Welcome to the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society

Collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of our community!

COVID – 19 UPDATES

We Are Open To The Public!!

UPDATE 8/9/2021

The ACHS is now open to the public. Our hours are M-F, 8am to 4pm, and on Saturdays, 10am to 2pm.

For patrons who want to use the Research Library, we highly recommend that you make an appointment so that we can ensure we have the staff and/or volunteers available to pull research information and assist you while visiting with us.

To make an appointment, call 434-296-1492 or email us [email protected].

We value the health and safety of our library patrons, volunteers, staff, and the community at large. The following safety measures have been implemented to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.

SAFETY MEASURES

If you are experiencing COVID symptoms, feel ill, or have had a known exposure within the past 10 days, please do not visit us. Anyone who is feeling ill, been exposed, or has traveled to an area with higher infection rates should wait 10 days before visiting us.

In order to protect our library patrons, staff, and volunteers, we request that you follow these guidelines when visiting us:

Masks are required in any indoor space. We encourage you to bring your own, but we do have masks available by request.
Observe social distancing protocols while visiting with us.
Hand sanitizer is available in the lobby and in the research library. Our restroom is available and is stocked with soap and paper towels. You are encouraged to wash your hands frequently.

New cleaning protocols have been implemented to ensure that all highly-touched surfaces are cleaned and sanitized regularly. We are taking all necessary precautions to ensure a safe environment for our patrons.

PROGRAM UPDATES

Guided history walking tours are available year-round. Contact Sterling Howell at [email protected] or (434) 296-1492 to learn more and to schedule a tour.

All of our programs are still being held online. Check our calendar page for all upcoming online programs and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for additional information and to watch recordings of our programs!

Hold the Date!!

For the evening of Thursday,

October 21st

The Jefferson Madison Regional Library and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society will host an Opening Reception for the Celebrating 100 Years 1921-2021 exhibit installed at Central Library. Following the reception, The Paramount theatre will then host the premier of the new documentary feature film “Free and Open to the Public” directed by Lorenzo Dickerson, Maupintown Media.

History is not the past; it is the story we tell about the past.

Help us tell the story.

MEMBERSHIP

Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society members, if you have already renewed for 2021, thank you! Membership dues make up a large portion of our annual operating budget. Every membership counts! Please continue to support us!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN YOUR HISTORICAL SOCIETY

SUPPORT US

The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society is facing a number of challenges and needs your support to help #ACHSOpenOurDoors during the Covid-19 crisis.

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VISION

Our vision is to reimagine and reinvent the role of the historical society in the twenty-first century: to be a strong civic organization that embraces, in all that we do, the diversity of our community’s history and experience, and promotes a greater understanding of our past, to enlighten the present and foster an inclusive history for future generations.

MISSION

History is not the past; it is the story we tell about the past. Every person in Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville has a unique and powerful story to tell. Through collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of our community, we are committed to informing, inspiring, and bringing together all people, creating opportunities for new relationships and new understandings.

VALUES

Our work is grounded in a belief in the worth and dignity of every human being. We respect people, communities, and cultures. We value discovery, creativity, integrity, and diversity. We believe in the potential for history to enrich our lives and to create stronger relationships and more vibrant communities. We approach our work with integrity and transparency.