Rockbridge Historical Society is one of the oldest, largest, and most active, county historical societies in Virginia. Founded in 1939 by local citizens concerned about historic preservation and history education, the Society celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2009. It is a Virginia non-stock, 501 (c) (3) charitable corporation.
| Attention visitors: Campbell House will be closed to the public during February 2010. It will reopen March 3. |
The Society's core missions include local history education and historic preservation advocacy. It also owns a half-square block of downtown historic Lexington, including three magnificent historic buildings, exquisite gardens, and extensive grounds, for which it has sole stewardship responsibility. These properties are the gateway to downtown Lexington. The building dates are 1845, the early 1840’s, and 1778.
The organization also collects historic furniture, artifacts, photographs, maps, and a wide variety of other documents; operates a free museum, conducts six free bi-monthly public programs at which leading scholars lecture on local history, produces a regular bi-monthly newsletter, and periodically publishes the RHS Proceedings, which preserve our history lectures in book form.
The Society’s reference library and exhibition space at Campbell House are open to the public free of charge, and our docents can provide assistance with local genealogical or historical research. Likewise the RHS gardens and picnic grounds are open to the public at no cost.
Major Society events include a Traditional Crafts Festival in mid-October, and a Victorian Christmas Open House. Both are free. |
