Explore 30+ Free Museums around Virginia

Virginia is home to hundreds of powerful, memorable, and unique museums — but sometimes, admission prices can add up. If you’re looking for a free way to insert a little education into your trip, stop into one of Virginia’s free museums and galleries. 

Some of the top museums in the Commonwealth (and we’d argue, the country) are available at no cost for admission. Check out our recommendations for free museums below, plus insider tips to make the most of your visit. 
 

Explore Free Museums by Topic: Arts & Culture | History | Science | Military 
 

ARTS & CULTURE

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — Richmond

Open 365 days a year, the VMFA houses more than 50,000 works of art from around the world, from ancient artifacts to contemporary pieces. It’s also home to three eateries — a casual cafe, an upscale restaurant, and an elegant tea room. 

Admission Details: Daily admission is free. Select special exhibitions may be ticketed. 

Insider Tip: If the weather’s nice, a picnic in the Sculpture Garden is a must.
 

Institute for Contemporary Art — Richmond

Part of Virginia Commonwealth University, the ICA features traveling and special exhibitions in its multiple gallery spaces. From mixed media to painting to film installations, you’ll be challenged and inspired. Plus, the ICA switches up its exhibits frequently, so if you come back a year later you’ll see a whole new museum.
 

You’ll find more contemporary art in Virginia Beach, where the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art is free for Virginia residents and all children under 12.

The Chrysler Museum of Art — Norfolk

There are over 50 galleries to explore at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk. Luckily, the museum offers free daily tours so you can discover a variety of works and dive deeper into what interests you. 

Insider Tip: The Chrysler is known for having one of the top glass collections in the country. Visit the Perry Glass Studio for a free glassblowing demonstration and see the masters at work. 
 

The Fralin Museum of Art — Charlottesville

A block away from the Rotunda at the University of Virginia you’ll find the Fralin Museum of Art, a hidden gem of UVA’s grounds. The Fralin hosts rotating exhibitions in a variety of mediums, from mixed media to installations, photography, paintings, and ancient works. 

Insider Tip: There are several smaller exhibition spaces at UVA. Check out what’s current before your visit and you may be able to extend your visit and enjoy a nice walk around the grounds. 
 

Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection — Charlottesville 

Another underrated free museum in Charlottesville, the Kluge-Ruhe is the only museum in the country dedicated to indigenous Australian art. A truly unique find, the museum’s collections include more than 3,700 works.

Taubman Museum of Art — Roanoke

Named by Newsweek as one of the Best Free Museums in the country, the Taubman Museum has 11 galleries and over 2,000 rotating works on display. It’s also a stunning addition to Roanoke’s skyline — the striking glass atrium and asymmetric silhouette are meant to mirror the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Admission Details: Daily admission is free. Select special exhibitions may be ticketed. 
 

The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg — Williamsburg

You’ll get access to two museums in one when you visit the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, which includes the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum as well as the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. From meticulously detailed quilts to ornate grandfather clocks, both sides of the galleries have works of art to appreciate.

Galleries & Art Centers

Torpedo Factory Art Center — Alexandria

This expansive art center takes “behind-the-scenes” to a new level. With three stories of working artist studios to explore, you can meet the makers, observe their creative processes, and even take home a piece for your collection. 

Admission Details: The Torpedo Factory is open daily, but individual artists keep their own studio hours. Feel free to explore studios with open doors. 
 

1708 Gallery — Richmond

A staple of Richmond’s Arts District neighborhood, 1708 Gallery was formed by a group of artists in 1978. Since then, it has moved buildings and evolved thematically, but it is still a place where new art and ideas thrive. 

Insider Tip: Explore more galleries in the Arts District and nearby Jackson Ward after you check out 1708. We recommend Ada Gallery, Candela, Gallery5, and ART 180. 
 

Bower Center for the Arts — Bedford

Tucked away in the mountain town of Bedford, you’ll find an intimate yet varied series of small gallery spaces and working artist studios at Bower Center for the Arts. Check out the special exhibitions and peruse the shop for something local to take home. 

Insider Tip: The Biennial Fiber Arts National Juried Exhibit is a highlight, and speaks to the fiber arts heritage of Virginia’s mountains. 
 

Melissa Ichiuji Studio Gallery — Front Royal 

Nestled between cafes and boutique shops on Front Royal’s Main Street is the Melissa Ichiuji Studio Gallery. Stop in to see contemporary works and rotating exhibits, plus check online for special events including art talks and workshops. 
 

HISTORY

Virginia State Capitol — Richmond

Designed in 1785 by Thomas Jefferson, the Virginia State Capitol is truly a living history experience. You may even see current lawmakers while you explore the exhibit space. A standout from the collections of the historic Capitol is the original statue of George Washington, done from life by Jean-Antoine Houdon. 

Admission Details: The year-round visitor entrance is on Bank Street, opposite 10th Street. Free guided tours are available; look for tour guides near the Bank Street entrance lobby. 

Insider Tip: Don’t forget to walk the grounds of Capitol Square, where you’ll see the Virginia Women’s Monument and the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial. 
 

Virginia Executive Mansion—Richmond

Also located on Capitol Square, the Virginia Executive Mansion is free to tour when open. Home to the Commonwealth’s governors since 1813, it is the oldest governor’s residence still used for its intended purpose. 
 

Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park — Middletown

Experience centuries of history in the Shenandoah Valley when you visit this National Historical Park. From Native American to colonial history to the agricultural economy, there’s much to explore at this expansive site. It’s also the location of the Battle of Cedar Creek, a Civil War conflict which ended Confederate resistance in the Shenandoah Valley.

Robert Russa Moton Museum — Farmville  

The Moton Museum is located inside the former all-Black Robert Russa Moton High School, where a group of students led by 16-year-old Barbara Johns went on strike to protest the school’s poor conditions. The eventual lawsuit which was filed would later be incorporated into the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. 

Insider Tip: Incorporate the museum into your self-guided Farmville Civil Rights Walking Tour, which includes 17 sites along a two-mile route. 
 

Avoca Museum — Altavista

While the centerpiece home is a 1901 American Queen Anne-style house, the Avoca site contains a vast amount of history. Learn about what happened on the land during the Revolution and the Civil War, plus the iterations of the home from its construction to its restoration in 1991.

Admission Details: Admission is free, but a $10 per person donation is recommended.

Maggie L Walker National Historic Site — Richmond

This National Historic Site allows visitors to connect on multiple levels with entrepreneur, community leader, and civil rights activist Maggie Walker. Take a tour of her home to discover her accomplishments, such as being the first African American woman in the country to found a bank, as well as her family life. 

Insider Tip: Maggie Walker’s home is located in the historic neighborhood of Jackson Ward. Once known as the Harlem of the South, there are several historic sites and striking architecture to take in on a walk around the Ward. 
 

Lynchburg Museum & Visitor Center — Lynchburg

Located inside an 1855 Greek Revival Court House, the Lynchburg Museum presents an accessible look at the history of Central Virginia. Explore small galleries documenting Lynchburg Life, Piedmont Pride, and Art & Artisans, as well as rotating exhibitions in the main space. 

Battlefields & More National Sites

Virginia is home to several National Historical, Battlefield, and Military Parks that do not require entrance fees. These sites are managed by the National Park Service. 

• Richmond National Battlefield Park – Includes Chimborazo Medical Museum and Cold Harbor Battlefield, as well as other key sites in the former capital of the Confederacy.
• Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park – An expansive series of historic sites and battlefields where the Civil War raged. 
• Appomattox National Historical Park – Trace the final conflicts of the Civil War and see where Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant. 
• Mannassas National Battlefield Park – Sometimes referred to as Bull Run, two key Civil War battles were fought at this site. 
• Petersburg National Battlefield – Explore and reflect on the grounds of the Siege of Petersburg, a pivotal campaign to the Union victory in the Civil War. 

Want to explore more of Virginia’s history? Plan a route down a heritage trail and explore several sites, from the Road to Revolution Heritage Trail to Virginia’s spots on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. 
 

SCIENCE

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center — Chantilly

This annex of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a must for aviation and space enthusiasts. Visitors can explore two large hangars with over 200 aircraft and spacecraft on display, including the Space Shuttle Discovery and a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. 

Admission Details: While admission is free, there is a $15 parking fee. You can avoid the fee by taking public transportation (take the Metro Silver Line, then Fairfax Connector Bus No. 893) or ride share. 

Insider Tip: You’ll have to get tickets, but the center also has an Airbus IMAX Theater that shows educational films as well as Hollywood features. Fun fact — at six stories high, it’s the largest IMAX screen in Northern Virginia.
 

Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center — Wallops Island

This NASA flight facility has launched over 16,000 rockets in its time, and you can explore the science, history, and future of space right next door at the visitor center. 

Insider Tip: Check the launch schedule and you could watch a rocket launch from the visitor center’s viewing area, one of the only public sites with a clear view of the launch pads. 

Gardens to Explore  

For those interested in the science (or just the beauty) of plant life, check out these garden sites around Virginia that have no charge for admission. 

• Edith J. Carrier Arboretum – A woodland sanctuary on the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg. 
• Hahn Horticulture Garden – Six acres of teaching and display gardens on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg.
• Chesapeake Arboretum – Take a self-guided tree walk along the three miles of trails to learn about various species of trees. 
• Maymont – The 100-acre grounds of this Gilded Age estate in Richmond are free to walk and include several showstopper gardens and animal enclosures. 
• Williamsburg Botanical Garden and Freedom Park Arboretum – Learn about conservation, native plants, and the dangers of invasive species at this two-acre site.

MILITARY

National Museum of the Marine Corps — Prince William

You’ll probably spot the National Museum of the Marine Corps from afar — the soaring, 240,000-square-foot structure cuts into the skyline over Prince William. Visit the museum to see immersive exhibits dedicated to the commitment, accomplishments, and sacrifices of the U.S. Marines. 
 

National Museum of the United States Army — Fairfax

Explore more than 250 years of Army history in permanent and special exhibitions at the National Museum of the United States Army. Head to the third floor and rooftop Medal of Honor Garden to learn about recipients of the award. 
 

US Army Transportation Museum — Newport News

From horse-drawn carriages to armored vehicles, the US Army’s transportation has changed a lot over the centuries. Explore the significance of these changes and how technological evolutions have impacted Army campaigns throughout our nation’s history. 

Admission Details: The museum is located on Joint Base Langley-Eustis. Visitors ages 16 and up must present valid identification upon entry. 
 

Hampton Roads Naval Museum — Norfolk

An official museum of the United State Navy, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum will let you explore Naval History from the Revolutionary War to today.

Want more Virginia museums? Keep exploring museums and exhibits around the Commonwealth.