Online exhibitions

175 Years of Collecting: A Virginia History Quiz
Test your knowledge of Virginia history with this online quiz on selected items from the Society's collections. view exhibit

Alexandria, 1749–1999
Commemorates 250 years of Alexandria history by exploring the character of the town in 1749, 1799, 1849, 1899, 1949, and 1999 view exhibit

American Visions of Liberty & Freedom
Shows how generations of Americans have creatively expressed their sometimes conflicting definitions of liberty and freedom view exhibit

Child Labor in Virginia
Presents a series of photographs by social reformer-photographer Lewis Hine that document child labor in Virginia in June 1911 view exhibit

The Civil Rights Movement in Virginia
Chronicles the tumultuous journey from "Jim Crow" to a commonwealth of greater equality view exhibit

The Custis Family Papers: Saving an American Treasure
Contains a sample of the documents in the Custis family papers and describes the process of conserving them view exhibit

Early Images of Virginia Indians
Traces how European perceptions of native Virginians were shaped through the printed image.
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Getting the Message Out: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia from the Collection of Allen A. Frey
Every election has a page dedicated to it and includes memorabilia and a concise summary of the major features of the election. Items in this online exhibition are from the Allen Frey Collection. view exhibit

Heads and Tales
Heads and Tales presents portraits of five people with compelling personal stories.
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Jamestown to the Falls: English Expeditions to Powhatan Country, 1607–1610
Presents sketches of the four main ventures to the falls during this early period. Also offered are some theories about the locations of the sites associated with these events. view exhibit

Lee and Grant
Documents and images offer a glimpse of each man as he understood himself and his place in the world. view exhibit

Lost Virginia: Vanished Architecture of the Old Dominion
Examines the destroyed and forgotten architecture of Virginia, as captured in photographs view exhibit

Michael Miley, General Lee's Photographer
Features some of the most engaging portraits ever made of Robert E. Lee, as well as images of Shenandoah Valley society view exhibit

Old Virginia: The Pursuit of a Pastoral Ideal
Attempts to demystify an evocative term that has been in popular use since 1624 view exhibit

On This Day: Legislative Moments in Virginia History
Highlights memorable events associated with the state legislature view exhibit

New! Organized Labor in Virginia
This exhibition tells the story of unions in Virginia and reflects their evolution over time, from pre-union contracts and precursor groups in the last quarter of the 19th century to the introduction of "right-to-work" in middle of the 20th century. view exhibit

New! Political Campaigning: From the Collection of Allen Frey
Dr. Allen Frey's collection of American presidential campaign materials demonstrates that politicians and campaigns of the past were as vitriolic as they are today. view exhibit

The Portent: John Brown's Raid in American Memory
Tells the story of John Brown's early life, his fervent religious beliefs, his turn to violence as an abolitionist in Kansas, and his Virginia raid and its aftermath view exhibit

The Sneden Civil War Collection
Highlights an illustrated memoir, including detailed watercolors, maps, and drawings made by a Union private view exhibit

New! The Story of Virginia, an American Experience
This new version of The Story of Virginia covers 16,000 years of Virginia history from prehistoric times to the present and features a virtual tour and more than 30 videos. view exhibit

Teaching with Photographs
Features photographs that address themes in post-1865 Virginia and American history such as education, industrialization, urbanization, transportation, the changing roles of women, the development of Jim Crow, and the civil rights movement learn more

Treasures Revealed from the Paul Mellon Library of Americana
Presents a selection of rare books, manuscripts, prints, and objects from Paul Mellon's extraordinary collection view exhibit

The Virginia Landscape
Illustrates the importance of the landscape in shaping the commonwealth and creating its identity
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Virginia's Colonial Dynasties
Explores how portraiture helped establish and preserve family status in colonial times
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Virginia's Diplomats
Explores the careers of Virginians who have represented the nation's interests as ambassadors or at the Department of State, from the founding of the republic until our own day view exhibit