Hear about the research documenting, preserving, and interpreting the history and cultural legacy of Vaughan Heights, a historically African American neighborhood on Richmond's Southside, formerly part of Chesterfield County’s Manchester District. Attend the presentation in person or online. Program information: Location: Virginia Community Voice Office Date: Wednesday, September 9th Time: 10-11:30am Please RSVP with this […]
Living in Color is a community-based oral history and preservation project exploring Black queer historic spaces, cultural landscapes, and community memory in Central Virginia. Through conversations, storytelling, and historical research, we document and preserve underrepresented histories while fostering dialogue about the people, places, and stories that have shaped our cultural heritage. Program information: Location: Ginter […]
Join Scotchtown staff for a special tour of the manor house that focuses on special and unique pieces in our collection. During the tour we will also discuss our recent furnishings research and look at how and why Scotchtown has changed over the years. This special tour happens on Fridays and Saturdays at 10am during […]
Join the local Fire Department to honor the fallen men and women of 9/11 and climb the Cape Henry lighthouse in memorial. Ten tower climbs equals the amount of stairs climbed on that day. Yellow remembrance roses will be available for purchase on site and will be placed at the base of the lighthouse. A […]
Join Scotchtown staff for a special tour of the manor house that focuses on special and unique pieces in our collection. During the tour we will also discuss our recent furnishings research and look at how and why Scotchtown has changed over the years. This special tour happens on Fridays and Saturdays at 10am during […]
Join us at the John Marshall House for our collections tour where you will get an up-close look at objects that reveal the personal connections of Chief Justice John Marshall and the enduring ties carried forward by generations of his descendants. Examine name plates, serial numbers, makers’ marks, and engravings that help us piece together […]
What was the first insect documented by English colonists in Virginia? Why was a wildlife bill deemed too silly for the General Assembly in 1826? And what in the world is a “Virginia Nightingale?” Join us as we discover the surprising history of the animals in our own backyard during a Natural History Hike at […]
Join us at the John Marshall House for our collections tour where you will get an up-close look at objects that reveal the personal connections of Chief Justice John Marshall and the enduring ties carried forward by generations of his descendants. Examine name plates, serial numbers, makers’ marks, and engravings that help us piece together […]
What was life like at Bacon's Castle in the 20th century when the home was owned by the Warren family and then by Preservation Virginia? Join us for a free 20th Century Focus Tour at 3pm! Come check out our photo displays, newspaper articles, and rarely seen collections objects. It's also your chance to see […]
Middleton’s research focuses on documenting and preserving African American agricultural and herbal traditions across Virginia by highlighting the innovations of Black farmers, growers and herbalists. Attend the presentation in person or online. Program information: Location: VCU Health Hub at 25th St. Date: Tuesday, September 15th Time: 3:45-4:45pm Online streaming link: https://meet.google.com/fxx-owfd-tgg For more information, contact […]
The Cape Henry Lighthouse protects mariners who are sailing across the ocean, but who protects the oceans? Learn how you can be a Marine Conservation Warrior and keep our oceans clean for all wildlife! This event is designed for kids and families. STEM Day tours start at 11am and 1pm. Tickets are $10 for adults […]
Join Scotchtown staff for a special tour of the manor house that focuses on special and unique pieces in our collection. During the tour we will also discuss our recent furnishings research and look at how and why Scotchtown has changed over the years. This special tour happens on Fridays and Saturdays at 10am during […]
Join Scotchtown staff for a special tour of the manor house that focuses on special and unique pieces in our collection. During the tour we will also discuss our recent furnishings research and look at how and why Scotchtown has changed over the years. This special tour happens on Fridays and Saturdays at 10am during […]
Ahoy there! Come visit the lighthouse and learn how to do many pirate activities such as making rope, tying knots, making signal flags, navigating open oceans and the art of scrimshaw. Of course no pirate day would be complete without a treasure hunt! Event tours take place at 11am and 2pm Tickets are $10 adults, […]
Exactly one-hundred years before the Declaration of Independence, a group of rebels marched on Virginia’s capital and burned it to the ground in an attempt to depose a government they saw as elitist.
