Welcome to the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society

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

COVID – 19 UPDATES

UPDATE 2/5/2021

The ACHS is closed except for by-appointment use of the Research Library. We are offering hours M-F, 8am to 4pm, and on Saturdays, 10am to 2pm. 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. We are living through unique times but are dedicated to opening our museum and programs to the public as soon as we can safely do so. Thank you for your interest and support of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. We wish everyone well and look forward to seeing you at the research library or at one of our online virtual online programs! Check out our Calendar page for program schedule.

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. While visitation is allowed by appointment only, 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 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!

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.