Free Summer Fun with Virginia Beach History Museums

There are some FREE Summer Events coming up on Thursdays from Virginia Beach History Museums. All listed programs take place at Thoroughgood House: 1636 Parish Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. Advanced registration is encouraged but walkups are welcome. Note: All 2025 Focus Tours are FREE and appropriate for all ages. Suggested donation is $5 per person. 

July 17, 2025 from 5:30 – 7pm – I Scream! You Scream! We All Scream For…History? The History of Ice Cream
Come to the Thoroughgood House for an extra sweet history tour! In celebration of national ice cream month, tours will focus on the history of ice cream, from its origins in the early centuries, historical flavors, connections to European royalty, Virginia and more! During tours, free ice cream treats will also be available for guests to enjoy.

July 24, 2025 from 5:30 – 7pm – Colonial Espionage: Secrets, Spies, and Ciphers
Someone’s keeping secrets in Hampton Roads! Immerse yourself in ciphers and codes as you learn about some of the key figures and the various ways important information was passed by both sides during the Revolutionary War. Make your own coding device to keep your secrets safe.

July 31, 2025 from 5:30 – 7pm – Indigenous Pathways 
Step back in time to before the Thoroughgood family lived in Virginia Beach. Prior to English contact at Jamestown in 1607, the Woodland Indians thrived in what is now modern-day Virginia. Come out and learn about Virginia’s Indigenous Peoples, including their environment, customs and history. You can also handcraft your own pinch pot, which are traditional Native American clay pottery pieces.

August 7, 2025 from 5:30 – 7pm – Colonial Clue: VA 250th Edition
A crime has been committed! A body was found at the Thoroughgood House. It’s up to you to travel through the house and interrogate suspects to figure out Who did it, Where it occurred, and with what Weapon. Come celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution by solving this mystery. Those who correctly deduce the solution will win a prize.

August 14, 2025 from 5:30-7pm – Game Night!
Explore the games that both adults and children historically enjoyed, beginning with Native Americans and going through the Colonial years in Virginia. We will discuss the love of gambling on everything from horses to cards, as well as the evolution of billiards. The tour will also highlight games that kept children entertained both indoors and outdoors. Guests will have a chance to try their hand at some of the more popular pastimes! FREE prizes will also be available.

August 21, 2025 from 5:30 – 7pm – Pirates and Piracy
Join the Virginia Beach History Museums for a swashbuckling adventure through the history of pirates and piracy! Tours will highlight the history of Dutch, English, Spanish and French pirates, and their involvement with the Virginia Colony and early America, during the “golden age” of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Thoroughgood House will also have a scavenger hunt for you to plunder your own pirate “booty.”

August 28, 2025 from 5:30 – 7pm – Colonial Espionage
Someone’s keeping secrets in Hampton Roads! Immerse yourself in ciphers and codes as you learn about some of the key figures and the various ways important information was passed by both sides during the Revolutionary War. Make your own coding device to keep your secrets safe.

September 4, 2025 from 5:30 – 7pm – Art of Dyeing
Take a look at the natural fibers used to make material in the past. We will explore the differences between the fabrics, and how the colonists used them. We will highlight the process and natural items used to create the colorful dyes of the past, and guests will be able to try dyeing themselves!

Click HERE for additional information and to register: Summer Programming at Virginia Beach History Museums.

RELATED LINKS:

• Looking for a List of Local Museums and Historical Locations to explore in Hampton Roads? Click Here.
• Looking for Discounts to Local Museums? Click Here.
• Interested in the Current Exhibits at Local Museums? Click Here.