Join Cape Henry Lighthouse staff and the Back Bay Astronomers as we close out the summer with a Great American Camp Out! The event starts at 7:30pm and ends at 11pm. Tickets include S'mores, ghost stories and learning about the stars and constellations with the Back Bay Astronomers. Adults are $10, Kids over 6 are […]
Join the Scotchtown staff from 11am-4pm on Sunday, September 20th for a special focus tour in honor of constitution day! When the Constitution was sent to the states for approval in 1788, it faced heavy scrutiny; many detractors argued it did not adequately protect individual liberties, robbed the states of their sovereignty, and provided the […]
Join Scotchtown staff for a special tour of the manor house that focuses on special and unique pieces in our collection. During the tour we will also discuss our recent furnishings research and look at how and why Scotchtown has changed over the years. This special tour happens on Fridays and Saturdays at 10am during […]
Join Scotchtown staff for a special tour of the manor house that focuses on special and unique pieces in our collection. During the tour we will also discuss our recent furnishings research and look at how and why Scotchtown has changed over the years. This special tour happens on Fridays and Saturdays at 10am during […]
This event is free and open to active/retired military/ DoD ID holders and their families. Join the Cape Henry Lighthouse on the lookout at the Cape Henry Memorial Park overlooking the ocean as we read a children’s book related to the ocean and lighthouse. Stick around for a fun quick craft that accompanies the book that you can take home!
It will be a day of dancing and music at Scotchtown! Join the Virginia Home Spun Dance Ensemble as they dance through the centuries exploring music from 1760 to 1860. Demonstrations will occur at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. Each dance demo will be around 45 minutes long and the audience will have a chance to […]
Worldwide Day of Play is dedicated to bringing opportunities for joyful learning through play to museums and their communities, with a focus on getting kids and their families up, out, and playing around! Bring your family to Bacon's Castle to enjoy the outdoors and play games including Hoop n Stick, Graces, Croquet, Sack Races and […]
Join us for a once in a lifetime opportunity! Watch the sunset over the Chesapeake Bay from the top of the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse. Tickets are $10, kids under 10 are free. This event is open to Military ID holders, DoW card holders, base pass holders, CAC holders and their families. --- Purchase Tickets […]
The Fresnel Lens revolutionized and assisted naval navigation with its invention in 1822. Join us on July 23rd at 7pm as we dive into the mechanics of how it projects light miles further than any other lens. Be introduced to the man who created the lens that changed navigation, Augustin Jean Fresnel, a French engineer.
Both Sarah Henry and Polly Marshall played important roles in the lives of their families, but their histories are often overshadowed by stories of hardship. Join Preservation Virginia for an online lecture that will delve into the myths surrounding these women and explore their lives and experiences beyond those familiar stories. Learn more about the […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
This focus tour explores the experiences of the enslaved men, women, and children who lived and worked at the John Marshall House from 1790 to 1835. Discover what daily life was like for those held in bondage, learn the names and stories of individuals enslaved at the site, and gain a deeper understanding of how […]
Crumbling castles, dark foreboding landscapes, supernatural and mysterious characters, disturbing and horrifying stories! Spend an evening at Scotchtown and experience the true terror of the early Gothic literary movement as you meet the authors of some of the most chilling and haunting stories and novels of the 18th and 19th centuries. Guest interpreters will be […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
The Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission listed Smith's Fort on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. As part of the celebration of our 250th year of independence, Preservation Virginia's Smith's Fort is excited to offer a series of Archaeology Walking Tours at the site that will be open to the public. The tours will […]
Listen to the stories passed down through the generations of Cape Henry locals. Haunted barracks, mysterious figures in the lighthouse, the convicted witch of Pungo and a famous death at the Cavalier Hotel all leave an air of mystery hanging over Virginia Beach. Do you have a spooky story to share? Tickets are $5, and […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
Join us at Bacon’s Castle for our annual Seventeenth Century Day! This year we will be joined by our Virginia Indian Tribal Partners – the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the Rappahannock Indian Tribe, and the Nottoway Indian Tribe – and we will also host the Library of Virginia’s LVA On the Go van.
Uncover the stories of murder, mayhem, and mystery that are housed within Preservation Virginia's John Marshall House on these special evening tours. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the oldest surviving brick home in the city of Richmond by candlelight and hear tales of Marshall family secrets, tragic events in early Richmond history, and […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
With over 350 years of history, there is more to Bacon's Castle than meets the eye. Encounter the all-too-true tales of a cursed family, a secret heiress, a daring rescue by night, and more on this guided lantern tour after-hours at Virginia's oldest brick house. This tour is 40 minutes long and recommended for ages […]
Uncover the stories of murder, mayhem, and mystery that are housed within Preservation Virginia's John Marshall House on these special evening tours. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the oldest surviving brick home in the city of Richmond by candlelight and hear tales of Marshall family secrets, tragic events in early Richmond history, and […]
Join us at Scotchtown for First Responder Appreciation day on Sunday, October 25th from 11am-4pm! To say thank you to our first responders and their families, today we are offering free admission and refreshments. See you at Scotchtown! Call us at 804-227-3500 to make your reservation.
