The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia held its first meeting on September 23, 1981, at the Central Library with 258 charter members. A private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization funded with membership dues and tax-deductible donations, the Society mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and promote Chesterfield County’s unique past for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations. Historic Trinity Church (1887), located at 10111 Iron Bridge Road, serves as the organization headquarters and research library. In addition, the Society maintains collections in the County Museum and 1892 Old Jail on the historic 1917 Courthouse Green, as well as in Magnolia Grange(1822), a house museum on Iron Bridge Road. The Society also helps maintain eight battlefields. Our events and programs calendar includes lectures, genealogy workshops, rotating exhibits, battlefield tours, themed fundraisers, public speaking engagements, and programs for educational outreach, home schools and scouting. Chesterfield County Facts
Preserving Chesterfield County History...
2022 Magnolia Grange Bicentennial Celebration Began on Saturday, May 21 with the “Mayfaire” Festival. Magnolia Grange, our historic house museum on Iron Bridge Road in Chesterfield, celebrated its 200th anniversary throughout 2022. Treat yourself to a visit to our house mueum if you have not been there. Visit Magnolia Grange
The Site menu is shown above in the shape of a "Hamburger"
History of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia
Chartered on September 23, 1981, to meet the growing demand for genealogical and historical research, the Society traces its origins to a Museum Society, organized in 1961, responsible for the first County Museum which opened in 1980. The original CHSV office was located in the historic Historic 1892 Jail, granted for use by the Society in May 1982. CHSV moved into the 1917 Chesterfield County Courthouse in 1990 where it operated a small research library and opened its first Museum Gift Shop. In 1998, the Society head office and research library were relocated to historic Castlewood (1817) on the corner of Iron Bridge Road and Krause Road in Chesterfield. The restoration of this structure started in 2013. Currently, the CHSV office and research library are housed in Historic Trinity Church (1887) located one block west on Iron Bridge Road.
In addition to its operations at Trinity Church, the Museum, the Historic 1892 Jail and Magnolia Grange, the Society also helps maintain the preservation of eight Civil War battlefields, an integral part of the 1864-65 Bermuda Hundred Campaign. We are a volunteer organization governed by approved by-laws and all volunteer Board of Directors that provides leadership to CHSV committees to develop educational and fundraising programs and conduct research. The Society offers more than 60 events and programs each year which attracts around 10,000 patrons including 1,000 school children. Our Events Calendar includes an annual winter lecture series, genealogy workshops, rotating exhibits, tours of Civil War sites, paranormal investigations, elegant themed teas served with bone china and finger sandwiches, summer camps for kids and much more.
The African American History Committee is the only group in Chesterfield County devoted to researching African-American history. Your generous tax deductible donation will help fund the ongoing work of this committee and will be greatly appreciated.
Vistit the Sherfiff's Office Exhibit: Go Here for details Civil War Tours: Go Here for details Scout Programs: Go Here for details