Explore Your State History Museum

An astronaut in a space suit on the surface of the moon

Explore Your Reimagined State History Museum!

"Apollo: When We Went to the Moon"

Explore Space Race history at the VMHC.

Explore Your Reimagined State History Museum!

A woman looks at artifacts in a gallery. Text above her reads: Your History Museum, Your Story

"Apollo: When We Went to the Moon"

Explore Space Race history at the VMHC.

An astronaut in a space suit on the surface of the moon with an American flag

Explore Your Reimagined State History Museum!

A man looks at artifacts in a gallery. Text above him reads: Your History Museum, Your Story

Upcoming Free Admission Days at VMHC

Explore the galleries and exhibitions at the VMHC, including Apollo: When We Went to the Moon.

•May 29 – Memorial Day: Free admission for active-duty military & veterans.
•June 18 – Father's Day: Free admission for dads.

May 29 Tickets

June 18 Tickets

Silhouettes of two people looking at an exhibition of artifacts about Virginia regional history

Featured Exhibition

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.

Explore

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.

View Calendar

A family of four speak with a VMHC staff member in the museum's lobby

First Fridays at VMHC

Friday, Jun 2 2023, 5 - 8pm

https://secure.virginiahistory.org/overview/1912

Stories at the Museum:

The Case for Loving

Saturday, Jun 3 2023, 10:30 - 11:30am

https://secure.virginiahistory.org/1757/2170

Apollo Highlight Tour

Saturday, Jun 3 2023, 11:30am - 12pm

https://secure.virginiahistory.org/1778

A historic tudor mansion with people milling about on the patio in front of it

Member Mondays at Virginia House

Monday, Jun 5 2023, 5:30 - 7:30pm

https://secure.virginiahistory.org/1846/2161

Black words with a red broken rope spell out End of Public Execution

Lecture:

The End of Public Execution

Thursday, Jun 8 2023, 12 - 1pm

https://secure.virginiahistory.org/1555/2218

Apollo Highlight Tour

Saturday, Jun 10 2023, 11:30am - 12pm

https://secure.virginiahistory.org/1778/2212

Apollo Highlight Tour

Saturday, Jun 17 2023, 11:30am - 12pm

https://secure.virginiahistory.org/1778/2213

Apollo Highlight Tour

Saturday, Jun 24 2023, 11:30am - 12pm

https://secure.virginiahistory.org/1778/2214

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.

Library Catalog

Museum Objects Catalog

Tennis raquet, sports bag and shoes - belonged to Arthur Ashe

Tennis Items, Arthur Ashe

Tennis racquet,bag, and wrist band, all belonged to Arthur Ashe.

pastel drawing of Natural Bridge in snow

Drawing, Natural Bridge

Pastel drawing depicting Natural Bridge in Snow by George Brewerton in 1872.

Oil painting of George Washington in uniform

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 taken from John Brown at Harper's Ferry in 1859 by J.E.B. Stuart.

Desk, slant-front. Eastern Virginia, probably Richmond, based on Williamsburg prototype. Chippendale slant-front desk with bracket feet.

Desk circa 1780-1805

Chippenale slant-front desk with bracket feet, Eastern Virginia, probably Richmond, based on Williamsburg prototype.

US Navy WAVE uniform. Navy blue jacket with gold buttons and anchor emblem on collar

U.S. Navy WAVES Uniform

Complete WAVES uniform from World War II worn by Nancy E. Bailey (Bon Cogsdale).

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."

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."

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.

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

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.

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 Pvt. Robert Thaxton, a Confederate soldier killed at the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, in May 1863.

Silver medal inscribed on obverse, " The King of" and on the reverse "Machotick," [Machodoc], with both sides engraved with flowers and cornucopia.

Medal, Indian Badge

A 1661 act of the Virginia General Assembly forced the Chief of the Machodoc—and all the leaders and warriors of Virginia’s Indegenous people-to wear these badges while in English settlements.

Shop Apollo Merchandise at the VMHC Museum Store

Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances

A revelatory and moving memoir by former NASA astronaut and NFL wide receiver Leland Melvin, following his journey from the gridiron to the stars.

Astronaut Ice Cream Sandwich

Get a taste of space with this Freeze-Dried Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich!

I Need My Space Socks

The space socks are made from 100% bamboo which means that they are anti-allergenic, moisture-wicking, antibacterial, environmentally friendly, and incredibly comfortable!

LEGO Lunar Research Base

This LEGO playset is packed with NASA-inspired details for imaginative space play, including a lunar lander, skycrane drone, VIPER-inspired lunar robotic rover and moon buggy, plus 6 astronaut minifigures.

Waving Astronaut Sticker

Decorate your journal, laptop, fridge, and more with this whimsical waving space-walker!

One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission That Flew Us to the Moon

The sweeping, definitive behind-the-scenes account of the furious race to complete one of mankind’s greatest achievements and the extraordinary impact Apollo had back on Earth and on the way we live today.

Stuffed plush toy of the moon with a face and arms and legs.

Little Moon Buddy Plushie

This best-selling stuffed toy is ready to be your comforting celestial companion.

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race

This hardcover picture book based on the New York Times bestselling book and Academy Award-nominated movie brings to life the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space.

3/4 navy sleeve shirt with hand printed black and white illustration of an astronaut

Astronaut Shirt

This 3/4 sleeve shirt with a hand printed, yellow-gold foiled astronaut design is available in multiple sizes for kids and adults.

Moon Poet Magnetic Poetry

Over 200 word magnets related to lunar language will bring out your inner poet.