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
Uncover the stories of murder, mayhem, and mystery that are housed within Preservation Virginia's John Marshall House on these special evening tours. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the oldest surviving brick home in the city of Richmond by candlelight and hear tales of Marshall family secrets, tragic events in early Richmond history, and […]
Calling all junior detectives and historians ages 6-12! Kids, bring your parents and join us Friday or Saturday in October at 10am for a hands-on interactive and engaging investigation into what life was like in an 18th century country manor house. This special children's focus tour will look at primary sources along with objects in […]
Listen to the stories passed down through the generations of Cape Henry locals. Haunted barracks, mysterious figures in the lighthouse, the convicted witch of Pungo and a famous death at the Cavalier Hotel all leave an air of mystery hanging over Virginia Beach. Do you have a spooky story to share? Tickets are $5, and […]
Have you ever wanted to wander through Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown appreciating the architecture of this 300-year-old house? Have you longed to see parts of the house not usually open to the public? You can explore Scotchtown from the attic to the cellar with one of our historic interpreters during the 10 a.m. tour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Have you ever wanted to wander through Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown appreciating the architecture of this 300-year-old house? Have you longed to see parts of the house not usually open to the public? You can explore Scotchtown from the attic to the cellar with one of our historic interpreters during the 10 a.m. tour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tournament of the Castle Renaissance Faire 2026 Step back in time at Bacon’s Castle for the Tournament of the Castle Renaissance Faire on November 7th & 8th, 2026! Advance ticket purchase is required, no tickets will be sold at the gate. This thrilling weekend features medieval full-plate armored combat from the local Tidewater Dogs of […]
This focus tour explores the experiences of the enslaved men, women, and children who lived and worked at the John Marshall House from 1790 to 1835. Discover what daily life was like for those held in bondage, learn the names and stories of individuals enslaved at the site, and gain a deeper understanding of how […]
Tournament of the Castle Renaissance Faire 2026 Step back in time at Bacon’s Castle for the Tournament of the Castle Renaissance Faire on November 7th & 8th, 2026! Advance ticket purchase is required, no tickets will be sold at the gate. This thrilling weekend features medieval full-plate armored combat from the local Tidewater Dogs of […]
Have you ever wanted to wander through Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown appreciating the architecture of this 300-year-old house? Have you longed to see parts of the house not usually open to the public? You can explore Scotchtown from the attic to the cellar with one of our historic interpreters during the 10 a.m. tour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Have you ever wanted to wander through Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown appreciating the architecture of this 300-year-old house? Have you longed to see parts of the house not usually open to the public? You can explore Scotchtown from the attic to the cellar with one of our historic interpreters during the 10 a.m. tour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Revolutionary ideas for resistance and liberty didn't just take place in the meeting house or on the field, they took place in the home! Learn how women picked up the mantle for independence in one of the few ways they could - through textiles! Scotchtown staff will lead a discussion on the homespun movement during […]
Revolutionary ideas for resistance and liberty didn't just take place in the meeting house or on the field, they took place in the home! Learn how women picked up the mantle for independence in one of the few ways they could - through textiles! Scotchtown staff will lead a discussion on the homespun movement during […]
Have you ever wanted to wander through Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown appreciating the architecture of this 300-year-old house? Have you longed to see parts of the house not usually open to the public? You can explore Scotchtown from the attic to the cellar with one of our historic interpreters during the 10 a.m. tour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Have you ever wanted to wander through Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown appreciating the architecture of this 300-year-old house? Have you longed to see parts of the house not usually open to the public? You can explore Scotchtown from the attic to the cellar with one of our historic interpreters during the 10 a.m. tour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Have you ever wanted to wander through Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown appreciating the architecture of this 300-year-old house? Have you longed to see parts of the house not usually open to the public? You can explore Scotchtown from the attic to the cellar with one of our historic interpreters during the 10 a.m. tour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Have you ever wanted to wander through Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown appreciating the architecture of this 300-year-old house? Have you longed to see parts of the house not usually open to the public? You can explore Scotchtown from the attic to the cellar with one of our historic interpreters during the 10 a.m. tour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Join the Scotchtown staff on Saturday, November 28th from 10am-4pm for ongoing demonstrations on dyes and colors of the 18th century. Come learn about dyeing practices in Colonial America and at Scotchtown in the 18th century. Join our staff in this all-day long program as we discuss our sample dye and textile gardens and demonstrate […]