Virginia Beach History Museums

07/30/2021

As we close out #NationalIceCreamMonth (we hope you enjoyed our History of Ice Cream tours last night 😀), let's look back at what historically made ice cream in the summer possible: ice houses.

One of the first ice houses was built in the 7th century in China as well as one of the first versions of ice cream.

The first ice house patent was given to Sir William Berkley in 1637, which allowed him “to gather, make and take snow and ice and keep the same in such pits, caves and cool places as he should think fit.” This gave Berkley a monopoly over ice preservation and sale in Great Britain.

Ice houses were essential to American culture, as vegetables were often preserved on ice. Robert Morris, colonial merchant and Founding Father, constructed an icehouse himself to cool drinks and preserve food. Morris found that the larger the hole in the icehouse the longer the ice would keep. Usually this meant until after summer and into the fall.

Thomas Jefferson also constructed an ice house at the White House in 1801 after he was elected president. The following year, he constructed an ice house at his home, Monticello (pictured below). Jefferson was able to keep large amounts of ice cold until the fall with the use of a 16 foot deep hole. At this time, ice cream was still considered a rare and exotic treat. It was not until the first half of the 19th century that new ice cream machines and technological innovations made ice cream more accessible to all Americans.

Photo of Monticello Ice House from the Library of Congress

#vbhistorymuseums

As we close out #NationalIceCreamMonth (we hope you enjoyed our History of Ice Cream tours last night 😀), let's look back at what historically made ice cream in the summer possible: ice houses.

One of the first ice houses was built in the 7th century in China as well as one of the first versions of ice cream.

The first ice house patent was given to Sir William Berkley in 1637, which allowed him “to gather, make and take snow and ice and keep the same in such pits, caves and cool places as he should think fit.” This gave Berkley a monopoly over ice preservation and sale in Great Britain.

Ice houses were essential to American culture, as vegetables were often preserved on ice. Robert Morris, colonial merchant and Founding Father, constructed an icehouse himself to cool drinks and preserve food. Morris found that the larger the hole in the icehouse the longer the ice would keep. Usually this meant until after summer and into the fall.

Thomas Jefferson also constructed an ice house at the White House in 1801 after he was elected president. The following year, he constructed an ice house at his home, Monticello (pictured below). Jefferson was able to keep large amounts of ice cold until the fall with the use of a 16 foot deep hole. At this time, ice cream was still considered a rare and exotic treat. It was not until the first half of the 19th century that new ice cream machines and technological innovations made ice cream more accessible to all Americans.

Photo of Monticello Ice House from the Library of Congress

#vbhistorymuseums

07/29/2021

#throwbackthursday to 2019’s Ice Cream Festival at Francis Land House! 🍦

Make sure to join us TONIGHT at the Thoroughgood House for FREE sweet treats and tours during “History of Ice Cream!” Guests will learn about the development of ice cream styles across different cultures and centuries, and have the choice of several frozen treats!

Tours run every 30 minutes from 5:30pm-8:00pm at the Thoroughgood House. No advanced registration is required.

Details 🍦👉 https://fb.me/e/1zvjVjezp

#throwbackthursday to 2019’s Ice Cream Festival at Francis Land House! 🍦

Make sure to join us TONIGHT at the Thoroughgood House for FREE sweet treats and tours during “History of Ice Cream!” Guests will learn about the development of ice cream styles across different cultures and centuries, and have the choice of several frozen treats!

Tours run every 30 minutes from 5:30pm-8:00pm at the Thoroughgood House. No advanced registration is required.

Details 🍦👉 https://fb.me/e/1zvjVjezp

07/28/2021

Starting this weekend, the Thoroughgood House will be open for FREE Sunday tours and Family Sunday Funday activities! 😊🌸

Tours on Sundays will run every 45 minutes from 1pm-5pm, with the last tour starting at 4:15pm.

In addition, tours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm will now run every 45 minutes instead of every hour. Tours on Thursday evenings from 5:30pm-8:00pm will still run every 30 minutes.

All Thoroughgood House tours are FREE and open to the public. No advanced registration or tickets required. Visit www.museumsvb.org for the latest tour information.

#vbhistorymuseums

Visit Virginia Beach Virginia Beach City Government

Starting this weekend, the Thoroughgood House will be open for FREE Sunday tours and Family Sunday Funday activities! 😊🌸

Tours on Sundays will run every 45 minutes from 1pm-5pm, with the last tour starting at 4:15pm.

In addition, tours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm will now run every 45 minutes instead of every hour. Tours on Thursday evenings from 5:30pm-8:00pm will still run every 30 minutes.

All Thoroughgood House tours are FREE and open to the public. No advanced registration or tickets required. Visit www.museumsvb.org for the latest tour information.

#vbhistorymuseums

Visit Virginia Beach Virginia Beach City Government

07/22/2021

#TBT to last Thursday, when we hosted our “First Peoples of Virginia” Thoroughgood House Focus Tours!

Thanks to everyone who came out to learn about our area’s Native history! We hope you enjoyed the tours and hands-on craft activities!

