Whether going to spend a rainy day, entertain the family, show out-of-town visitors around or go on a date, museums fit the bill.
The Richmond region is rich with attractions and institutions that highlight history, art, science and more at Agecroft Hall and Gardens, The American Civil War Museum, The Black History Museum And Cultural Center of Virginia, The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design, The Children’s Museum of Richmond, Henricus Historic Park, The Institute for Contemporary Art, John Marshall House, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, The Library of Virginia, Maymont, The Poe Museum, Preservation Virginia, St. John’s Church Foundation, The Science Museum of Virginia, The Valentine, The Virginia Holocaust Museum, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), and The Wilton House Museum.
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To keep everyone healthy and safe, Richmond, Virginia museums’ visitors and staff follow COVID protocols.
Check attraction websites for details on hours, ticketing and admission rates. Remember, if you are a frequent visitor, memberships pay off. Let us know of other Richmond museums with free or paid admission by emailing us at info@rvaonthecheap.com.
Richmond, Virginia Museums Highlighting History, Art, Science and More:
Agecroft Hall – is a majestic Tudor mansion brought to Virginia piece by piece from Manchester, England located on 23 beautifully landscaped acres overlooking the James River. Hosts The Richmond Shakespeare Festival in the summer. Hours: Thursday-Sunday, House & gardens: Noon-5:00pm (Richmond)
New research reveals insights into the actions of the Union operatives of Richmond, who secretly fought the Civil War from inside the Confederate capital. Discover the reasons and the relationships that led a diverse group of civilians—men, women, and children, black and white, enslaved and free—to risk their freedom, their property, and their lives in the service of the United States. With Nathan Hall, ranger, Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic site. This event is free but registration is required.
American Civil War Museum – The museum consists of three distinct attractions in three locations that were recently merged that together tell of a complicated and dramatic aspect of American history – Historic Tredegar, White House and Museum of the Confederacy and the American Civil War Museum – Appomattox. See the new exhibit: “Richmonders at War.” In person and online events. Children 5 and under are free. Historic Tredegar Hours: Open daily 10 am–5 pm (Richmond)
Armour House & Gardens – Edmund Christian built the house that is now the property of Henrico County and preserved as a historic site, at Meadowview in 1915. On the park grounds, archeologists identified two prehistoric Native American sites. By appointment only. (Henrico County)
Beth Ahaba Museum and Archives – The Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives collects, preserves and exhibits materials that relate to Jewish history and culture – with particular emphasis on Richmond, Virginia – so that Jewish history and culture may be documented, interpreted and passed on to future generations. Open by appointment. (Richmond)
Black History Museum & Cultural Center – The Museum seeks to become a permanent repository for visual, oral and written records and artifacts commemorating the lives and accomplishments of Blacks in Virginia. Statewide resource on the many facets of Black history through exhibitions, discussions and celebrations. Hours: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wednesday -Saturday and on Sundays by appointment only. (Richmond)
Branch Museum of Architecture and Design – The Branch elevates awareness of the transformative power of architecture and design. Many exhibits and programs are free are very low-cost. Exhibition “Atavistic Memories: The Studio Furniture of Sam Forrest” on view through April 17, 2022. Bringing together furniture, painting, and archives, the exhibition considers the intellectual statements of an artisan outside the constraints of the past and the advanced technology of the twentieth century Closed through the end of April for gallery preparation. Hours: Wednesday-Friday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday: 1–5 p.m. (Richmond)
Chesterfield County Museum and Old Jail – The recently reopened 1892 jail thrills visitors as they experience how prisoners were incarcerated in cells that pre-date the jail’s closure in the 1960s. Exhibits focus on the history of law and order and Virginia history. CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICED. (Chesterfield County)
