Welcome to the Ashland Museum!
The Ashland Museum tells the story of Ashland, Virginia through words, images, voices, and objects.
Introducing
Now you can explore Ashland and its rich history right from your mobile device! Currently we offer 5 walking tours complete with historical photographs, audio, and historic and architectural info for some of Ashland’s residential and commercial treasures. Explore our Historic Downtown, the grand homes of South Center Street, the Race Course Addition neighborhood, the homes around Randolph-Macon College, and the unique neighborhood known as Berkleytown.
Choose your platform:
by a grant from CultureWorks championed by Altria,
a grant from CSX, and by donations
to the Ashland Museum Development Fund.
Upcoming Events
2019 History Talk Series:
• Dr. Ed Ayers, “Ending the Civil War” – Tuesday, January 8, 2019, 7pm at The Center, 500 S. Center St., free and open to the public. Edward Ayers is Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities at the University of Richmond, where he is President Emeritus. President Barack Obama awarded him the National Humanities Medal in 2013. Ed served as president of the Organization of American Historians during the 2017-18 term.
• Dr. Lauranett Lee, “Enslaved Children – Past and Present” – Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 7pm at The Center, 500 S. Center St., free and open to the public. Dr. Lee is Visiting Lecturer, Jepson School of Leadership Studies and Adjunct Assistant Professor, SPCS, Liberal Arts. Since 2001, Dr. Lauranett Lee has been the founding curator of African American history at the Virginia Historical Society. In 2011, she worked with a team of colleagues at VHS to launch a genealogical tool called Unknown No Longer: A Database of Virginia Slave Names. She also consults on a variety of history projects across the commonwealth.
• Ashland Musical Variety Show Retrospective, Sue Watson, Lorie Foley and Tom Wulf, Sunday, March 10, 2019, at the Ashland Theatre, time and details to come.
Untold Stories – Growing Up in Ashland/Hanover, Black and White Experiences – Sunday, February 17, 4pm, at the Ashland Theatre, free and open to the public. Panel of speakers will be announced soon.
News & Notes
Record your family story. Questions to ask a family member to get the story started.
Here are some questions you can ask family members about what their life was like when they were kids. 1. What is your name and what are the names of your parents and brothers and sisters? How did your parents choose your name? Does it have a special meaning? Did [...]
Maroon Communities in the Great Dismal Swamp – March 2019
Join the Ashland Museum for a history and nature tour of the Maroon communities in the Great Dismal Swamp on Saturday, March 2, 2019. A number of freed and escaped slaves formed a communities in the marshlands of the Great Dismal Swamp. We will join our guide at the Great [...]
New Ashland Museum Sign
The Board poses with the Ashland Museum's new sign, now mounted at the front corner of the building. Look for it next time you are passing by 105 Hanover Ave. or visiting the Ashland Museum.
Ashland Museum Inside Out funded in part by CultureWorks Championed by Altria
The Ashland Museum has launched a new initiative to bring the assets of the Museum into the Ashland community. Initial projects will include outdoor history exhibits, historic markers and walking tours guided by mobile apps. In August, 2015, Ashland Museum President, Rosanne Shalf made a presentation on the initiative to [...]