This evening, the “Enslaved Perspective” Focus Tours will run every 30 minutes from 5:30pm-8pm. These FREE tours will focus on the history of slavery, and will highlight enslaved individuals who lived and worked on the Thoroughgood House property in the 18th and 19th centuries. Visit https://www.museumsvb.org/calendar/event/2355/ for more information.

All tours are FREE and open to the public. No advanced registration required.

#vbhistorymuseums

07/21/2021

Turtle jokes? Shellarious! 🐢

Our historic homes are located in beautiful outdoor environments, and are surrounded by trees, water and other vegetation. Naturally, the grounds of our historic homes are also home to several species of wildlife (like our turtley wonderful friend here outside the Lynnhaven House Education Center).

What kinds of wildlife have you seen during your visits to the Virginia Beach History Museums? 🤔

#vbhistorymuseums

Turtle jokes? Shellarious! 🐢

Our historic homes are located in beautiful outdoor environments, and are surrounded by trees, water and other vegetation. Naturally, the grounds of our historic homes are also home to several species of wildlife (like our turtley wonderful friend here outside the Lynnhaven House Education Center).

What kinds of wildlife have you seen during your visits to the Virginia Beach History Museums? 🤔

#vbhistorymuseums

07/20/2021

Virginia Beach History Museums Interpretive Plan Survey - PublicInput.com

If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us as we plan the future of our three historic homes! Your input will be used as part of the creation of an interpretive plan by History Associates, Inc. (HAI) to improve guest experiences at our sites.

The survey is open through August 1 at https://publicinput.com/H1003. ✍️

#vbhistorymuseums

History Associates Incorporated (HAI) and the City of Virginia Beach are working with stakeholders and the public to develop an interpretive plan of the Lynnhaven Thoroughgood and Francis Land Houses. This plan will serve as a guiding document to enhance the programming and visitor experiences at th...

07/10/2021

#OTD 315 years ago, on July 10, 1706, Grace Sherwood was found guilty of practicing witchcraft, and tried by water in the Lynnhaven River at what is now known as Witchduck Point. Sherwood survived, but was then imprisoned for seven years. Upon her release, she lived out her life on a farm, working the land until her death in 1740.

Sherwood was the only convicted witch ever tried by water in Virginia. In 2006, then Virginia Governor Tim Kaine officially pardoned Sherwood, and restored her good name. Today, a statue of Grace is located near Sentara Bayside Hospital.

#vbhistorymuseums

Virginia Beach City Government Visit Virginia Beach

#OTD 315 years ago, on July 10, 1706, Grace Sherwood was found guilty of practicing witchcraft, and tried by water in the Lynnhaven River at what is now known as Witchduck Point. Sherwood survived, but was then imprisoned for seven years. Upon her release, she lived out her life on a farm, working the land until her death in 1740.

Sherwood was the only convicted witch ever tried by water in Virginia. In 2006, then Virginia Governor Tim Kaine officially pardoned Sherwood, and restored her good name. Today, a statue of Grace is located near Sentara Bayside Hospital.

#vbhistorymuseums

Virginia Beach City Government Visit Virginia Beach

07/08/2021

Candles were a necessity and the primary way to light a home before the use of oil lamps became more common in the 18th century. People during the colonial period used two different methods: the dipping method and the mold method.

Dipping was done by melting tallow, or other waxy material, into a pot of scalding hot water. Once melted, the tallow was skimmed and moved to another pot for dipping. Then two or three wicks, depending on the size of the pot and stick, were spaced apart and tied to a horizontal stick. The candlemaker then dipped the vertical wicks into the pot. This took about 25 dips before a candle about the size of a carrot was formed. The stick with the dipped wicks was then left out to dry and harden.

Mold candles were similarly made by instead of being dipped, the melted tallow was poured into a mold that could hold six or eight candles. Each mold also held a long wick in the middle which stayed in place by being tied to another thin stick. Once hardened after a few days to overnight, the candles were freed from the molds and ready to be used. Molds overall made less candles, but they were typically more uniform candles than the dipping method.

#vbhistorymuseums

Candles were a necessity and the primary way to light a home before the use of oil lamps became more common in the 18th century. People during the colonial period used two different methods: the dipping method and the mold method.

Dipping was done by melting tallow, or other waxy material, into a pot of scalding hot water. Once melted, the tallow was skimmed and moved to another pot for dipping. Then two or three wicks, depending on the size of the pot and stick, were spaced apart and tied to a horizontal stick. The candlemaker then dipped the vertical wicks into the pot. This took about 25 dips before a candle about the size of a carrot was formed. The stick with the dipped wicks was then left out to dry and harden.

Mold candles were similarly made by instead of being dipped, the melted tallow was poured into a mold that could hold six or eight candles. Each mold also held a long wick in the middle which stayed in place by being tied to another thin stick. Once hardened after a few days to overnight, the candles were freed from the molds and ready to be used. Molds overall made less candles, but they were typically more uniform candles than the dipping method.

#vbhistorymuseums

07/04/2021

Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸! On Thursday, we celebrated a bit early with some “fireworks” of our own.