Children’s Museum of Richmond – Fun for children of all ages, at four locations – Chesterfield and Downtown locations have family classes on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Military always get $1 off admission price. Hours: Tues. – Sun. 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Many online resources for activities. (Richmond)
Sun. May 8: at 1 pm: Serenata Performs @ The Children’s Museum of Richmond
Go for a spin on the carousel at the Children’s Museum of Richmond located at 2626 W Broad St Richmond, VA 23220 and is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
Chimborazo Medical Museum. FREE of charge. Chimborazo Medical Museum sits on the site of the Civil War’s famous Chimborazo Hospital, where between 1861 and 1865, more than 75,000 Confederate soldiers received treatment. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 9am to 4:30pm. (Richmond)
Dabbs House Museum – Dabbs House is a historic house museum with exhibit galleries and a research library. The Dabbs House served as General Robert E. Lee’s field headquarters during the summer of 1862. The museum provides a place to learn about the history of the Dabbs House from its use as a residence for the Dabbs family to its tenure as Henrico’s police headquarters from 1941-2005. Open by appointment only. (Henrico County)
Edgar Allan Poe Museum – The collection is the most comprehensive in the world with permanent exhibits that focus on Poe in Richmond and as varied as disease and death in Poe’s era. Tongue-in-cheek gift shop is worth the visit for a funky and morose souvenir. Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sunday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (Richmond)
Elegba Folklore Society – The Elegba Folklore Society is a year-round, lively celebration of African and African American culture in Richmond. Enjoy art and imports in the cultural center. Sway with their performance company in the warmth and feel of an African village. Participate in a guided heritage tour along the trail of enslaved Africans and of other notable sites. Signature events include The Capital City Kwanzaa Festival, Down Home Family Reunion, a Celebration of African American Folk Life, and Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration. Contact for hours. EVENT: May 15, 2022 at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 3:30p for ‘The Talking Drum.’ The drum is a legendary communications tool — a punctuating teller of life as it happens. This lively delivery of African and African American folktales and narratives combine with vocal and instrumental music to engage audiences along a rhythmic journey over continents and through time. (Richmond)
The Fed Experience – Tours are facilitated by members of the Economic Education department that works with teachers, students and the public to enhance understanding about the economy and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s role, and to support informed financial decision‐making. Gleaming gold and shining silver, and other examples of money through the ages fill the Federal Reserve Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Contact for tours.
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Admission is FREE and the art is edgy at the new Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University
Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University – Features the art of our time and provides an open forum for dialogue and collaboration across the region and throughout the world. Hours: Tues.–Sun.: 10 p.m.–5 p.m., Fri. open until 9p.m. – FREE(Richmond)
John Marshall House – Tells the story of the Virginian who was known as the “Great Chief Justice: for his role in creating the modern Supreme Court in the early 1800s. Self-guided plus changing exhibits as well as guided tours. Hours: Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Richmond)
Keystone Tractor Works.– Displays include displays of the last century of agricultural heritage incorporating fully restored antique farm tractors, ongoing restoration projects and other farm related equipment as well as antique road trucks, classic cars, vintage gas pumps, oil cans, automotive signage, clocks, advertising posters of yesteryear and more. Military, fire and police, and seniors receive discount off admission fee. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, Sunday 11 am – 5 pm (Chesterfield County)
M&T Bank Butterflies LIVE! runs through October 10, 2022, and is included with Garden admission. Experience the wonderful world of butterflies. Tropical and native beauties, fascinating and showy, transform the Conservatory’s North Wing into a wonderland of vibrant colors…captivating sights…and extraordinary discoveries. Every butterfly is different, as is every visit! Due to an earlier closing time, please note the last group of visitors will be admitted to Butterflies LIVE! at 4 p.m. Butterflies LIVE! is part of M&T Bank Pollinator Power.
