Avoca Museums & Historical Society

05/21/2026

Join us for this one-time special event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary! 🇺🇸🎇

Set against the historic grounds of Avoca Museum, Avoca 250: Lights, Liberty & Legends is a four-day community celebration honoring 250 years of American history, heritage, and spirit.

Can't wait to see you there!

www.avocamuseum.org/avoca-250

05/15/2026

History in Action returns tomorrow at 11 am with a hands-on introduction to metal detecting at Avoca Museum! 🔎

Bring your own metal detector if you have one and enjoy exploring the grounds while learning more about local history and artifact hunting. This educational event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

🕚 Tomorrow | 11 AM
📍 1514 Main Street, Altavista, VA

05/13/2026

What a beautiful Mother’s Day Tea at Avoca 💐🫖

With more than 300 guests joining us on the grounds, this year’s event was filled with so many meaningful moments shared between mothers, daughters, grandmothers, family, and friends. The tables stayed full, conversations carried across the lawn, and it was such a joy to see everyone enjoying the afternoon together.

We are especially grateful for our incredible volunteers who made this event possible. From preparing and serving food, working tirelessly in the kitchen, greeting guests, setting tables, and helping throughout the afternoon, your generosity and hard work created such a warm and welcoming experience for our community. Events like this simply would not happen without you.

It was truly a wonderful day to remember 🤍

05/08/2026

Join us for one of Avoca’s sweetest spring traditions 🌸☕️

Mother’s Day Tea at Avoca is almost here, and we cannot wait to welcome guests for an afternoon filled with tea, flowers, shopping, and special time together on the historic grounds.

Mars K**b Farm
Handmade By Selena B
Bev Flynn
Lake Life Lavender & Herb
OwlsHoot and Co
Burg Blooms LLC
Bling It Together With Amy
Gutierrez Woodworking
His Hands Flowers

Not attending the tea? You are still invited to stop by and enjoy the grounds and vendors. The outdoor vendor area will be open to the public with no ticket required!

☕️ May 10th | 1-4 pm
☕️ 1514 Main Street, Altavista VA 24517
☕️ Limited amount of outdoor seating available for walk-ins
☕️ Reservations & Waitlist ➡️ www.avocamuseum.org/mothers-day-tea

Gather your friends and family and make plans to celebrate 💕

05/06/2026

Saddle up, Avoca 🐎🌹 what a day!

Derby Day at Avoca was full of Southern charm, great style, and so many fun moments. From live jazz to the excitement of the big race, it was an event to remember. The hats were incredible, the outfits did not disappoint, and the bourbon was flowing all evening.

We loved seeing so many of you capturing memories, laughing with friends, and fully leaning into the Derby spirit.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it so special! And shout out to these awesome vendors!

Flat Five Jazz
Val's Comfort Kitchen
Burg Blooms LLC

04/30/2026

The Avoca Museum is grateful to Liberty University and LU Serve students for their hard work and dedication to preserving an important part of our community’s history. Through their service, students repaired fencing and created a new pathway at the Avoca Enslaved Cemetery, helping to protect and improve access to this sacred and historic site. An additional huge thanks to Capps Home Building Center in Altavista for providing the split rails for repairs to the fence.

Located just across the road from Avoca, the cemetery is the final resting place of many enslaved men and women who lived and labored on this land and nearby plantations from the late 18th century through the Civil War. Marked by simple fieldstones, this quiet space stands as a powerful reminder of lives that shaped our region’s history.

We are honored by the care these students have shown in helping preserve this place of remembrance, reflection, and respect for future generations. Thank you for making a meaningful and lasting impact.

04/24/2026

04/22/2026

Mother’s Day Tea at Avoca is here 🫖💐

Join us for a beautiful afternoon of tea, flowers, and time together on the grounds of Avoca. This is one of our most special spring events, and reservations are strongly encouraged to ensure your spot at the table.

For the first time, we’ll also have a small group of select vendors joining us. Shop, stroll, and even create your own bouquet for a relaxed and meaningful celebration.

Not joining the tea? You’re still invited! The grounds and vendors will be open to the public to enjoy the day no ticket required.

☕️ May 10th | 1-4 pm
☕️ 1514 Main Street, Altavista VA 24517
☕️ Reservations ➡️ www.avocamuseum.org/mothers-day-tea

Gather your friends and family and make plans to celebrate 💕

04/17/2026

Have you ever held a piece of local history in your hands? Join us tomorrow morning at Avoca Museum at 11 am for a hands-on, engaging archaeology lecture and experience the excitement of uncovering local history for yourself! 🔍

Today we’re highlighting this glass prescription bottle, offering a glimpse into Altavista’s past. The label reads “Clanton’s Drug Store,” a downtown business opened in 1910 by the Clanton brothers, pharmacists from the Danville area. Located on Broad Street, the shop served Altavista residents for more than 50 years. Do you have any memories of Clanton’s? We’d love to hear them in the comments!

This bottle was manufactured by the Brockway Glass Company sometime after 1925. One of the key skills in archaeology is learning how to read and interpret maker’s marks like those found on the base, which reveal details such as model number, factory ID, and capacity, along with the Brockway maker’s mark.