Northumberland County Historical Society

Northumberland County Historical Society NCHS, preserving the history and genealogy of Northumberland County, Virginia since 1963.

The Northumberland County Historical Society is excited to announce a special event at the Ball Memorial Library and Mus...
05/06/2026

The Northumberland County Historical Society is excited to announce a special event at the Ball Memorial Library and Museum, located at 86 Back Street in Heathsville, on Saturday, May 23, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Old Jail will be open to visitors, as is customary on Farmer’s Market Day. In addition, our historical and genealogical library in the basement, along with the museum on the second floor, will be accessible to the public—no admission fee, ever!
We encourage everyone to come and explore our extensive collections. Our staff will be available to answer your questions and assist with any projects you’re working on or considering. We are also eager to share the many benefits of becoming a Society member if you are interested. If you have a passion for Northern Neck history, we want you on our team! We’re looking for volunteers and docents—no prior experience required. Flexible hours and a relaxed, interesting environment await you.
Additionally, we have a diverse selection of books about local history for sale, and we stock the 17th-century map by Mark Gearhart, “A Brief and True Report of Northumberland County, Virginia.” Don’t miss out—come visit us and bring a friend!

04/19/2026

Northumberland County native Dr. Emory Lewis spoke to the NCHS today, regaling us with "Tales of a Country Doctor." Here's one of his stories. The full talk may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM9fqK2cLEA

On Sunday, April 19, at 2:30 PM, the Northumberland County Historical Society in Heathsville was fortunate to present Dr...
03/16/2026

On Sunday, April 19, at 2:30 PM, the Northumberland County Historical Society in Heathsville was fortunate to present Dr. W. Emory Lewis, who discussed his experiences over 40 years of practicing family medicine in Northumberland County to a an appreciative audience. It was a great program and is available on the Northern Neck History channel on YouTube.

On Sunday, December 7, Susan Anthony-Tolbert presented "A Tale of Tea From Tea Rooms of the Early Twentieth Century" at ...
11/24/2025

On Sunday, December 7, Susan Anthony-Tolbert presented "A Tale of Tea From Tea Rooms of the Early Twentieth Century" at NCHS headquarters at 86 Back Street in Heathsville. Her presentation examined the social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of the advent of rural tea rooms in America in the 1920s and early 1930s, and introduced her newest publication, "Lady Mary Tea Room: A Tale of Tea."

The Northumberland County Historical Society held its annual fall meeting on Sunday, October 19, at 2:30 p.m. The full l...
10/08/2025

The Northumberland County Historical Society held its annual fall meeting on Sunday, October 19, at 2:30 p.m.

The full lecture, "Lafayette's Return to America," is available for viewing on the Northern Neck History Channel. All future programs and presentations at the Northumberland County Historical Society will be available on this venue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5dL3UgVdEs

Gregory Burkett gave an outstanding presentation about the return of the Marquis de Lafayette to America in 1824, when Lafayette was welcomed as a war hero amid huge celebrations.

Two eagerly awaited publications have arrived from the printer. We now have the 2024 edition, Vol. LXI, of the Bulletin ...
10/08/2025

Two eagerly awaited publications have arrived from the printer. We now have the 2024 edition, Vol. LXI, of the Bulletin of the Northumberland County Historical Society and Index No. 3 for The Northumberland County Historical Society Bulletin Volumes 2014 - 2023.

Thank you to those who joined us on Saturday, September 20, for the launch of Volunteer River Counties at the Heathsvill...
09/14/2025

Thank you to those who joined us on Saturday, September 20, for the launch of Volunteer River Counties at the Heathsville Farmers Market. As usual, we had many visitors at the Old Jail. Additionally, we had a large number of guests at the library and museum located at 86 Back Street for our open house, many of whom said they had never had the opportunity to visit us. Please visit us to use our facility or to talk about opportunities to volunteer at our facility. We have enjoyed serving the Northern Neck for over 60 years.

The Northumberland County Historical Society once again has the 17th-century maps by Mark Gearhart. They are available a...
09/14/2025

The Northumberland County Historical Society once again has the 17th-century maps by Mark Gearhart. They are available at the NCHS library for $100 each, or we can ship one to you for an additional $20 for postage. Ground advantage shipping includes tracking and insurance.

On Saturday, July 26, Heather Bedford, a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist and a member of the NNK Chapter of the Vi...
07/13/2025

On Saturday, July 26, Heather Bedford, a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist and a member of the NNK Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, presented "Healing Plants of the Northern Neck and the Healers that Used Them" to an enthusiastic audience at the meeting of the Northumberland County Historical Society in Heathsville. Her knowledge of the local plants with healing properties and the effective ways to use them is amazing. Thanks to Heather and all who attended the event.

The Northumberland County Historical Society presented its spring program on April 6 to an audience of about 100 people....
04/07/2025

The Northumberland County Historical Society presented its spring program on April 6 to an audience of about 100 people. Mark Gearhart presented the seventeenth-century map of Northumberland County that he recently created. The map shows the properties owned by the first patent holders, and provides the names of owners, acreage, and the patent date. The map also shows Indian settlements and trails.
Thirty pleased attendees purchased copies of the map. As of April 11, all maps had been sold. There is a possibility of reprinting the map in the future.

David Jett, a local artist and museum curator, made a very special presentation, “A Tea Box and a Revolver,” at the Nort...
11/20/2024

David Jett, a local artist and museum curator, made a very special presentation, “A Tea Box and a Revolver,” at the Northumberland County Historical Society at 86 Back Street in Heathsville on Sunday, December 8, at 2:30 PM. Jett previously worked at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton and the Mariners' Museum in Newport News before retiring as curator and exhibit designer at Richmond County Museum in Warsaw after 22 years. He is currently a curator at Essex County Museum in Tappahannock.

Jett presented two nineteenth-century Northumberland County artifacts to NCHS for its museum and related their unique stories. Both artifacts were previously the subject of articles published in The Bulletin of the Northumberland County Historical Society. “Thrice Told Tales,” published in the 1982 edition of The Bulletin, tells the story of a .44 caliber Re*****on revolver that Jett’s ancestor carried during the Civil War. The tea box was the subject of an article by G. E. Thomas published as “The Mystery of William J. Jenkins’s Tea Chest” in the 1992 edition of The Bulletin. The tea box is on display at NCHS. A suitable case for presenting the revolver is being prepared.

Address

86 Back Street
Heathsville, VA
22473

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+18045808581

Website

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