Virginia is for Historians: 17 Must-See Virginia’s Museum of History Exhibits
Virginia’s rich history is woven into the fabric of the nation itself, from the founding of Jamestown, the Revolutionary War, four of the first five Presidents, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement. Exploring its best history and culture museums offers a front-row seat to the people, stories, and milestones that shaped America. Whether you’re a history buff, curious traveler, or lifelong Virginian, these institutions bring the past to life in unforgettable ways.
Here are our highlights of the most captivating exhibits in Virginia’s Museum of History and Culture.
George Washington’s Waistcoat
One of the items you see upon entering the museum is an artifact belonging to America’s first President and Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington. Washington was born into a wealthy family in Virginia and was familiar with the finer things in life. That said, he is known to have preferred to dress more conservatively on the fashionable side.
The embroidered silk waistcoat on display shows that, on occasion, he was not afraid to step over that line, however.
Bell from St. John’s Church
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond was one of only a few places outside of the then Capitol, Williamsburg, large enough to accommodate members of the Second Virginia Convention. The bell on display would have been used during the historic event.
Patrick Henry’s Whalebone Paper Cutter and Spectacles
Patrick Henry gave his most famous speech in St. John’s Church during the Second Virginia Convention. “Give me Liberty … or give me death,” Patrick exclaimed in 1775 as he thrust the whalebone paper cutter towards his chest in imitation of the Roman patriot Cato the Younger.
That very paper cutter and his glasses are on display. If you have the time, we highly recommend taking a tour of his nearby home, Scotchtown, and the St. John’s Church.
John Marshall’s Judicial Robe
The “father of the Supreme Court’s” only surviving judicial robe is not to be missed. John Marshall served as Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for 34 years from 1801 to 1835. This rare piece of judicial history is on display alongside a portrait of Marshall by James Reid Lambdin and the Chippendale slant-front desk that Chief Justice Marshall owned and used in Richmond.
John Marshall introduced black robes to the court. In 1801, during the first session of the Marshall Court, the newly appointed Chief Justice wore a plain black robe while the other justices wore red. In the second session of the court the following year, all of his fellow justices, following Marshall’s lead, wore simple black robes, which Marshall believed portrayed republican simplicity.The garment is the property of Preservation Virginia, which also owns the nearby John Marshall House, which is worth visiting if you are in the area.
President Monroe Letter Virginia’s Museum of History
The letter dated October 5, 1817, is from President Monroe to his Secretary of War, George Graham. Monroe, a veteran of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, had difficulty controlling General Andrew Jackson. In the letter, Monroe complains that he had ordered Jackson to protect settlers in Georgia from Seminole Indians and not to invade Florida. Jackson disregarded this and overthrew Florida’s Spanish Government.
John Randolph’s Dueling Pistols
In the spring of 1826, Senator John Randolph of Virginia and Secretary of State Henry Clay fought a duel with these pistols. It all stems from the 1824 presidential election. Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, but not by a sufficient margin in the Electoral College. Clay, who was initially one of four candidates, backed out and threw his support behind northern John Quincy Adams. An action for which Adams rewarded Clay by making him Secretary of State.
Randolph was a staunch Jackson supporter and a skilled orator who launched a series of scathing attacks at Clay, calling him “corrupt… like a rotten mackerel… that shined and stunk.”
Clay eventually grew tired of the insults and challenged Randolph to a duel to settle their differences.
On April 8, 1826, each aimed at the other with their pistols and fired, both missing. In the second exchange, Clay fired first and missed again. Randolph then pointed his pistol to the sky and fired, deliberately missing Clay, who was impressed by this gesture. Clay then announced that his honor was satisfied. The duel ended without any bloodshed.
John Brown’s Bowie Knife and Pike
On October 16, 1859, after months of planning at the nearby Kennedy Farm, John Brown and his men raided the United States Armory at Harper’s Ferry. Brown had hoped his raid would trigger a slave uprising.
