Music on the Lawn – “Harken Back String Band”
2025-05-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Magnolia Grange House Museum, 10020 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Step back into the 19th century for some musical fun as the Harken Back String Band performs parlor songs, hymns and gospel music. The band is an educational ensemble of musicians and singers that perform regularly throughout central Virginia. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for an enjoyable afternoon of hand clapping, foot stomping, old-time music.

Yarn Doll Day
2025-05-24 11:00 - 13:00 | Chesterfield Museum – Lobby, 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
A perfect family activity during the long Memorial Day weekend, come learn how to make an old-fashioned yarn doll (and take it home!) during this craft workshop. See dolls handmake from corn husks, corn cobs, nuts, pine tags, wooden spools, and paper. All ages welcome!

Memorial Day event
2025-05-26 14:00 - 17:00 | Chesterfield County Fair Grounds, 10300 Courthouse Rd, CHESTERFIELD, VA, 23832, United States
Chesterfield County and the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia invite the public to attend the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 26. The ceremony will once again be held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Building Exhibition Hall at the County Fairgrounds (10300 Courthouse Road) and the theme of this year’s event is “Chesterfield County Remembers Our Fallen Heroes.”

The Revolutionary War Battle of Petersburg
2025-05-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Magnolia Grange House Museum, 10020 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
The upcoming America250 celebration in 2026 is fast approaching. The Revolutionary War came to the Petersburg area in April of 1781 and featured well-known historic figures from the British and Colonial armies. Local historian H. Edward “Chip” Mann will explain what transpired and the impact of the battle on the eventual surrender at Yorktown. Please register one week in advance.

The History of the American Flag
2025-06-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Magnolia Grange House Museum, 10020 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Flag Day is celebrated on June 14, and yet how many Americans know the evolutionary story of the present-day representation of the flag? This PowerPoint presentation by Martha Atkinson will fill in some of the history and participants will be given the opportunity to design and create a flag of their own. Please register one week in advance.

The Early History of Richmond National Battlefield Park
2025-06-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Chesterfield Museum – Lobby, 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Bob Talbot, longtime volunteer historical interpreter for Richmond National Battlefield Park, will explain the fascinating history of how in the 1920’s to 1940’s, the local Richmond community and surrounding areas came together to create what would one day become Richmond National Battlefield Park. This lecture will feature unique early park photographs, displays and other memorabilia related to the early days of the park.

The Olympics Through the Ages
2025-06-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Magnolia Grange House Museum, 10020 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Long before the Super Bowl or the World Series, the Olympic Games were played and celebrated in Ancient Greece. Louisa Mitchie will present a power-point program that will explore how the Olympics came to be, it’s modern inception and the changes the games have undergone along the way. Interesting facts about the sporting events will be shared.

Lord Chesterfield: Our County's Namesake
2025-06-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Chesterfield Museum – Lobby, 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
During this insightful presentation discover the life and legacy of the Right and Honorable Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, portrayed by historical interpreter Mr. George Borden.
Lord Chesterfield was designated with the honor of Knight of the Garter, a member of the Privy Council, and noted 18th century British aristocrat, statesman, diplomat, and a man of letters. In May 1749, the newly created Chesterfield County in the colony of Virginia was named in his honor.

Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence
2025-07-05 12:00 - 13:00 | VA
Thomas Jefferson is often referred to as “the pen of the Revolution” for writing the Declaration of Independence. Of all his accomplishments, most Americans today associate Jefferson first and foremost as the author of our nation’s founding document. However, at the time, Jefferson himself was displeased with the final draft of the Declaration that the Continental Congress approved and distanced himself from his own work. Historical interpreter Marc Holma will portray Mr. Jefferson and will discuss the authorship of the Declaration of Independence and how it came about.

Historic Toys and Games
2025-07-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Chesterfield Museum – Lobby, 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Both young and old are welcomed to have fun and learn about traditional children’s playthings such as Jacob’s ladder, knucklebones and quoits. Test your skill with the cup and ball, attempt to knock over all nine pins in a game of “skittles” and find out why the tenth pin was added to become the forerunner of our bowling game today. No batteries required.

CHSV Regular Board Meeting
2025-07-14 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-09-08 17:30 - 19:30 | Trinity Church Building, 10111 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States

History of Ice Cream and Ice Cream Social
2025-07-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Magnolia Grange House Museum, 10020 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Celebrate National Ice Cream Month this July with a delectable treat.
Enjoy making your own sundaes while hearing interesting facts about ice cream. Do you know in what country the earliest evidence of ice cream making was found? Do you know what is the most important ingredient for ice making? These answers and more will be revealed at the event.

Orville Wright Remembers
2025-07-26 11:00 - 12:00 | Chesterfield Museum – Lobby, 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Orville Wright grew up in Dayton, Ohio and he became the first person to fly a motorized airplane. Join Steve Hawkins, historical interpreter as he portrays Orville Wright and will share details of Orville’s life and recall the memories of his childhood, his successes, and failures in developing the first airplane and his thoughts about the future of aviation and where it might be headed. It will be an experience that you will never forget.

Quarterly Meeting
2025-07-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Yellow House, 3001 W Hundred Rd, Chester, VA, 23831, United States
Please join us this Sunday, July 27th at 2:00 for our Annual Members Meeting to be held at the Yellow House, 3001 West Hundred Road (Route 10) in Chester, VA 23831
Bring a lawn chair as we will be sitting under the canopy of tall shady trees for the meeting. Ice cream will be served inside and a tour of the house.
The house is located between the YMCA and Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Look for our Event Signs directing you to the Graveled Driveway. We will have someone helping with parking on the lawn.

