Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society

Let’s go on a tour of the Albemarle County Historical Society! 🪶📃 Plus, join them at 3PM tomorrow at Central JMRL (October 25th) for the public unveiling of Visions of Progress: Portraits of Dignity, Style, and Racial Uplift Catalog. The catalog showcases portraits of African Americans from Central Virginia, and shares the stories of some who were photographed. Everyone who attends this event will receive a free catalog copy, so don’t miss the chance to get your tickets! 🎟️ #cvillelocal #downtowncville #charlottesvilleva #downtowncharlottesville

Have you gotten your new ACHS ✨merch✨ yet? We’ve got brand new mugs, magnets, stickers, and pencils! Head to the ACHS Online Shop to browse historical books and tack on a couple fun goodies to the order! Visit shopachs.myshopify.com (link in bio) today to see what’s available 👀

What are you doing this weekend? And why isn’t it taking a tour with us? Put a little history into your Saturday with our historic walking tours of downtown! Join us to learn a little more about the city’s history 🤓📝📚 Get your ticket at the link in our bio! #charlottesvilleva #thingstodo #visitcharlottesville #albemarlecountyva #localhistorymatters

Happy Earth Day! 🌎 🌳🌿 We celebrated by doing some spring sprucing up in our building and courtyard. We were thankful to be joined in our garden by volunteers from the Jack Jouett chapter of the DAR! They did an amazing job weeding, mulching, and adding wood chips to preserve our historic Ash tree!

How much do you know about Downtown Charlottesville? Join the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society every Saturday for one of their historic walking tours through downtown Charlottesville! There are three different tours to choose from - Court Square, Historic Downtown Mall, and the Black Barbers of Charlottesville. No matter which one you pick, you can learn about the history of Charlottesville and the amazing stories of people from this area. To purchase tickets and explore the tour options and times, visit albemarlehistory.org/tours

Olivia Brown, on behalf of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, is the recipient of the 2026 Citizen Service Award! 🎉 As Executive Director of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, Olivia is helping connect the community with Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s rich history through educational programs, walking tours and expanded access to local archives. Plan to stop by the Founders Day Community Partner Tent on Sunday, April 12, to congratulate Olivia in person and learn more about the important work of ACHS!

Exciting news! This Monday, March30, our new exhibit “Then & Now: Charlottesville in the 1970s” will officially be open in @vaultvirginia ! Featuring portraits by artist and activist Frances Brand, there’s so much more to see in this look back at the city 50 years ago. Don’t miss this! @charlottesvilleva #localhistory #localhistorymatters #charlottesvilleva #visitcharlottesville #albemarlecountyva

On March 3, 1865, Union Major General Philip Sheridan arrived in Charlottesville, liberating over 14,000 enslaved people. Liberation and Freedom Day is now celebrated every year on this day in the City of Charlottesville. One year ago today, on March 3, 2025, Charlottesville's Historic Resources Committee unveiled a marker at Court Square dedicated to telling the history of how the area was used as a place to buy and sell enslaved people. Telling this history is essential to understanding the landscape of the city and how it has changed over time. How are you celebrating Liberation and Freedom Day this year? Share with us in the comments! #CharlottesvilleVA #VirginiaisforHistoryLovers #CharlottesvilleHistory #AlbemarleCountyVA #AlbemarleCountyHistory #LocalHistoryMatters

Happy Valentine's Day from the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society! 💕 These sweet valentines in the ACHS collection belonged to Mrs. Margaret Rhoades and were donated as part of the Rhoades/Rhodes Family Papers (MS-648). Don't forget you can visit the ACHS Research Library and Archives any time we are open! This amazing public resource is full of treasures. @charlottesvilleva #ValentinesDay #HappyValentinesDay #LocalHistoryMatters #ArchivesMatter #CharlottesvilleVA #AlbemarleCounty

Happy 250th America! 🥳🥳 This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States — let’s celebrate by learning! Here’s EPISODE THREE of our Founding Footprints’ itineraries to help you explore ⬇️ — Day One: History in Plain Sight — 📍 Visit the @achistsoc ’s Research Library 📍 Shop, dine, and explore the Downtown Mall 📍 Walk around local cemeteries (Maplewood, Daughters of Zion, UVA) 📍 Dinner at @tavernandgrocery (its building was built in 1820 and is one of the last standing in the historic, predominantly Black ‘Vinegar Hill’ neighborhood) ⭐ *BONUS* @achistsoc Spring Tours begin in April but they host special events year-round! Also check out the @rarebookschool — Day Two: We Are Family — 📍 Explore ‘Getting Word’ at @TJMonticello , an oral history project that collects, records, and preserves the family histories of those enslaved there. 📍 Visit family-owned @EastwoodFarmandWinery 📍 Visit the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at @UVA 📍 Dine family-owned (@ARPSteakhouse , @Hanallc2022 , @Monsoon_Siam ) — Day Three: Pieces of the Puzzle — 📍 @CumbreBakery coffee + breakfast 📍 @UnlockedHistory Escape Rooms 📍 Explore the @CharlottesvilleAleTrail with a Scavenger Hunt/Puzzle Crawl by @Cville_Puzzle 📍 Enjoy @triviawithOlivia (now on Wednesdays at @DecipherBrewing ) ⭐ *BONUS* Attend the Cville Puzzle Hunt on March 14th No matter what state you call home, Virginia the ideal place to learn about our nation’s beginnings! Learn more at @varevolution250 and by listening to @wtjuradio ’s ‘Founding Footprints’ podcast on your favorite streaming platform. @VARevolution250 #VA250 #America250VA #America250 #VirginiaIsForLovers #VirginiaIsForHistoryLovers

Executive Director Olivia Brown shares how your donation to ACHS can make an impact. Every donation up to $50,000 will be matched! Make your commitment to preserving local history through a donation to the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society today. #GivingTuesday #SupportLocal #LocalHistoryMatters #AlbemarleCountyVA #CharlottesvilleVA #CharlottesvilleHistory

#HistoryMysteryMondays is when we try to solve mysteries in our collection! We've been highlighting the few unidentified portraits in Frances Brand's Firsts Collection and this Monday we have another mystery that needs solving. Do you know who this is? Share it with us to help make our local history knowledge stronger! Learn more about Frances Brand and her collection at: /research/frances-brand-firsts-collection/