Monday, July 7, 2025
Dear Friends,
As we head into the heart of summer, we’re filled with excitement and momentum at the Virginia Beach History Museums. One of our most exciting updates this quarter is the progress at the Francis Land House. After nearly five years of careful restoration and planning, the house is beginning to feel like home again. The original furnishings have returned to their rightful rooms and new exhibits are being installed that share a fuller, richer story of the site’s past.
We’re gearing up for a public reopening this fall so please stay tuned for future correspondences! From exhibits like The Roaring 20s and World War II and the Rose Hall Dress Shop to handcrafted details like the new floorcloth donated by the Friends of the Virginia Beach Historic Houses, the house is coming back to life in ways we can’t wait for you to experience.
If you have a special connection to the Francis Land House or just want to be part of this exciting chapter, we’d love your help! Please reach out to Maddy Laing at mlaing@vbgov.com if you’re interested in volunteering when we reopen to the public.
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter, packed with updates, events, and opportunities to connect with the vibrant history and culture of Virginia Beach.
Preserving the Past, Enhancing the Future:
Francis Land House’s Exciting Renovation, Exhibit Update
Our restoration project continues to make progress, blending preservation with thoughtful enhancements that ensure this historic treasure remains vibrant for years to come.
Francis Land House Furniture Moved In
Exciting news! Just prior to Memorial Day weekend, movers and History Museums staff returned the Francis Land House’s furniture from storage and set it back up in all rooms of the house.
New Exhibits & Historic Floorcloth Have Been Installed
The new exhibits at Francis Land House have been installed! We look forward to enhancing the visitor experience with engaging, thoughtfully curated display on both floors of the house.
Exhibits are in their own dedicated rooms, and include the Intro Room, The Roaring 20s, Architectural Overview, World War II and the Rose Hall Dress Shop.
Adding to the authenticity of the space, a brand-new handcrafted floorcloth, generously donated by the Friends of the Virginia Beach Historic Houses, is complete! Created by the renowned local company Black Dog Floorcloths, this beautiful piece was installed in May.
Final Touches Coming Soon
Stay tuned for more updates—we can’t wait to welcome you back to experience these thoughtful renovations and new exhibits firsthand this fall!
Francis Land House Beautification Commission Award
The Francis Land House was recently recognized for “outstanding landscaping and contributing to the beauty of the City of Virginia Beach” at the Virginia Beach Beautification Commission’s Annual Awards Luncheon. Dylan Spivey, Operations Specialist for the Virginia Beach History Museums, accepted the award on behalf of the museums. Thank you to our garden clubs for your work to preserve the beauty of the Francis Land House grounds!
Thoroughgood House ‘Focus Tours’ Are Back!
While our daily tours give visitors a good overview of life on the Thoroughgood property, our weekly summer Focus Tours , which return for the fourth summer in a row, provide a deeper dive into specific areas of interest.
Tours run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. each Thursday evening at the Thoroughgood House from now through Sept. 4. Topics include returning favorites like Pirates and Piracy, History of Ice Cream and Indigenous Pathways, while adding a 250th anniversary-themed Colonial Clue tour to the rotation. View the full schedule at the registration link below.
Focus Tours are appropriate for all ages. Suggested donation is $5 per person. Advance registration is encouraged at Culture.VirginiaBeach.gov/Events . Walk-ins also welcome.
Lynnhaven House Preservation Tours
As we celebrate the Lynnhaven House’s 300th birthday in 2025, there is now a unique opportunity to see the inner architecture of the home while under restoration!
During these free, 30-minute guided tours, become part of our restoration journey and enjoy a unique opportunity to discover architectural secrets once hidden beneath the plaster, take a firsthand look at past and present preservation work, and learn more about our continuing efforts to protect and preserve Lynnhaven House for future generations.
Feel free to bring a lunch and stay and enjoy the beautiful Lynnhaven House grounds after your tour. Tours run at noon on the third Thursday of each month. Register online for your tour at Culture.VirginiaBeach.gov/Events
We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead!
Visit Thoroughgood House and PACTS/UKHS Museum
As a reminder, the Thoroughgood House is open for free tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and from 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. Additionally, from now until Sept. 4, the Thoroughgood House is also open from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays for summer Focus Tours.
Register for standard Thoroughgood House tours and Focus Tours at Culture.VirginiaBeach.gov/Events .
We also welcome you to tour the PACTS/UKHS Museum , which is located inside the Renaissance Academy, 5100 Cleveland Street. Tours are free and run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Advance registration is not required for PACTS/UKHS tours.
My Best Wishes,
Emily S. Labows
Director, Virginia Beach