Virginia Repositories—Central Virginia

Fluvanna Historical Society
14 Stone Jail Street

Fluvanna Historical Society
Palmyra, Virginia

P.O. Box 8
Palmyra, VA 22963

Phone: 434-589-7910
Web: http://www.fluvannahistory.org
e-mail: fluvannahistory@gmail.com

Open: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1‒4 p.m. for archival research throughout the year.  However, we are always open to special appointments when necessary. We are closed during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Please call if you are coming from a distance to ensure an appointment and open times.

We are the Fluvanna Historical Society located on historic Court Square in Palmyra, Virginia, only 20 miles from Charlottesville and 35 miles from Richmond.

The Historical Society headquarters, lovingly called "Maggie's House" is located at 14 Stone Jail Street in Palmyra. Judith Mickelson, Executive Director, 434.589.7910

Be Prepared

Photography is allowed for the exterior of buildings, but not inside the Old Stone Jail Museum. We do allow photographs to be taken of archival material, but not to be published without historical society permission. We are happy to copy archival documents and photographs for you at a cost of 10 cents a copy. We accept e-mail requests for searches. Our Society is run with a staff of one, but with an excellent group of volunteers on a weekly basis.  

Collections

You will be amazed at the volume of archival material and artifacts we hold and preserve. We are trained in museum collections and archival collections and have an excellent reputation in the Historical Society world for maintaining a well-preserved and cared-for collection of documents, photographs, deeds, letters, etc. Many of our valued documents can go back to the 18th century. We continue to do outreach in the community and work with many groups to help them find the history they are researching.

Holdings and Publications for Sale

Our library is stocked with local history. We publish each year, and provide each member with a copy of the latest publication. To date, we have published 86 "bulletins" relating to aspects of Fluvanna history, beginning with the history in 1777. Look on our website, http://www.fluvannahistory.org on the bookstore link to see the number of books we have published at our society.

Services

The Fluvanna County Courthouse is next door to the Society and has hours of 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily for court records searches. Our archivists will research your inquiry within our collection as well as at the courthouse, for a small donation.

Museums

The Old Stone Jail Museum, built in 1828, and the Holland Page Place log cabin, built in 1865, are the two museums we operate in the county of Fluvanna. We are open by appointment throughout the year and open Wednesdays and Sundays from June to September. We will be happy to plan a tour for your school or history group or for a small group of individuals of any ages. Our guides are trained to interpret the vast history of this small county, which was established by Thomas Jefferson in 1777. Many of our historic homes are located along the Rivanna and the James Rivers. Admission by donation.

Old Stone Jail Museum

The Old Stone Jail Museum is a beguiling design by General John Hartwell Cocke, and houses 5 rooms (3 are jail cells) with special topics for each space.  The Holland Page Place is a restored 1865 log cabin with the interpretation focused on an agrarian life in the period following the Civil War. Both museums are charming and provide a true picture into the past of Fluvanna County.

Our “home” is a warm, inviting place to research and to learn more about the rich history of Fluvanna and its people.  We invite you to join us in membership (now over 550 members) and to support our local history.

Virginia Repositories—Central Virginia