Virginia Historical Society
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| Established | 1831 |
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| Location | 428 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia |
| Type | History museum |
| Website | |
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Battle Abbey
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| Coordinates | 37°33′23″N 77°28′29″W / 37.55639°N 77.47472°W |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Part of | ) |
| Designated CP | September 18, 1986 |
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| Established | 1928 |
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| Location |
4301 Sulgrave Road Richmond, Virginia |
| Website | www |
Boulevard Historic District (#86002887
The Virginia Historical Society (VHS), founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a major repository, research, and teaching center for Virginia history. It is a private, non-profit organization, supported almost entirely by private contributions. In 2004, it was designated the official state historical society of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Virginia Historical Society features award-winning exhibitions and programming that are entertaining and educational for visitors of all ages. One of the largest historical societies in the country, the VHS has more than 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) of exhibition gallery space and the largest display of Virginia artifacts on permanent view. The VHS is the only museum with all of Virginia’s history under one roof — all centuries, regions, and topics are covered.
The mission of the Virginia Historical Society is to connect people to America’s past through the unparalleled story of Virginia. By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth’s history, the society links past with present and inspires future generations.
At its founding, the list of officers and standing committee members included the following:
Standing Committee:
In its early years, the VHS gathered an eclectic collection of natural history specimens, historical artifacts, and printed and written material. After the Civil War, the institution was renamed the Virginia Historical Society to reflect a primarily historical focus as it became more active in publishing historical material. The society gained its first permanent headquarters building in Richmond in 1893. The society's journal, the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, has published on a quarterly basis without interruption since 1893.
In the 1950s, increasing resources allowed the addition of a professional staff. Over the next several decades the society's collections grew. The publications program also increased as the VHS gained a significant role in the academic community.
In 1959, the society relocated from its headquarters in the Lee House on Franklin Street to Battle Abbey (constructed in 1912) on the Boulevard. To accommodate the society, a four-story wing was added to the west side of the previously expanded Battle Abbey. Since 1959, the VHS headquarters building has been renovated and expanded several times—including a new west wing to house the extensive society research library (1992); a north wing to expand its gallery space and house offices of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (1998); a new south wing to add additional gallery space, storage, offices, and a nearly 500-seat auditorium (2006); and new spaces for public use on the north and south sides of the building (2015).
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