At this time, the Francis Land House and Lynnhaven House remain closed for restoration. The Lynnhaven House grounds and Lynnhaven Colonial Education Center are available for private event rentals. Email us at vbhistoryevents@vbgov.com to learn more.
Admission is FREE. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. Please call 757-385-5100 or email vbhistory@vbgov.com if you have questions about tours.
If you are planning to bring a tour of 10+ guests, please give us 24-48 hours advance notice by calling 757-385-5100 or emailing vbhistory@vbgov.com.
The historic Thoroughgood House is NOW OPEN for FREE tours!
Current Thoroughgood House Tour Schedule:
The Princess Anne County Training School/Union Kempsville High School Museum is also NOW OPEN for FREE, self-guided tours on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. There is no need to register in advance for self-guided tours, but if you would like a guided tour, please call 757-385-5100, or email vbhistory@vbgov.com, to confirm guided tour availability.
Current Princess Anne County Training School/Union Kempsville High School Museum Tour Schedule:
Museums Testimonials
We had a great family afternoon at this lovely historic home and museum. The guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. We enjoyed the gardens after the tour. Recommend!
The history of the school has been kept for other generations of African Americans to view. Very impressive.
Awesome place! Wonderful/amazing house from the 1700's. Beautifully maintained by the city government of Virginia Beach. Respect.
I love this house! I was the first person to work here when it opened to the public . I honestly believe the house is older than 1725 because papers were found stating Ann and Seville Gaskins purchased the property and built a home/tavern on the property in the early mid 1600s. Either way , the house has so much charm and a sad yet warm feel about it. I occasionally go there and walk around and still feel a connection to this wonderful home.
Beautiful home. I love the events they schedule to show what life was like in that time frame. They also have a heritage garden cared for by the Master Gardeners of Virgina Beach.
When you ring the bell at the back door, you are greeted by a staff member who checks you in and takes you on a tour. The tour, at present, is only the first floor (the second floor was actually used as a bedroom loft for the daughters of the family) and the gardens around the house. The tour is fact-filled and quite enjoyable.
My son and I went on field trip there through his school. He is 6 years old. The field trip was a great experience. Very educational projects and centers we participated in. It has a lot of history it was built around 1805-1810.
Amazing house with a rich history. Great to visit for local history instead of having to drive all the way to Williamsburg. Sometimes there are events for the whole family with games, food, plant sales, and more.
Visiting VA Beach on vacation and wanted to check out the local history and this place is a gem! They offer an hour tour, with a 7 minute video introduction and a room of artifacts either before or after the guided tour. Our tour guide, Elizabeth, is a lovely woman who has a great sense of humor and a wealth of information- you can tell she loves history and she is great at answering the questions you're thinking in your head! The staff is friendly, the tours are well worth the 5-7 dollar fee, and I definitely recommend this one (and I'm sure the other tours related to older homes, grouped with this one on the website, are worth it as well)!! Also you can explore the grounds when the tour is done :)
The Adam Thorogood House is a hidden historical gem right here in Virginia Beach. We got the chance to go inside the historic house and see how a family might live in the 1800s, or even have a few families might live together (at one point there were four families living in the house together!). If you are into historical landmarks, this is definitely one you want to check off your bucket list!
Plus, for me as a photographer, this place has so many gorgeous spots to take pictures. It’s definitely one of my favorite places to get a few pictures!
Loved visiting the Thoroughgood House. My fiance and I were the only ones there for a tour so it did not take long at all. Before the tour starts you watch a video to begin the story of the Thoroughgood's and then you are able to walk through a short museum. Our tour guide seemed very young, but she was super nice and so knowledgeable. I was very surprised! After the tour you're able to look around the grounds. I wish there were more items in the house that were actually from the house originally, but that's not the fault of the organization. Definitely stop by to see this little piece of history right in the backyard of Virginia Beach
Amazing! It was my first time and I loved it! My tour guide was awesome and was very knowledgeable. Colonial history and Revolutionary History! They have a great education center and inclusive: Native American and African enslaved people. It was all encompassing. There is no cost, so it’s free, but donations are welcomed! There is a seven minute video discussing the site in a condensed version! But go! It’s really great!