Learn more: http://bit.ly/BuTTERFLIES
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden – Offers year-round beauty on a historic property with more than 50 acres of spectacular gardens, dining and shopping. More than a dozen themed gardens include a Conservatory, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Asian Valley and Cherry Tree Walk. Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance 0nline tickets required. (Richmond)
Maggie Walker National Historical Museum – Devoted to the life of a woman committed to civil rights advancement, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities for Jim Crow-era African Americans and women. As a bank president, newspaper editor, and fraternal leader, Walker served as an inspiration of pride and progress. Today, Walker’s home is preserved as a tribute to her enduring legacy of vision, courage, and determination. Free admission. Hours: Tues. – Sat. 10am-2pm (Richmond)
Magnolia Grange – Part of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia. Built in 1822 by William Winfree, the Federal-style plantation house was originally part of a large land grant to John Worsham in 1691. Magnolia Grange welcomes visitors to an interpretation of life in a county mansion of the early 19th century. Price vary for tours (typically around $5 per person). (Chesterfield)
Maymont’s ground and gardens are open from 10am-5pm. Photo credit: Maymont / Facebook
Maymont – An historical Guided Age mansion, nature conservatory and botanical garden with events like concerts. Children can enjoy the Farm Barn and play with the chickens, goats, and other animals or watch the fox and bear roam around and play. Visit the indoor nature center or hike the trails around the park and see birds, butterflies and more. It’s FREE! Some fees for mansion tours or other special events. Hours: GROUNDS & GARDENS: 10am-7pm, Free admission •MAYMONT FARM & WILDLIFE HABITATS, THE MAYMONT BARN 10am-5pm, Daily (weather permitting) $5 per person suggested admission
•THE ROBINS NATURE CENTER, Thu-Sun, 10am-4pm, beginning July 2, Free for Maymont Members. $8 for adults and youth ages 13 and older, $6 for children ages 3-12 and seniors ages 65 and older, Free for children ages 2 and under EVENT: Herbs Galore & More on Sat, Apr 30. A staggering variety of herbs, annuals, perennials, native plants, trees, vegetables and garden goods offered by dozens of nurseries and specialty vendors from across the Mid-Atlantic region. Tickets at https://bit.ly/3nXrZlA (Richmond)
Meadow Farm Museum/Crump Park – An 1860 living history farm site and museum, presents programs and exhibits on the culture of the rural South. Costumed interpreters provide insight into the lives of Dr. John Mosby Sheppard, the owner of Meadow Farm, and his family. On selected weekends, they demonstrate seasonal activities in the farmhouse, barn, doctor’s office, blacksmith forge, kitchen, fields, and pastures. Park is open 365 days a year, dawn to dusk. (Henrico)
Richmond Railroad Museum – The Richmond Railroad Museum is operated by the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, and is housed in the restored historic Southern Railway Station in Richmond. The museum contains many interesting exhibits relating to Virginia’s history, including authentic fixtures and furnishings, a gift shop, and a gallery devoted exclusively to Richmond’s largest HO scale model railroad. On view on the grounds are a real steam locomotive, baggage car and caboose, along with track cars, signals and other railroad artifacts. Tours are conducted on the weekends by knowledgeable hosts. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. (Richmond)
Richmond National Battlefield Parks – Richmond National Battlefield Park, are a collection of 13 park units scattered across Hanover, Henrico, and Chesterfield counties and the city of Richmond. Read up online to get the most of the locations, offerings and events
St. John’s Church – Takes you back to A year prior to drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776, when Thomas Jefferson attended the Second Virginia Convention held inside St. John’s Church. Alongside George Washington, Richard Henry Lee and other important figures in the American Revolution, Jefferson listened as Patrick Henry gave his now-famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech. Open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Richmond)
The SKIN exhibition is on display through January 15, 2023. It is the first of two touring exhibitions the Science Museum is hosting this year. “Planet Shark: Predator or Prey” opens May 28. “Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity” is included with Science Museum admission. Discounts are available for teachers, military personnel and EBT cardholders.
