Updated in October 2026, this Virginia Museum of History and Culture guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC) is the state’s history museum, next to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond‘s Museum District. An adult ticket costs $15, and parking costs $5 for four hours. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current admission prices, the daily opening hours and the free gallery admission on First Fridays.
Quick facts: the Virginia Museum of History and Culture
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily, 10am to 5pm. Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. |
| Ticket prices | Adult $15. Senior, educator, student, military and veteran $13. Youth (6 to 17) $10. Under 6 free. |
| Address | 428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Paid parking lot behind the museum: $5 for four hours. Open 24/7. |
| Typical time needed | About 2 to 3 hours |
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture opening hours
The galleries, café and museum store are open daily from 10am to 5pm. The museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The hours are the same all year, and there are no seasonal changes.
On First Fridays, from 5pm to 8pm, gallery admission is free, with live music and food trucks. The Research Library is open Monday to Friday and on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, from 10am to 5pm. Library access is free for researchers.
5 top experiences to book in Richmond
- 🏛️ Dive into the city’s rich history on a guided Downtown Richmond walking tour.
- 🥾 Take a guided hike along the James River.
- 👻 Learn the sinister secrets of Shockoe Bottom on a walking ghost tour.
- 🍺 On a haunted pub crawl, combine beers with ghost stories.
- 🍴 Taste Richmond’s best flavours on an Arts District food tour.
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture ticket prices
An adult ticket to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture costs $15. The museum film, “Imagine Virginia”, is included with admission.
- Adults: $15.
- Seniors (65 and over), educators, students, active military and veterans: $13.
- Youth (6 to 17): $10.
- Children 5 and under: free.
- Adult groups (10 or more): $13 per person.
- Members and student groups: free.
- EBT/SNAP cardholders: free, with the card at Guest Services.
- Parking: $5 for four hours, then $1 each hour. Free for members.
Tickets can be bought online or at the museum. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
How to get to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture
The museum is at 428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard, at the corner of Kensington Avenue, in Richmond’s Museum District. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is next door.
- By car: take exit 78 from I-95 or I-64 to N Arthur Ashe Boulevard. The museum is on the Boulevard, and the parking entrance is from Kensington Avenue.
- By bus: the closest GRTC stop to the Museum District is on Grove Avenue, served by route 77. Check the GRTC website for current routes.
- On foot: the museum is within walking distance of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Science Museum of Virginia is under a mile away.
Parking at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture
Paid parking is available behind the museum. One entrance is from Kensington Avenue. Another entrance is opposite the VMFA parking garage, from N Sheppard Street or Stuart Avenue.
Parking costs $5 for four hours and $1 each hour after that. It is always free for members. The lot is open 24 hours a day, and parking is at your own risk.
Members scan their membership card to enter. Anyone else takes a ticket from the machine at the entrance. Press the call button if you have trouble leaving.
How long to spend at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture
Plan about 2 to 3 hours for the main galleries. The Story of Virginia exhibition alone needs time and attention. Allow longer for the film, a meal at the café or the Research Library.
The Imagine Virginia film lasts 17 minutes and shows every 20 minutes during opening hours. It needs no reservation.
Accessibility at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture
The building is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Wheelchairs and other manually operated mobility devices are available.
The museum holds a VisitAble Advocate Certification and is designated an Autism Friendly Community. Noise-cancelling headphones and fidget toys can be borrowed free from Guest Services, with a form of ID.
A Return Visit Voucher is available if a visitor finds the museum overwhelming and leaves within 30 minutes of entering. A pre-visit social story and a gallery guide are online.
What to see at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture
The museum is the only museum with all of Virginia’s history under one roof. Its collection holds more than 9 million items representing 16,000 years of human history in Virginia.
Begin in the Lettie Pate Evans Orientation Theater with Imagine Virginia. The 17-minute film uses voices, imagery, music and theatrical effects to show how natural and social forces shaped the Commonwealth.
The Story of Virginia is the signature permanent exhibition. It covers 16,000 years of history, from the earliest Native American inhabitants to the present day, and holds more than 500 artefacts. They include paintings, clothing, diaries and maps, and John Marshall’s judicial robe.
Our Commonwealth explores the landscapes, foodways, industries and cultural diversity of Virginia’s five regions. The Landscapes of Virginia gallery has a projection wall of Virginia scenery.
Partners in History is a collaboration with the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. It includes objects such as civil rights attorney Oliver Hill’s desk.
The central building, known as Battle Abbey, was built in 1913. Its Mural Gallery holds murals painted by Charles Hoffbauer. The museum has since expanded its galleries.
The Commonwealth Café is a collaboration with Stella’s Grocery. It serves sandwiches, salads, entrées and baked goods, indoors or on the patio. The Museum Store sells books, gourmet goods, home decor, toys and apparel.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Start with the Imagine Virginia film, which runs every 20 minutes. |
| Crowds | First Fridays, from 5pm to 8pm, have free gallery admission and live music, so expect larger crowds. |
| Layout | The museum has about a dozen galleries. Pick up the Gallery Guide online before you visit. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets online or at Guest Services. EBT/SNAP holders show their card for free entry. |
| On-site logistics | Parking is $5 for four hours behind the museum. The café, store and galleries all open at 10am. |
Frequently asked questions about the Virginia Museum of History and Culture
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost to visit the Virginia Museum of History and Culture? | $15 for adults. Seniors, students, educators, military and veterans pay $13, and youth (6 to 17) pay $10. |
| Is the Virginia Museum of History and Culture suitable for children? | Yes. Children 5 and under are free, and the museum has interactive galleries and the Imagine Virginia film. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Virginia Museum of History and Culture? | No. Tickets can be bought online or at the museum. |
| Is the Virginia Museum of History and Culture open on Sundays? | Yes. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, apart from three holidays. |
| Is parking free at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture? | Only for members. Other visitors pay $5 for four hours, then $1 an hour. |
Things to do near the Virginia Museum of History and Culture
- The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: a free art museum with more than 50,000 works, next door in the same block.
- The Science Museum of Virginia: a hands-on science museum in the historic Broad Street Station, under a mile and about 3 minutes’ drive away.
- The Poe Museum: a museum of Edgar Allan Poe’s life in the Old Stone House in Shockoe Bottom, about 10 minutes’ drive away.
- The John Marshall House: the Chief Justice’s 1790 home at 818 East Marshall Street, about 10 minutes’ drive away.
- The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar: a museum on the former Tredegar Iron Works site by the James River, about 10 minutes’ drive away.
Alternative attractions
- Virginia House: the museum’s sister property in Richmond, used for meetings, ceremonies and other events.
- Maymont: a historic Richmond estate with a mansion, gardens and wildlife.
- The Valentine: a Richmond history museum in the Court End district.
- Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia: a museum in Jackson Ward, Richmond, and a partner in the Partners in History exhibition.
- Virginia State Capitol: the state capitol in Richmond’s Capitol Square.
More Virginia travel
Other Virginia travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to know before visiting the White House of the Confederacy in Richmond.
- Plan your visit to the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.
- Guide to Sherwood Forest – President John Tyler’s plantation.
- Discovering presidents and the first Thanksgiving at Berkeley Plantation.
- A practical visitor guide to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Chantilly.
