Institutional History Museum and Galleries at Washington and Lee University

08/28/2026

On Tuesday, the IHMG team welcomed fellow staff and faculty for a special tour of the Chapel as a part of the campus' annual Fall Academy program series. For many, it was their first visit, and we're grateful for their support and conversation.

08/27/2026

Still unpacking from your move back to campus? What essentials did you bring along that generations of Generals before you also packed?

08/24/2026

From the University Chapel's stage and throughout the Auditorium, visitors can take a moment to appreciate a new view, seeing the historic space from the perspective of past students, faculty, visitors, and speakers.

08/24/2026

Enjoy this recent post from our colleagues at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. The office used by Lee while president of Washington College is located within the University Chapel and Galleries.

This week, the Chapel will be open Thursday through Saturday, 10am until 5pm.

On August 24, 1865, just four months after his surrender at Appomattox Court House, Robert E. Lee accepted an offer to serve as president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. At the time, the college was virtually bankrupt and had few students. Lee’s task was to stabilize the school’s finances and set it on a course for growth, ensuring educational opportunities for Virginia’s youth.

In post-Civil War Virginia, Lee’s name was a factor in attracting students, new faculty and funding; the school, its endowment and scholarships all grew during his tenure. Lee, the soldier turned civilian, revised the honor code and instituted a curriculum based on math, science and applied arts, while most colleges at the time offered a curriculum based on the classics and classical languages. Lee understood that the post-Civil War South needed engineers, bankers and agricultural experts to rebuild its shattered economy.

Within a few years, Washington College had one of the largest student bodies of any university in Virginia. Lee's life after Appomattox ended on October 12, 1870 when he died in the campus President’s House. Upon his death, the college decided to change its name to Washington and Lee. He is entombed in the university's chapel along with many members of the Lee family.

For more on Robert E. Lee's life and legacy, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/arho/learn/historyculture/robert-lee.htm


Image: Robert E. Lee while serving as president of Washington College. Photograph, circa late 1860's. He is seated and wears a black civilian suit. (Library of Congress).

08/22/2026

At the University Chapel, the Statuary Chamber and Lee Family Mausoleum both focus on the Chapel's 1880s addition while also tying in information regarding college president Robert E. Lee's burial and funeral.

In the Statuary Chamber, visitors can view and learn more about the "Recumbent Lee" statue. At the Mausoleum, visitors can explore the biographies of each of the 22 Lee family members interred there.

08/21/2026

President Lee’s Office, a period room within the University Chapel, examines Robert E. Lee’s decision to become president of Washington College, as well as his impact on the school, prompting visitors to reflect on this decision and what artifacts in his office can reveal.

08/20/2026

The "Setting the Stage" exhibition features artwork previously displayed on the Chapel’s stage, allowing visitors to reflect on subjects, artists, and curatorial practices. Hands-on activities explore museum practices, including exhibition design, curation, collections management, and conservation.

08/19/2026

The University Chapel’s largest gallery traces the “Foundations and Frameworks” of the Chapel’s long history. Guided by a quote from Washington and Lee University President Fred Cole, the exhibition introduces visitors to the Chapel's complex history. It examines the original design and function of the Chapel, the construction
of the 1883 expansion, and the many ways it has memorialized its patron, Washington College president Robert E. Lee. The exhibit features artifacts and archival material from many points in its history, encouraging visitors to draw their own conclusions.

Visitors encounter the perspectives and experiences of many men and women whose hard work and advocacy shaped the modern look and function of this campus icon. At the end of the gallery, visitors are invited to reflect, respond, and share their thoughts by writing a postcard to the Chapel or one of these historical figures.

Found throughout the Chapel yet predominantly highlighted within the Frameworks and Foundations gallery is the KeyNotes throughline. Easily identified by signs shaped like the University crest, the KeyNotes signs take the “big ideas” of the Chapel’s story and break them down into simpler concepts, prompting
conversation, reflection, and action.

Interpretation is provided in the cases themselves, as well as through handouts, audio guides via the Bloomberg Connects app, digital elements, and physical interactives. This allows for several different senses to be engaged each visit and encourages new experiences within the Chapel.

Washington and Lee University

08/18/2026

Something new is coming! 👀

Stay tuned for more information on the updates to the Washington Hall Galleries.

08/17/2026

A key part of the University Chapel's recent renovation was the redesign and installation of new exhibitions. The Chapel has been a museum since the 1920s and a tourist destination for decades before that. These new exhibitions feature the Chapel’s comprehensive history and the role the building plays in the day-to-day life of the W&L campus.

The University Chapel is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am until 5pm.