.webp?itok=s_d7q1gb)
First Fridays at VMHC
![Wanted poster advertising a $2,800 reward](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/October%20CUC%20-%20Broadside.1912.6_v1%20crop2.jpg.webp?itok=1Gbi78Hv)
Collections Up Close: Tales of Murder and Mayhem
![Wanted poster advertising a $2,800 reward](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/October%20CUC%20-%20Broadside.1912.6_v1%20crop2.jpg.webp?itok=1Gbi78Hv)
Collections Up Close: Tales of Murder and Mayhem
![First Fridays at VMHC First Fridays for the Whole Family blue banner above yellow icons for food trucks, happy hour, live music, family activities, and museum admission.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/First-Fridays-at-VMHC.jpg.webp?itok=s_d7q1gb)
First Fridays at VMHC
![First Fridays at VMHC First Fridays for the Whole Family blue banner above yellow icons for food trucks, happy hour, live music, family activities, and museum admission.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/First-Fridays-at-VMHC.jpg.webp?itok=s_d7q1gb)
First Fridays at VMHC
Featured Collections Items
The VMHC has a collection of more than 9 million items. Here are just a few them (please note that not all of them may be on display to the public). Search the Library or Museum Objects Collections databases to learn more.
![Arthur Ashe's tennis gear Tennis raquet, sports bag and shoes - belonged to Arthur Ashe](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/2005.326.1-3_1920x1440.jpg.webp?itok=iQtjP8kA)
Tennis Items, Arthur Ashe
Tennis racquet,bag, and wrist band, all belonged to Arthur Ashe.
![Natural Bridge in Snow pastel drawing of Natural Bridge in snow](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/NaturalBridge.1994.26.2_1920x1440.jpg.webp?itok=Io84V2gK)
Drawing, Natural Bridge
Pastel drawing depicting Natural Bridge in Snow by George Brewerton in 1872.
![George Washington Oil painting of George Washington in uniform](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/George.Washington.1905.10_1920x1440.jpg.webp?itok=u-K6G7CW)
Painting, George Washington
Portrait in oils of George Washington by Charles Peale Polk, nephew of Charles Willson Peale, whose 1787 portrait of the general was the basis for this image.
![Bowie Knife Bowie knife and sheath. Clip-point steel blade. he knife bears the following mark on left side of blade: "G WOSTENHOLM & SON / WASHINGTON WORKS / SHEFFIELD" (at left) and "THE REAL I XL KNIFE / THE HUNTERS COMPANION" (at right). The text of "THE REAL / I XL / KNIFE" is split between three small ribands. The knife also bears the following mark at the left ricasso: "I*XL".](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/JohnBrownBowieKnife.1983.31_1920x1440.jpg.webp?itok=lurZg5Ao)
Bowie Knife
Bowie knife taken from John Brown at Harper's Ferry in 1859 by J.E.B. Stuart.
![Desk Desk, slant-front. Eastern Virginia, probably Richmond, based on Williamsburg prototype. Chippendale slant-front desk with bracket feet.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Desk.1959.28_Open_sil_1920x1440.jpg.webp?itok=p9jSQdKK)
Desk circa 1780-1805
Chippenale slant-front desk with bracket feet, Eastern Virginia, probably Richmond, based on Williamsburg prototype.
![U.S. Navy WAVE Uniform US Navy WAVE uniform. Navy blue jacket with gold buttons and anchor emblem on collar](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/1995.71.1-18_v2_1920x1440.jpg.webp?itok=qRkomP2U)
U.S. Navy WAVES Uniform
Complete WAVES uniform from World War II worn by Nancy E. Bailey (Bon Cogsdale).
![Equal Suffrage League Photograph Black and white photograph of women gathered in Capitol Square holding large banners which read "Equal Suffrage League and Richmond, Virginia" and "Votes for Women." Many otes for Women."](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/EqualSuffrageLeague.2002.225.2_1920x1440.jpg.webp?itok=ki5e8FJM)
Equal Suffrage League of Richmond Photograph
1915 Photograph show a group of women gathered in Capitol Square holding large banners which read "Equal Suffrage League and Richmond, Virginia" and "Votes for Women."
![Program, Virginia State Unit of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference meeting, March 28, 1962 Black and white photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and five signatures (clockwise from top right): Martin L. King, Jr.; Wyatt Tee Walker; Ralph Abernathy; Virgil A. Wood; Curtis W. Harris.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Collection%20Item_SCLC%20Leadership%20Conference_2001.35.1_v1_H3.jpg.webp?itok=GQXRW8Oa)
Program, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, 1962
Program from the Virginia State Unit of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference meeting, includes a black and white photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and five signatures (clockwise from
![Photographic print, No. 3, Pocahontas [train], barrels by Shawsville on its night run to Cincinnati, 1955 Silver gelatin photographic print. Framed. Image depicts Norfolk and Western Train No. 3, the Pocahontas, in a shroud of exhaust with 13 cars of Christmas mail and passengers.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Collection%20Item_Norfolk%20Western%20Train%20No%203%20Pocahontas_OWinstonLink.1990.115_H3.jpg.webp?itok=E9eIhuhm)
Photographic print, No. 3, Pocahontas [train], barrels by Shawsville on its night run to Cincinnati, 1955
Image depicting Norfolk and Western Train No. 3, the Pocahontas, in a shroud of exhaust with 13 cars of Christmas mail and passengers.
![Tintype portrait of Robert Thaxton Tintype portrait of Robert Thaxton (d.1863), in uniform. Thaxton was a Confederate soldier killed at the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_landscape_590px_breakpoint_/public/Collection%20Item_Robert%20Thaxton_RThaxton.0000.278_H3_0.jpg.webp?itok=3KAxU5gH)
Tintype Portrait of Robert Thaxton
Tintype portrait of Pvt. Robert Thaxton, a Confederate soldier killed at the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, in May 1863.