Welcome to the Louisa County Historical Society

Bringing Louisa County History to Life!

Welcome to the Louisa County Historical Society

Bringing Louisa County History to Life!

COVID-19 Update

We value the health and safety of all our visitors, program participants, volunteers, staff members, and our community at large. This is a unique time with the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result, we have made the following changes to our operations and upcoming schedule. Thank you for your interest in and support of the Louisa County Historical Society. We wish everyone well and look forward to the next time we see you at the museum or at one of our programs!

Museum Operations

During Virginia’s Phase 1, no public members are allowed in the buildings. Outdoor visitation of the Heritage Farm property is allowed.

During Virginia’s Phase 2, museum visitation by appointment only. Groups are limited to 8 people or less. Research is limited to remote requests only to reduce the number of people handling items that cannot be sanitized.

During Virginia’s Phase 3, barring government restrictions or safety concerns, we will re-open to general public visitation. However, we will limit the number of people allowed in the building at one time so we encourage people to continue to schedule their visits. In-person research will be allowed by appointment only. Researchers will be required to fill out research applications and call slips ahead of their visit to limit interactions

New Safety Measures

Anyone exhibiting COVID symptoms or with a known exposure within the past two weeks should not come to the museum. Anyone who has traveled to an area with higher infection rates should wait two weeks before coming to the museum.

Masks are required in any indoor space. We encourage you to bring your own mask, but we do have some available at the museum. Please request one from a staff or volunteer if you need one for your visit.

We have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the research library and soap and paper towels in the restroom. People are encouraged to wash their hands frequently.

We have implemented a new cleaning schedule to sanitize highly-touched surfaces (doorknobs, faucets, etc.). While visitation is allowed by appointment only, highly-touched surfaces will be sanitized after each group visit. When we reopen with our normal public hours, highly-touched surfaces will be sanitized every two hours.

New Guest Procedures

Please maintain social distance when visiting the museum. We have added signage throughout all indoor spaces to remind people to maintain social distance.

We have implemented a one-way flow through our exhibits to help with maintaining social distance. Please follow the signage.

We have purchased a new Bluetooth card reader to ensure social distance from our volunteers when completing credit card transactions. We encourage credit card payments over cash payments to limit interaction.

Program Updates

There will be no in-person programs through the end of August. Free Family Days and research workshops will continue in an online format. Later this summer, we will re-evaluate how to handle programs from September forward, including: hearth-cooking workshops (usually start in September), ice cream social (September), downtown walking tours (October), annual lecture/meeting (November), wreath-making workshop (usually the first week of December), and holiday open house (first Saturday in December).

We have adjusted our oral history project on the 1950s and 1960s. Rather than have volunteers go to people’s homes, we are developing oral history take-home kits that will be available to be checked out by the public in July. We encourage local community members to interview their family and other household members and donate the interview to the historical society.

Note on Possible Changes

Our Board of Directors and staff will stay up-to-date with federal and state regulations and information from the local health district. Depending on circumstances, the Board of Directors might make the decision to limit access to the building at any time to protect the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and the local community and to adhere to local, state, and federal regulations.

Our Diverse Past

Native People

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

Long before the arrival of European explorers, the North American Continent was home to thousands of native tribes living in thousands of villages and towns from coast to coast. Learn more about the tribes that lived in the Louisa area.

Find out more

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

Historical Society staff, volunteers, and community members have recorded over 200 African American burial sites across Louisa County. Many of these sites contain the remains of people who died enslaved. The location of the cemeteries have been uploaded to the State's historic site registry.

If It Takes 100 Years

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

If It Takes 100 Years

Follow our interactive timeline to explore the journey of women and African Americans toward equal rights in Louisa County from 1865-1965. Learn about the struggles, those who led the way, and the experience of all along the path.

See Timeline

Become a Member

When you join the Louisa County Historical Society you get:

Our quarterly newsletter
Our semi-annual Louisa County Historical Magazine, which features articles about well-known and lesser-known figures from our past and excerpts from documents preserved in our archives
Invitations to special programs including our Annual Membership Social and our Annual Meeting, when you can vote for board members and enjoy a special lecture and reception

Membership levels:

$35 Annual Individual

$50 Annual Family

$200 Annual Sustaining Individual or Family

$1,500 Lifetime Benefactor (includes engraved brick)

To join, mail a check payable to Louisa County Historical Society to P.O. Box 1172, Louisa, VA 23093 or pay online with PayPal on our Support Page.

Business Sponsors

2020 Business Benefactor

Walmart Distribution Center #7016

Welcome to the Louisa County Historical Society

Welcome to the Louisa County Historical Society

COVID-19 Update

Museum Operations

New Safety Measures

New Guest Procedures

Program Updates

Note on Possible Changes

Special Projects

Digital Tour and Maps

Digital Tour and Maps

Digital Tour and Maps

Digital Tour and Maps

Digital Tour and Maps

Heritage Day Festival

Digital Tour and Maps

Heritage Day Festival

Our Diverse Past

Native People

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

If It Takes 100 Years

Will the Stones Whisper their Names?

If It Takes 100 Years

Donate to the Society

Become a Member

Business Sponsors

2020 Business Benefactor

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2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

2020 Business Benefactor

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