Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia
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Location
Richmond, Virginia
Neighborhood
Jackson Ward
Address
122 West Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23220
Current hours
Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; confirm before visiting
The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA) brings together exhibitions and programs about African American history and culture across the Commonwealth and beyond. Its Jackson Ward setting adds another layer to a visit: the museum occupies the historic Leigh Street Armory, a building closely connected with Black military, educational, and community life in Richmond.[1][2]
Come for the museum’s changing and permanent exhibitions, then take time to consider the armory itself and its place in Jackson Ward. The museum’s current visitor information lists Wednesday through Saturday hours, advance ticket purchasing, and guided-tour requests for groups, schools, and researchers; check the official site for the latest details before setting out.[3]
Plan a trip to Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia
Why visit the Black History Museum?
The museum offers a focused way to encounter stories of Black Virginians through objects, images, interpretation, and cultural programming. Its exhibitions address lives and experiences that are essential to understanding Virginia’s history, while rotating displays and events give visitors reasons to check what is on view before each visit.[4]
The museum is also a historic place in its own right. The Leigh Street Armory was built in 1894–95 by Black craftsmen and laborers for Virginia’s Black soldiers. Its later uses included a school for African American children, a recreation center for Black troops, and facilities connected with Richmond Public Schools.[5]
Start here
Begin with the exhibitions currently on view, since the museum features new exhibitions during the year. The official website highlights permanent displays and rotating exhibitions, alongside programs and events that may add talks, tours, or other activities to a visit.[6]
Then look beyond the galleries to the building and neighborhood. The armory’s successive roles—from military space to school and community facility—make the museum visit part of a broader exploration of Jackson Ward and Richmond, Virginia.[7]
What to see and do
Explore the exhibitions
See what is on view during your visit. The museum presents permanent displays as well as changing exhibitions, so check the official exhibitions page for current subjects and dates.
Look closely at the Leigh Street Armory
Consider the building’s history as an armory, school, recreation center, and museum. Its changing uses reflect layers of Black military, educational, and civic history in Richmond.
Discover stories of Black Virginians
The museum’s collections and interpretation focus on African American history and culture in Virginia and beyond, bringing together objects and narratives that span different communities and eras.
Check the events calendar
Talks, community programs, and special events can deepen a visit. Confirm the schedule and any registration requirements with the museum before you go.
Request a guided tour
The museum accepts guided-tour requests for schools, private groups, and researchers. Contact the museum in advance to discuss availability and the focus of your visit.
History and significance
The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia was founded in 1981 by Carroll Anderson Sr. It opened to the public in 1991 at a location on Clay Street and later moved to the Leigh Street Armory, opening in its present home in 2016.[8]
The armory’s history predates the museum. Built in 1894–95 by Black craftsmen and laborers, it provided Virginia’s Black soldiers with a dedicated armory. The city converted it into a school for African American children in 1899; later it served as a recreation center for Black troops during World War II and as school facilities. Its preservation and reuse give the museum a setting that connects its exhibits with the history of the surrounding neighborhood.[9]
The museum’s work also includes collaboration with other Virginia institutions. A 2019 partnership announcement with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture described shared collections and resources intended to support research, programs, exhibitions, and broader public access to collections.[10]
Planning a visit
The museum is at 122 West Leigh Street in Richmond’s Jackson Ward. The official site currently lists public hours as Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and closure Sunday through Tuesday and holidays. Hours, holiday schedules, admission, and exhibition dates can change, so confirm current information and ticket options directly with the museum before traveling.[11]
Allow time to see the galleries and notice the building’s historic features. Visitors planning a group, school, or research visit can use the museum’s official tour-request process; advance contact is advisable. For current exhibitions, programs, accessibility information, and any visit updates, consult the museum’s official website.[12]
Nearby attractions
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
Explore the home and legacy of Richmond educator, business leader, and civil rights activist Maggie L. Walker in Jackson Ward.
Virginia Museum of History & Culture
A statewide history museum in Richmond, with collections and interpretation spanning Virginia’s past.
American Civil War Museum
Explore the Civil War and its legacies through collections and perspectives at the museum’s Richmond site.
Richmond
Use the city guide to plan a wider visit around Richmond’s neighborhoods, museums, historic sites, and cultural attractions.
Travel books and maps: Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon
References
- ↑ Homepage – Black History Museum, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Visit Richmond. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ Homepage – Black History Museum, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ Homepage – Black History Museum, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Visit Richmond. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ Homepage – Black History Museum, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Visit Richmond. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ Virginia Museum of History & Culture and the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia Partner to Tell an Inclusive Story of Virginia, Virginia Museum of History & Culture, October 15, 2019. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Visit Richmond. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ Virginia Museum of History & Culture and the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia Partner to Tell an Inclusive Story of Virginia, Virginia Museum of History & Culture, October 15, 2019. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ Homepage – Black History Museum, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ Homepage – Black History Museum, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-24.