Museum Collection Day
2025-08-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Chesterfield Museum – Lobby, 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
With so many interesting artifacts spanning Chesterfield’s 276-year history in the County Museum’s collection, lots of artifacts have to be properly catalogued, accessioned and stored in a climate-controlled environment. Come see fascinating items in the collection from the “vault” of the museum and learn from pieces of history.

A History of the Village of Bon Air and the Christian Church
2025-08-09 12:00 - 13:00 | VA
The village of Bon Air was built as a resort community in the late 19th century for the well-to-do citizens of Richmond. This presentation will cover the development of the resort, the changes that have occurred since the story of Bon Air Christian Church. Chesterfield resident Sara Reese will conduct the presentation.

CHSV at County Fair
2025-08-22 17:00 - 22:00 | Chesterfield County Fair Grounds, 10300 Courthouse Rd, CHESTERFIELD, VA, 23832, United States
The Society will be at the opening night of the Chesterfield County Fair. Come visit us at the Arts and Crafts building from 5pm to 10pm.

Rationing in WW2: Everyday Changes and Challenges
2025-08-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Chesterfield Museum – Lobby, 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Presented by the Chesterfield Historical Society’s Henry Coalter, this lecture will cover the ways that the second World War affected the everyday lives of Virginians in small and big ways, including the clever workarounds found by some citizens and the odd moves like the issuing of paper license plates.

Symbols and Sentiment of Blandford Cemetery Part Three
2025-08-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Magnolia Grange House Museum, 10020 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Historic Blandford Cemetery, located in Petersburg, Virginia, is home to over three hundred years of history. Much of that history is preserved in the symbols, sentiment, statues, and sculptures featured throughout the grounds. Presented by Martha Atkinson, this third power-point program in the series will explore the ironwork throughout the cemetery and the Memorial Hill section of the burial grounds.

VA250 Mobile Museum
2025-08-27 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-28 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-29 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Mimms Loop parking lot, 6731 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
A hands-on, interactive, and immersive “museum on wheels,” the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience titled “Out of Many, One” is housed in a quad-expandable tractor trailer that is traveling throughout Virginia and beyond. The mobile museum brings key stories of Virginia’s rich history to schools, museums, local events, fairs, and more, highlighting every region of the state.

FLUMERI PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: Magnolia Grange
2025-08-30 18:00 - 2025-08-31 00:00 | Magnolia Grange House Museum, 10020 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
IS MAGNOLIA GRANGE HAUNTED?
According to local legend and numerous firsthand accounts, the answer is a chilling…..YES! Paranormal investigators, mediums, guests, and staff have all reported eerie happenings within the home. Witnesses frequently describe the apparition of a Victorian-era woman on the second-floor stair landing. Some have even mistaken her for a historical reenactor-only to discover she wasn’t part of the event! One visiting medium identified the spirit of a man in a black suit in the parlor, believed to be William Winfree himself, who met an untimely and violent death in Richmond in the 1840s.

VISIT MAGNOLIA GRANGE HOUSE MUSEUM
DISCOVER THE PAST
ENCOUNTER THE UNEXPLAINED

EVENT INCLUDES:

Paranormal Investigation
If weather permits, outdoor investigation as well
Snacks & Drinks
A historical overview of Magnolia Grange
If time permits, present data collected during the event
proceeds go to The Chesterfield Historical Society

The Story of Elizabeth Van Lew
2025-09-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Magnolia Grange House Museum, 10020 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
When Virginia secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy, Elizabeth Van Lew of Richmond is horrified. She risks everything to support the Union; her social standing, wealth and even life itself. She forms a powerful spy ring, known as the Richmond Underground, and she is credited with giving Union General U.S. Grant the most valuable information about Richmond that he received during the war. Libby McNamee, author of the newly published book “The Union Spymistress: The Story of Elizabeth Van Lew” will share incites about the life of this interesting historic character.

Courthouse Green Tour
2025-09-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Chesterfield Museum – Lobby, 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
During an outdoor walking tour of Chesterfield’s Historic Courthouse Green, learn about the historic buildings and monuments as well as the 210-year-old Nunnally Oak Tree. After the tour, participants are welcome to further explore the history of Chesterfield County at the County Museum and Old Jail.

“Valley Forge of the South” Chesterfield 250 sign dedication
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Castlewood Plantation, 10201 Ironbridge Road, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
Join Chesterfield County 250th Committee and Parks and Recreation for “Valley Forgeof the South,” a living history day at Historic Castlewood and the unveiling of the firstVirginia 250th signs in Chesterfield County!The land on which Castlewood rests was once a Continental Army Barracks from 1780to 1781, as the Revolutionary War came to the doorstep of Chesterfield County.Recommended by Governor Thomas Jefferson to be the hub for Virginia recruits, over1,000 Virginians passed through this parcel of land before heading off to fight for a newnation.The program will begin with the unveiling of the signs, followed by 18th-century livinghistory, and an exhibit on the history of the barracks inside Castlewood. Don’t miss thisunique experience—plan to attend and be part of history!

Spirit Chesterfield
2025-10-04 17:00 - 21:00 | Castlewood Plantation, 10201 Ironbridge Road, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
A Family Friendly Fall Fundraiser for the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia. Carnival Games and Vendors outside on Castlewood’s lawn with a Haunted History Tour inside Historic Castlewood (tours start at 5:30)

Book Sale Hosted by the CHSV Genealogy Committee
2025-10-11 10:00 - 16:00 | Trinity Church Building, 10111 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA, 23832, United States
The Genealogy Committee will be selling donated books (50¢ to $5) to benefit the repair of resource books. Cash and cards accepted!
Visit the research library to learn more about CHSV, Chesterfield history, and programs and events sponsored by the Society.
Call (804) 796-7152 for more information.
