News Flash

John J. Wright: a Hometown Hero

Every week in the month of February, the Spotsylvania County Museum is featuring notable historical figures who are from or have impacted Spotsylvania County to honor Black History Month. 

On November 18, 1863, Louisa Alsop gave birth to a son, Jo...

The Generations of LeVar Burton

Every week in the month of February, the Spotsylvania County Museum is featuring notable historical figures who are from or have impacted Spotsylvania County to honor Black History Month.  

LeVar Burton’s work in entertainment h...

Alex Haley Discovers His Roots in Spotsylvania

Every week in the month of February, the Spotsylvania County Museum is featuring notable historical figures who are from or have impacted Spotsylvania County to honor Black History Month. 

During the eight consecutive nights between January 23 and...

Around the Archives: Jo-Joy the Jack-in-the-Box

Object Catalog: 2011.001.202

Americans let out a collective sigh of relief on September 2, 1945, and just a few months later, still in the midst of a victory celebration, the United States rang in its first Christmas after World War II. Coming off the cusp...

From the Collections - "The Whistling Cat"

In the late 1920’s, and thru the 1930’s, Americans looked forward to reading their magazines each month.  Publications such as Life, Look, Atlantic Monthly and National Geographic were the most famous.  But adults and...

Momma Cut His Curls!

A favorite practice that continues today is to save the hair from a child’s first haircut.  Among the collections of the Spotsylvania County Museum is an artifact of that time-savored tradition. George William Pound was born on December 13, 1899....

Stapleton Crutchfield Jr.’s Mill

Grist Mills were an important part of the development of our region. The vast archival holdings of the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center (CRHC) provide researchers and historians a glimpse into an almost forgotten part of our heritage.  Few ea...

From Cadet to Judge

Judge Robert Emmett Waller was born at Hillsborough, near Partlow on December 10, 1845, son of Dr. Nelson Samuel and Mary Hampton (de Jarnette) Waller. His early education consisted of private instruction from John C. Pettus, a lawyer and graduate of the ...

The Block House

The “Block House” (pictured) was one of the most distinct structures in Spotsylvania’s history. How it acquired its name is subject to speculation. One account in the museum’s archives said it was built as a fort to...

Kalmbach's Mill

Charles L. Kalmbach was born in Um, Prussia in 1830, the son of Charles A. and Natalia Kalmbach.  He immigrated to America in 1847, and was educated as an engineer and worked on several construction projects in New York City.  His name i...

Places from the Past

Beverley Stanard built “Roxbury” around 1743.  Stanard owned 2,000 acres between the Ni and Po rivers. 

The home (photo circa 1880) burned in 1920. The home site and cemetery near Thornburgh Elementary School is now ow...

A Changing Landscape

From the Museum Archives.  In 1880, the area in Spotsylvania Court House village started to change.  It began with subdividing part of the land associated with the historic "Spotswood Inn".  Originally a 1,000 acre tra...