Essex County Museum & Historical Society

08/27/2026

Friday, September 25th, it's the Ship's Company Chanteymen!

For nearly 30 years, The Ship’s Company Chanteymen have been one of the nation’s premier maritime music ensembles, captivating audiences with authentic sea chanteys, traditional nautical songs, rich harmonies, and engaging storytelling. Their performances have been featured at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Library of Congress, National Archives, U.S. Navy Museum, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and historic sites and maritime festivals throughout the country.

For this special performance, the Chanteymen will present a Revolutionary War-themed program in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, bringing the maritime music and traditions of the era to life. Experience the songs of sailors and seafarers from the time of America’s fight for independence and discover the important role the sea played in the Revolutionary era.

The concert is FREE, but reservations are required!

Please note: A reservation does not guarantee a seat. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, history, and the maritime spirit of the American Revolution!

Go to https://ecmhs.org/ for reservations!

08/26/2026

Don't miss an evening with Dom Flemons! Saturday, September 26th in Tappahannock at the Rise & Fall Festival.

Known as **“The American Songster®,” Dom Flemons is a Grammy Award-winning folk musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, historian, and cultural ambassador whose music draws from more than a century of American roots traditions. A co-founder and original member of the groundbreaking Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dom has spent more than 25 years preserving and reimagining the sounds of blues, folk, country, and early American string band music. With acclaimed musicianship and a deep passion for history, Dom brings his storytelling and extraordinary talent to a special Saturday night performance under the Big Tent in the Max Silver Memorial Courtyard.

You can reserve your seats and find out more about the Rise & Fall Festival here: https://ecmhs.org/rise-and-fall-festival/

08/25/2026

If you haven't heard yet, we're happy to announce that the two concerts for the Rise & Fall Festival will be free to the public! Reservations are required, but there will be no charge for the tickets. We want to thank our Festival Sponsors for helping to make this possible. This event is funded in part by a grant from the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways Program.

Friday, September 25th, it's the Ship's Company Chanteymen! For nearly 30 years, The Ship's Company Chanteymen have been one of the nation's premier maritime music ensembles, performing for audiences across the East Coast with authentic sea chanteys and traditional nautical songs. They have been featured at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the U.S. Navy Museum, George Washington's Mount Vernon, and numerous maritime festivals and historic sites throughout the country.

Saturday, September 26th, it's an evening with Dom Flemons! Known as “The American Songster®,” Dom Flemons is one of the most celebrated voices in American roots music. Drawing from more than a century of American musical traditions, Dom is a Grammy Award-winning folk musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, historian, and cultural ambassador whose work bridges blues, folk, country, and early American string band traditions.

Go to https://ecmhs.org/ to reserve your tickets before they're all gone!

08/21/2026

Who likes PIRATES????

One of the featured events at the Rise & Fall Festival will be a PIRATE STUNT SHOW! This will be combined with some great activities for kids, including a green screen pirate photo booth, and a water gun challenge!

The Moravian Armory presentation of PEUMAN'S END is something you won't want to miss!

08/20/2026

VENDORS WANTED!

Calling all authors, artists, makers, and crafters! Join us for the Rise & Fall Book & Craft Fair in beautiful downtown Tappahannock!

Showcase your books, artwork, handmade goods, crafts, and unique creations while connecting with visitors from across the region.

Saturday, September 26, 10am-3pm
Downtown Tappahannock
Celebrate local creativity, discover great books, and shop one-of-a-kind handmade treasures!

Vendor spaces are limited. If you're interested in participating, please contact the Essex County Museum for vendor information and registration at [email protected]

Come be part of the inaugural Rise & Fall Festival and help us celebrate the creativity, history, and culture of the Virginia Tidewater!

08/12/2026

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE! Rise and Fall Festival events are free to the public, with the exception of our two evening concerts, the Ship's Company Chanteymen and Dom Flemons. Go to https://ecmhs.org/ to get yours now!

08/12/2026

Wow! If anyone is looking for a cool project boat. . .

It later served as a patrol boat in the legendary “Oyster Wars” that raged between Maryland and Virginia oystermen.

08/11/2026

CONCERT TICKETS GO ON SALE TOMORROW! Vendor applications for the Saturday Book & Craft Fair are also available. Go to https://ecmhs.org/rise-and-fall-festival/ for more information.

07/31/2026

ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT!!!

Stop by the Essex County Museum and see the fantastic traveling exhibit GIVE ME LIBERTY. Today and Saturday are your last chance to see it, along with some great locally focused Revolutionary War exhibits and some of the artifacts uncovered from the historic 1710 Tavern.

The Essex County Museum will be open today and Saturday from 10-3.

Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation is the signature exhibition of the Virginia America Revolution 250 Commission and organized in partnership by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. It is sponsored in Tappahannock by the Essex County Museum.

07/28/2026

This is the last week to see the special traveling exhibit, GIVE ME LIBERTY!

This exhibit traces the Road to Revolution, capturing the defining events of 1774 through 1776 that transformed colonial discontent into a fight for independence, and explores the unique and essential Virginia people, events, and sites that helped bring liberty and democracy to a nation. We'll have this on display along with some great locally focused Revolutionary War exhibits and some of the artifacts uncovered from the historic 1710 Tavern through August 1st, so don't miss it!

Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation is the signature exhibition of the Virginia America Revolution 250 Commission and organized in partnership by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. It is sponsored in Tappahannock by the Essex County Museum.

The Essex County Museum is free to the public, and open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10am-3pm.