The Arlington Historical Society joins the Virginia Museum of History & Culture for historic investment in Virginia history museums
As part of the celebration of America’s 250th, the Virginia History Affiliates program aims to strengthen history engagement in Virginia through connections and shared resources
Virginia Museum of History
Arlington, Va. — The Arlington Historical Society announces they have joined the newly launched Virginia History Affiliates program. Organized and funded by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC), the professional museum collective is designed to connect historical sites, history museums, and related organizations of all sizes from across the Commonwealth. The initial group of 24 affiliates will collaborate in four key areas: education and engagement; professional connection; collections and preservation; and sustainability.
“The Arlington Historical Society and hundreds of other history organizations are doing essential work in their communities throughout Virginia. Until the creation of Virginia History Affiliates, there has been little organized, collaborative effort to bring us together statewide,” said Jamie Bosket, president & CEO of the VMHC. “As we approach America’s 250th, we see an opportunity to create a lasting legacy by expanding our role as Virginia’s state history museum, and by investing—in a major and lasting way—in the outstanding local and regional history organizations like the Arlington Historical Society serving our Commonwealth.”
By building purposeful connections among institutions statewide, the Virginia History Affiliates program will expand access to robust educational tools and programming, strengthen professional connections among institutions, support broad collections stewardship and preservation work, and enable timely sustainability efforts. As the program grows, the cohort will be able to reciprocate by sharing opportunities with each other and with the VMHC.
“Participation in the Virginia History Affiliates program will significantly strengthen Arlington Historical Society’s capacity to serve as a leading voice in Arlington public history,” said Peter Vaselopulos, President, AHS. “By intentionally building an organized network of peer institutions, the VMHC is reducing isolation among small museums, improving resource equity, and encouraging cross-regional partnerships that reflect Virginia’s diverse geographic and cultural landscapes.”
Representing a multi-million-dollar, long-term commitment from the VMHC to strengthening history work happening throughout Virginia, the program is offered at no cost to participating organizations and aims to add more than 100 affiliates within just a few years. Specific benefits under development include the use of VMHC exhibitions and educational resources, professional convenings and gatherings, and support for collections consultation and sharing. Participating organizations will also have preferred pathways to hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants and project support, along with shared promotional opportunities.
The inaugural cohort of Virginia History Affiliates participants includes:
Tidewater
- Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society
- Gloucester County Museum of History
- Hampton History Museum
- Pamunkey Indian Museum & Cultural Center
Central Virginia
- Fredericksburg Area Museum
- Lynchburg Museum System
- Preservation Virginia
- Robert Russa Moton Museum
- The Valentine
- The Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Shenandoah Valley
- Clarke County Historical Society
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society
- Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
- Rockbridge Historical Society
Southwest Virginia
- Blue Ridge Institute & Museum
- Christiansburg Institute
- Harrison Museum of African American Culture
- Historic Smithfield
- Historical Society of Western Virginia
- Montgomery Museum of Art & History
Northern Virginia
- Arlington Historical Society
- Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center
- Manassas Museum
- Office of Historic Alexandria
The Virginia History Affiliates program is made possible through private support from numerous donors to the VMHC, including Dominion Energy and the Anne and Gene Worrell Foundation. Most recently, the VMHC received a major investment from the Anne Mullen Orrell Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee to form a permanent endowment supporting the program’s continued growth and success.
“We are thrilled to provide leadership support of this timely and far-reaching program,” said George Thorn, SVP, philanthropic client manager at Bank of America. “Investing in our local and regional history organizations has never been more important—they are the keepers of our story and key contributors in building strong communities.”
The VMHC, along with leaders from its inaugural affiliates, celebrated the program’s public launch on March 16, 2026, in Williamsburg.
“A legacy of America’s 200th anniversary in 1976 was the creation of nearly one-third of our country’s history organizations. Fifty years later, we aim to establish a new legacy, not by adding new institutions, but by connecting our existing and invaluable museums across the state for greater sustainability and vibrancy,” said Bosket.
