The mission of the historical society is to connect people to America's past through the unparalleled story of Virginia.

By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth's history, the society links past with present and inspires future generations.

In 1959, the historical society relocated from its headquarters in the Lee House on Franklin Street to Battle Abbey (constructed in 1912) on the Boulevard.

To accommodate the society, a four-story wing was added to the west side of the previously expanded Battle Abbey.

Since 1959, the headquarters building has been renovated and expanded several times—including a new west wing to house the extensive society research library (1992); a north wing to expand its gallery space and house offices of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (1998); a new south wing to add additional gallery space, storage, offices, and a nearly 488-seat auditorium (2006); and new spaces for public use on the north and south sides of the building (2015).

[7] The Virginia Museum of History & Culture offers a wide array of educational programs, especially for students and teachers.

These include outreach programs that take place in school classrooms, guided tours of exhibitions, and workshops and week-long summer institutes for teachers.

The gardens and grounds of Virginia House provide a rich tapestry of texture and color throughout the year.