New exhibition honors key role Virginia played in forging the nation

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) is gearing up for a big year to honor the United States of America's 250th anniversary in 2026.

The story: The commemoration kicks off with a brand new exhibition — "Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation" — on view at the museum from March 22, 2025 through Jan. 4, 2026.

• Developed in partnership with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and VA250, Virginia's semiquincentennial planning commission, the groundbreaking exhibition will be the first of its kind to open in the nation.

Why it's important: The exhibition aims to remind visitors of the critical role Virginia played in forging the nation.

It explores the continental and global forces, as well as the actions of iconic figures like the Founding Fathers — including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry — and ordinary people who brought about a model of democratic government that changed the world.

• Visitors will learn about Clementina Rind, who courageously took over her husband's printing business and played a crucial role in disseminating vital early documents.
• The exhibition also sheds light on the story of Indigenous populations, recognizing that Virginia Tribes were not monolithic and that their loyalties were divided during the colonial era.

The idea: "'Give Me Liberty' isn't just about a single moment in time. Instead, it frames the decade leading up to the Declaration of Independence as a dynamic period of change and exploration," says Jamie O. Bosket, VMHC's president and CEO. "It also examines how the powerful ideas born in that era have continued to drive movements for social justice, including Civil Rights and women's suffrage."

What to expect: The exhibition is divided into five sections featuring a diverse array of significant artifacts, including key Revolutionary War documents such as Virginia's Declaration of Rights.

Visitors will get a detailed look at the lives of prominent revolutionary figures, and get up close and personal with symbolic objects like:

• "The Belt that Would Not Burn."
• The Liberty to Slaves frock.
• The letter opener Patrick Henry waved during his famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" speech.

• Iconic reproductions of Thomas Jefferson's writing desk and the House of Burgesses speaker's chair.

Traveling versions of the exhibition will be on display at libraries, community centers and schools across Virginia in 2025 and 2026.

Plus, plus, plus: VHMC is launching two exciting initiatives alongside the exhibition:

• "Virginia Explorer: The American Revolution in Virginia!" is a virtual tour experience that takes visitors on a journey around the Commonwealth to many sites that played key roles in the lead up to and during the Revolution.
• The Revolution Revisited podcast uncovers the stories of Virginia's rebels, rule-breakers and rabble-rousers who shaped a nation.

Take note: Access to "Give Me Liberty" is included with museum admission and is free for children ages five and under.

• Keep an eye on VHMC's website for more details on special events and lectures coinciding with the exhibition.

Plan your visit.