Museum and Jail
Chesterfield Museum and the Historic 1892 Jail
"THE CHESTERFIELD MUSEUM"
No entry fee, donations welcome. A replica of the first Chesterfield County courthouse of 1749, the County Museum brick design was selected in 1976 as the American Bicentennial project for the county. It opened on the Fourth of July, 1980. The original courthouse bell dating from 1749 was placed on permanent display in the County Museum in 2017. The Museum contains three galleries that exhibits artifacts of early Chesterfield County and each artifact tells a story of Chesterfield County or its people.
The Story of Chesterfield County depicts the history of the area between the James and Appomattox Rivers from the era of Pre-Contact through today. The General Store is a reproduction of a typical Chesterfield country store at the turn of the 20th Century that served as the hub of the county’s rural community. The Rotating Exhibit gallery displays temporary exhibits featuring commemorations specific to Chesterfield County's rich history. All schools are welcome and are invited to share an excited walk back in time. Our museum tours will enlighten school children on the county's historical and fascinating history.
Programs and Events
The HISTORIC 1892 JAIL
Tours of the Historic 1892 Jail start at the County Museum.
Adjacent to the County Museum, the Historic 1892 Jail is commonly referred to as the “Old Jail.” A two-story granite and brick building, it served as the county prison until 1962. During the 1940's, the jail also served as Police headquarters and housed the county communications center. In 1982, it was designated a museum and made available to the Chesterfield Historical Society of VA as its first head office location. Upstairs, original iron-barred cells still enclose metal bunks, and graffiti. Downstairs, the space is used for temporary exhibits. The front porch features a stone step preserved from the first Chesterfield County courthouse of 1749. Stepping on that front step is like stepping into history! The jail’s first floor features the exhibit The Old Jails of Chesterfield County, that describes the old jails, escape attempts, trials and punishments of long ago.