May 2013 Rivah - The Rappahannock Record

Museums
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The museum is staffed by volunteers,
generally on Fri. and Sat.
from Apr.–Nov. from 10–2, or by
request for groups. If the “open”
flag is flying, you’re invited inside.
Tompkins Cottage
43 Brickbat Rd.
Mathews 725-3487
Near the Mathews Courthouse,
is a typical tidewater cottage of the
early 1800s. It houses a museum
and headquarters of the Mathews
Historical Society.
The oldest wooden structure
in the courthouse, it was used by
Christopher Tompkins as a general
store starting in 1816.
The museum houses a permanent
exhibit of Mathews history
including information on Captain
Sally Tompkins, the only woman
officer in the Confederate Army.
Also included is an area of changing
exhibits, a county map, and a
sales area offering publications
concerning Mathews history and
related gift items.
Admission is free. Open Fri.
and Sat. from 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
through Oct.
Middlesex
Deltaville Maritime Museum
and Holly Point Nature Park
287 Jackson Creek Rd.
Deltaville 776-7200
The newest exhibit is “Middlesex
in the Civil War 1861-1865” and
will run until 2015. Artifacts and
models from when Deltaville was
the “Boat Building Capital of the
Chesapeake” are on exhibit.
The Johns’ Pavilion displays
historic vessels such as the W. A.
Johns, a 34-foot three-log bottom
sailing canoe that has had a number
of working lives in Deltaville
waters. Also, displayed is an old
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sora skiff once used for bird hunting
in the Dragon Run, and several
small skipjacks and deadrise
workboats. The F. D. Crockett,
a log bottom buyboat is at the
museum’s Pierwalk as is the Explorer,
a 30' reproduction of the
shallop Captain John Smith used
to explore and map Chesapeake
Bay in 1608.
In the boat shop visitors can
see under construction a flatbottomed
utility skiff typical of
Deltaville boats of the past.
In the park are picnic tables,
walking trails, a sculpture garden,
a kayak landing and a children’s
garden. There is also a fishshaped
wildflower meadow.
On the fourth Sat. May-Nov.
there is a Farmers’ Market with
over 40 vendors, creek cruises,
miniature horse rides and more.
The nature park is open daily,
dawn to dusk. The museum is
open Tues.- Sat. 10–4 and Sun.
1–4.
Middlesex County Museum
777 Gen. Puller Hwy.
Saluda 758-3663
As one of the oldest county
museums in the state of Virginia,
the museum covers over
400 years of local history. Recently
remodeled, our expanded
exhibits feature a vast array of
objects and items not seen together
before: fossils and Indian
artifacts, 19th Century textiles
and clothing, a 1930’s country
store, agricultural and industrial
tools, historical money, toys and
medical instruments. The exhibits
contain stories of our past,
including our African American
history, Civil War, Revolutionary
War, WWI, and WWII era, and
tales of our most famous local
resident, Lt. General “Chesty”
Puller, the most decorated Ma-
Reedville Fishermen’s Museum
Preserving the Watermen’s Heritage
804-453-6529 Open Tues.–Sun. May-Oct.
504 Main St., Reedville, VA 22539
www.rfmuseum.org
rine in corps history.
The museum has local history
books for sale and resource
books for the public’s use in the
research center.
Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wed.–Sat.
.
Northumberland
Northern Neck Farm Museum
12705 Northumberland Hwy.
Burgess 761-5952
Luther Welch donated the
property and much of the equipment
to create a museum to
tell the history of farming in the
Northern Neck. The big red barn
houses a photographic exhibit
of farms, an American Indian exhibit
and farm equipment such
as antique tractors, hand tools,
planters, seed hullers and butter
churns. Other exhibits include
a children’s area and an
exhibit on Northern Neck rural
electrification.
The gift shop features many
items including a first edition collectible
tractor and toys. Hours
are Sat. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and Sun.
1–4 p.m. Admission is $2 for
adults, $1 for students, and children
under 12 are free.
Reedville
Fishermen’s Museum
504 Main St.
Reedville 453-6529
The museum offers visitors
a glimpse of the rich heritage of
the fishermen and watermen of
Virginia’s Northern Neck and the
Chesapeake Bay.
In addition to the main museum
gallery housing its permanent
and changing exhibits, the
museum features the Pendleton
Building with its boat and model
workshops and the historic William
Walker House.
In the water, the museum showcases
the Claud W. Somers, a 42foot
skipjack built in 1911, which
offers tours twice monthly, and
the Elva C., a 55-foot traditional
workboat built in 1922, which offers
tours to members.
The museum also offers a gift
shop and is open Tues.–Sun.
from 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. May
through Oct. Admission is $5 for
adults, $3 for seniors and free
for children under 12. www.rfmuseum.org
Rice’s Hotel/
Hughlett’s Tavern
73 Monument Place
Heathsville 580-3377
A 1700’s restored Tavern and
community square, the site includes
a gift shop, foundation
office, blacksmith shop, woodworkers
shop, spinning and weaving
studio and Carriage House.
The Transportation Museum
Building houses a permanent exhibit
of the Chicacoan Oak. The
museum also offers a community
room for rent and various classes
in heritage arts.
Gift Shop: Call for hours. 580-
3536. Blacksmith shop hours:
Tues., Thurs., Sat. 10 a.m.–3
p.m. Spinning and weaving studio
hours: Wed. 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Sun.
11 a.m.–3 p.m. Quilt Guild hours:
Tues. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Woodworkers
studio hours: Fri. 10 a.m.–3
p.m. Restaurant at the Tavern,
call 580-7900. Tavern Foundation
hours: Mon.–Thurs. 9 a.m.–noon.
www.rhhtfoundation.org
Richmond
Menokin
4037 Menokin Rd.
Warsaw
Menokin was built c. 1769. It
was the home of Independence
signer Francis Lightfoot Lee. A
partial ruin, the house provides
a unique opportunity to see “behind
the walls” of an 18th century
mansion.
The King Conservation and Visitors
Center provides information
on the history of the property and
the architectural conservation
work going on at Menokin. Hike
trails to Cat Point Creek through
the Rappahannock River Valley
National Wildlife Refuge.
From Apr.–Oct., open Mon.–
Sat., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. From
Nov.–March, open Mon.–Fri. 10
a.m.–4 p.m. and weekends by
appointment.
Richmond County Museum
5874 East Richmond Rd.
Warsaw 333-3607
The museum is in the county’s
old jail, which was built in 1872.
It includes three galleries, exhibit
rooms and an office. The jail’s
hanging chamber is also on the
second floor.
On permanent display is a
scale model of the historic 1748
Richmond County Courthouse,
the third oldest courthouse in
Virginia, a collection of Forrest
Patton photography and an old
fashioned country store. Another
exhibit features Francis Lightfoot
Lee, signer of the Declaration of
Independence.
Open Wed.–Sat. from 11
a.m.–3 p.m.
Kentucky Derby Party
at the
at the
Historic Rice’s Hotel / Hughlett’s Tavern
Watch the race on big screen TV and bet on
your favorite ponies. Sumptuous food, open bar,
mint juleps, live Bluegrass music, live and silent
auction. Tickets $35 per person, $65 per couple
in advance; $40 at the gate. Dress for fun!