We are excited to announce that the historic Thoroughgood House will re-open for public tours on May 1!

Admission is FREE. Tours will run every 30 minutes from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Expanded hours/days are being planned for the summer, and will be announced when scheduled. To book your reservation, complete the Google form below with your selected tour date and time. You will receive an email confirmation with a copy of your responses. You must reserve in advance. NO WALK INS. You may also call 757-385-5100 to learn about available times. Tour reservations cut off at 5pm the day before each tour day (ex. reservations for tours on May 1, 2021 close at 5pm on April 30, 2021).

Tickets must be reserved online in advance of each tour, and, to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols, tours will be limited to 10 guests per 30-minute tour session.

In addition to timed ticketing and small tours, the Virginia Beach History Museums have implemented the following COVID-19 safety measures:

• Face coverings are required for all guests and staff.
• COVID-19 safety signage is displayed on site.
• Reception desk has a plexiglass barrier to protect both guests and staff upon check in.
• Surfaces and high traffic areas will be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Guests are asked to kindly not touch any items in the Thoroughgood House or Thoroughgood House exhibit.

The Thoroughgood House, built circa 1719, is one of the oldest surviving colonial homes in Virginia Beach and is a National Historic Landmark.

At this time, the Francis Land House and Lynnhaven House remain closed for restoration, and the Princess Anne County Training School/Union Kempsville High School Museum, which is located within the Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ Renaissance Academy, remains closed to the public while the school is closed. Make sure to follow our website, and Virginia Beach History Museums on social media, for the latest updates.

Virginia Beach's rich heritage is represented in its variety of historic homes. Some of the oldest surviving brick houses in America are in Virginia, and two of those–the Thoroughgood House and the Lynnhaven House–are located in Virginia Beach. The Francis Land House is a larger, later example of plantation living in Princess Anne County. These houses offer visitors the opportunity to step back in time and discover stories of risk and opportunity, expanding definitions of equality, and the bonds of family and community.

Slavery and the efforts of people of African descent to fight injustice and adversity are part of our shared past. The best account of local African American history can be found in the Princess Anne County Training School/Union Kempsville High School Museum. The museum tells the story of the efforts, and ultimate success, of the African American community to build a high school for black children during the era of segregation.

Virginia Beach's history is surprisingly broad, and the Virginia Beach History Museums provide memorable experiences for those wishing to discover the true hidden treasures of the Atlantic coast.

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