See What's Currently On Display

This exhibition developed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources relies on the use of cultural context in archaeological investigations to interpret the ways in which enslaved Africans resisted bondage and created their own history and culture.

This gallery features a rotating display of extraordinary items related to individuals or events that shaped the identity of our state and nation.

Examining our government’s founding and the continuing story of America’s bold experiment in a government “of, by, and for the people," American Democracy comes to life through Smithsonian collection artifacts, contemporary objects, and touchable artifacts.

Taking Aim features the stories of craftspeople, inventors, soldiers, and even lawbreakers as told through firearms from the VMHC collection.

Finding the Familiar celebrates the uniqueness and relatability of everyday objects and allows visitors to appreciate the extraordinary stories of the people they meet every day. 

Featuring selections from the VMHC’s vast collection of nine million items, this exhibition will inspire guests to seek a deeper understanding of the transformative power of history.

This display presents a selection of items related to young Virginians across the centuries and the stories that they tell.  

This display celebrates the vision of William and Ann Oppenhimer with a selection of Virginia folk art from their remarkable collection.

 This new 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.

This gallery offers a playful exploration specifically oriented toward VMHC’s youngest visitors and their companions, launching a connection to Virginia’s distinctive history and culture for years to come.

This exhibition explores the history of the Lost Cause as expressed through a cycle of military murals and a sculpture of Robert E. Lee previously on view at the U.S. Capitol.