Science Museum of Virginia – The SMoV features hundreds of experiential exhibits , awe-inspiring artifacts and interactive technologies, the Museum presents dynamic science programming to hundreds of thousands of guests each year. Permanent exhibitions focus on space, health, electricity and Earth—to name a few—and hosts visiting exhibitions from around the world. EVENT: To complement the exhibition, the Science Museum will offer skin-themed demos and educational activities throughout the building, and host events and Lunch Break Science presentations all year. The first of these, Science After Dark: Skin Rocks, is Friday, May 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. That event will highlight the science behind instruments and ways skin — and sometimes other body parts — can create music. The Dome theater, at 76 feet, is the largest screen in Virginia and provides guests with the ultimate immersive experience. Reserve your time slot in advance on the website: https://www.smv.org/ (Richmond) Open daily Seven days a week. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended, exhibition-only hours Thursdays and Fridays,
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University of Richmond Museum – Feature the varied collections at the Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art, Print Study Center, Gallery of Design from Nature, and collection of Massive Rocks and Minerals. (Richmond)
Valentine Museum Wickham House. Photo credit: Lindsay Garrison
Valentine History Museum – The museum’s permanent and changing exhibitions are dedicated to the history of Richmod. Founded by Mann S. Valentine II 1898, it was the first museum in the city.Military with ID FREE for up to 5 family members. Children 6 and under are free. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Hours at the Valentine First Freedom Center: Tuesday-Sunday | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Richmond)
Virginia Fire & Police Museum – Located in the oldest standing firehouse in Richmond, Virginia. The building, which served as the home for Steamer Company number 5 from 1849 to 1968 and for the 3rd police station from 1865 to 1898, was slated for demolition in 1976. However, the building was saved to serve as the home for the museum. The museum offers visitors a lesson in police and firefighting architecture, uniforms, and equipment, and provides an educational program on fire and life safety. (Richmond)
Mark your calendars: the Virginia Museum of History & Culture Grand Re-Opening is a special public celebration on Saturday, May 14 & Sunday, May 15 from 10 am to 5 pm. Enjoy free admission; family activities with VMHC staff & Studio Two Three; live music by W. Weldon Hill, Bio Ritmo, & Elegba Folklore Society; and food trucks Inner City Blues home of Carolina Bar B Que, Joey’s Hot Dogs, & SandTopia Food truck. Plus, explore new exhibitions & spaces and enjoy extra discounts in the new Museum Store & Museum Café. Plan your visit at VirginiaHistory.org/Reopening. Photo credit: Virginia Museum of History & Culture / Facebook
Virginia Holocaust Museum – Dedicated to depicting the Holocaust through the personal stories of its victims. Hours: Monday–Friday: 9:00am–5:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 11:00am–5:00pm (Richmond)
Virginia House – Formerly an English manor house, Virginia House was relocated to Richmond in 1925. The home is now owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society and open by appointment only. (Richmond)
Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art through July 31, 2022
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Collections include European, American and Decorative art with notable traveling exhibitions. General admission is FREE (some special events may require a fee). As year-round participant of Blue Star Museums, VMFA provides FREE admission to special exhibitions for all active duty, National Guard, and Reserve military personnel and their immediate families. Hours: Open daily 10 am–5 pm and until 9 pm on Wednesday, Thursdays, and Fridays (Richmond)
Tsherin Sherpa: Spirits through Oct 16, 2022 Explore the captivating paintings and sculptures of Nepalese-born Tibetan American artist Tsherin Sherpa. This thought-provoking, participatory art experience is presented in the form of a narrative telling a story of loss, struggle, and re-empowerment. Last seen at VMFA in the 2019 exhibition Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment, Sherpa’s groundbreaking artwork continues to garner international acclaim. This focused mid-career retrospective is the global artist’s first solo museum exhibition. Tickets required.
Virginia Union University Museum and Galleries – Collection include artifacts from Papua New Guinea, masks and sculptures from West and Central Africa, Coptic crosses from Ethiopia and an extensive collection of African American Folk art. CLOSED UNTUL FURTHER NOTICE (Richmond)
Wilton House – Wilton House Museum is not only Richmond’s sole 18th-century public plantation home but also home to a premier decorative arts collection with a collection of more than 1,400 objects. These 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century pieces include silvers, ceramics, textiles, paintings, documents, and furniture. FREE admission for teachers, press, members of NSCDA, military personnel and dependents, and children 6 and under. Open by appointment only for self guided tours. (Richmond)
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