During our American Revolution themed focus tour, reenactors portraying both American and British troops showed what it would’ve looked (and sounded 💥) like to use weaponry of the era. Guests also learned about Virginia Beach’s history and role in the conflict, and what it would’ve been like for those living on the Thoroughgood House property at the time. #vbhistorymuseums

07/02/2021

Virginia Beach History Museums - Admission

The Thoroughgood House is now open for FREE tours! Join us to discover one of the oldest surviving colonial homes in Virginia Beach and a National Historic Landmark! 🌸

Current Tour Hours

Thursday: 10am-4pm; 5:30pm-8pm
Friday: 10am-4pm
Saturday: 10am-4pm

Tours from 10am-4pm run every hour. Tours from 5:30pm-8pm on Thursdays run every 30 minutes, and are focused on special historical topics. Visit https://www.museumsvb.org/admission for up to date tour information.

#vbhistorymuseums

TThe City of Virginia Beach History Museums include the Thoroughgood House, the Francis Land House, the Lynnhaven House, and the Union Kempsville Museum. They are part of the City’s Department of Aquarium and History Museums, which also operates the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.

07/01/2021

#TBT earlier this year Miriam discussed our display of 18th century weaponry located in the Thoroughgood House education center. The musket balls on display were recovered in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach, and were believed to have been a part of the Battle of Kemp’s Landing in 1775.

Learn more about our area’s Revolutionary War-era history at our FREE Thoroughgood House focus tours TONIGHT from 5:30pm-8pm! #vbhistorymuseums

07/01/2021

Virginia Beach History Museums Interpretive Plan Survey - PublicInput.com

We want your input as we plan the future of the Francis Land House, Lynnhaven House and Thoroughgood House!

History Associates Incorporated (HAI) is working with the Virginia Beach History Museums to create a new interpretive plan to help improve visitor experience at the three historic homes. As part of the plan creation and public input process, HAI and the Virginia Beach History Museums seek feedback from the Virginia Beach community via an online public input survey.

Virginia Beach residents can access and complete the survey at https://publicinput.com/H1003. The survey will be open through Sunday, August 1. Please contact us at [email protected] or call 757-385-5100 if you have any questions.

#vbhistorymuseums

History Associates Incorporated (HAI) and the City of Virginia Beach are working with stakeholders and the public to develop an interpretive plan of the Lynnhaven Thoroughgood and Francis Land Houses. This plan will serve as a guiding document to enhance the programming and visitor experiences at th...

06/25/2021

#FlashbackFriday to last weekend, when our staff set up a table at the Military Aviation Museum’s Warbird Weekend to spread the word about our new tour hours, rental opportunities and more!

The Thoroughgood House is open for FREE tours today from 10am-4pm, and on Saturday from 10am-4pm. Visit www.museumsvb.org for the latest tour and event information. 🌸🏛

#vbhistorymuseums

#FlashbackFriday to last weekend, when our staff set up a table at the Military Aviation Museum’s Warbird Weekend to spread the word about our new tour hours, rental opportunities and more!

The Thoroughgood House is open for FREE tours today from 10am-4pm, and on Saturday from 10am-4pm. Visit www.museumsvb.org for the latest tour and event information. 🌸🏛

#vbhistorymuseums

06/24/2021

You're someone's type! The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. The Mayor's Cup Blood Drive will be held at multiple locations throughout the city - please consider giving and help us beat the City of Chesapeake! Visit www.redcrossblood.org and put in sponsor code "VBMayor" to find a drive that works for you.

06/22/2021

Articles :: VBgov.com - City of Virginia Beach

The Virginia Beach Department of Planning is hosting a virtual public meeting tomorrow, June 23, at 6:30pm to discuss the progress made on establishing design guidelines for the City's Historic and Cultural Districts. 🏛

You can register for this public meeting at the WebEx link here: https://bit.ly/3wL9T8W.

Virginia Beach Seeks Input at Virtual Public Meeting on the Design Guidelines for the Historic and Cultural Districts Thursday, June 17, 2021Property owners and community members are invited to attend the second virtual public meeting to discuss the progress made on establishing design guidelines fo...

06/22/2021

This week is #PollinatorWeek, celebrating our buzzing friends and their vital role in keeping up our food system, agriculture and biodiversity 🐝.

Beekeeping is a centuries-old tradition in America, but did you know honey bees aren’t native to North America? Europeans imported them in the 17th century, and today, according to the US Geological Survey, honey bees increase our nation's crop values each year by more than 15 billion dollars.

Check out this article on how folks hundreds of years ago used to keep bees using bee skeps: http://www.colonialsense.com/How-To_Guides/Outdoors/Bee_Skep.php.

#vbhistorymuseums

This week is #PollinatorWeek, celebrating our buzzing friends and their vital role in keeping up our food system, agriculture and biodiversity 🐝.

Beekeeping is a centuries-old tradition in America, but did you know honey bees aren’t native to North America? Europeans imported them in the 17th century, and today, according to the US Geological Survey, honey bees increase our nation's crop values each year by more than 15 billion dollars.

Check out this article on how folks hundreds of years ago used to keep bees using bee skeps: http://www.colonialsense.com/How-To_Guides/Outdoors/Bee_Skep.php.

#vbhistorymuseums