He planned to arm slaves with the 1,000 pikes he ordered, like the one on display that was taken at Harpers Ferry.
Also displayed is a Bowie Knife taken from John Brown at Harper’s Ferry by the Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Cavalry, J.E.B. Stuart.
“Slavery is a state of war.” – John Brown
General J.E.B. Stuart’s Uniform, Sash, and Revolver
Stuart was a native Virginian, and when the Civil War broke out a couple of years after John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry, he sided with the Confederacy. On display are Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuart’s uniform, his Whitney Navy Revolver, and the red sash he wore.
Lt. General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Pocket Watch
Also on display is famed Confederate General Stonewall Jackson’s gold pocket watch. Jackson used this watch during the war. He would ensure that his men took ten minutes of rest every hour during forced marches to prevent them from becoming exhausted.
Next to the watch is a book from Jackson’s library.
Window and Key from the Libby Prison
The Libby Prison was in Richmond during the Civil War. The prison quickly got an infamous reputation for terrible conditions and drastic overcrowding. The poor conditions lead to a high mortality rate for prisoners.
The prison no longer exists, but the second picture here gives an idea of what it looked like. The building was initially designed as a tobacco warehouse before being converted into a prison. By 1863, there were 1,000 Union soldiers inside its crowded walls.
The barred window on display is a witness to the days when Union soldiers were held there. E.L. W. Baker from the 21st Michigan Infantry, Company B, carved his name into the upper left-hand side of the frame.
Flag Fragment from Appomattox Court House, 1865
When Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, members of the 12th Virginia Infantry did not want to turn over their regimental battle flag to the U.S. Army.
Instead, they tore it apart into pieces to keep as mementos. A piece of that flag is on display.
“Slowly and with a reluctance… the ron and tattered battle flags were either leaned against the stacks or laid upon the ground.” – U.S. Army General Joshua L. Chamberlain
31-Star United States Flag
A worn, but well-preserved, 31-star United States Flag is enclosed in a glass case. This flag was one of the very first to fly over Richmond in April of 1865. The star pattern, made up of stars, reflects one of our national mottos – “E Pluribus Unum,” which means “Out of many, One.”
Across the flag is a quote from Robert E. Lee.
“All should unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of war, and to restore the blessings of peace.” – Robert E. Lee, August 1865
Robert E. Lee’s Writing Desk at Virginia’s Museum of History
Near the 31-Star Flag, you will find Robert E. Lee’s lap writing desk. Lee used this desk after putting down the sword and becoming president of Washington College. The desk is a symbol of his final chapter, where he worked towards educating young men and reuniting the country.
Slave Whipping Post
Some exhibits in the museum are difficult to see and serve as a poignant reminder of our nation’s deeply flawed past. There is a slave whipping post that was used at the “Negro Jail at Portsmouth.” It’s the only surviving example in Virginia. Union soldier Charles Miller of the 148th New York Volunteers seized the whipping post “to be preserved as a relic of barbarism.”
Other “Relics of Barbarism” at Virginia’s Museum of History
Adjacent to the whipping post, you can see other things used in slavery. Including a Whipping Strap that was used at the whipping post in the Gloucester Courthouse, a slave collar, and a pewter slave pass for Aunt Jemima Johnston of Nicholas Plantation, Warrenton.
Also near are iron shackles used in the slave trade from the 1600s, as well as a Ku Klux Klan mask that was used as an instrument of fear against African Americans.
Pocahontas’s Gold Buttons
We were surprised to see gold buttons worn by Pocahontas on display. She wore the buttons during her stay in London in 1616 and 1617. The buttons are small, but still have intricate details.
Native American Dugout Canoe at Virginia’s Museum of History
A large and remarkably well-preserved Chestnut dugout canoe is on display near Pocahontas’s gold buttons. The canoe is believed to have been made sometime after 1607. What struck me as particularly fascinating was the fact that it was only discovered in 1996 in King George County.
