18 Virginia attractions you can visit for free with Culture Passes

Explore 18 Virginia attractions for free using culture passes provided by local libraries. 

Virginians seeking cultural enrichment can explore some of the commonwealth’s notable attractions at no cost through culture passes offered by local libraries.

While libraries like the Williamsburg Regional Library and Jefferson-Madison Regional Library offer free passes that can be checked out like books or printed, cities such as Alexandria offer passes for purchase. These passes provide access to some of Virginia’s most noteworthy sites.

Williamsburg Regional Library 

The Williamsburg Regional Library offers one of the most comprehensive culture pass programs in Virginia. Passes are available for four-day checkouts or as printable tickets for specific dates. The library advises that pass availability varies by destination, so advance planning is recommended. Reservations can be made up to 60 days ahead. Major destinations offered free through the library’s passes include:

Mount Vernon

Location: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon, VA 22121

George Washington’s Mount Vernon offers visitors insight into colonial life through the well-maintained farm and gardens. The on-site museum showcases Washington artifacts and history.

Regular tickets start at $15 for youth ages 6-11 and $28 for those 12 and older.

Mount Vernon now serves as a monument to the first president of the United States. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

Poplar Forest

Location: 1776 Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg, VA 24502

Known as Thomas Jefferson’s personal retreat, Poplar Forest now tells the story of the life and times of the third president. Notably, visitors can learn more about the architectural influences that Jefferson called upon to design the estate.

Tickets are normally $26 for adults, $12 for teenagers, and $6 for ages 6-11.

Stratford Hall

Location: 483 Great House Rd., Stratford, VA 22558

Stratford Hall, the historic Lee family home, was constructed in the 1740s, exemplifying Georgian-style architecture. Today, visitors learn about the Lees and the enslaved community who lived there. The East Garden and nature trails offer additional exploration opportunities.

Regular tickets are $10.58 for children ages 6-13 and $16.88 for visitors 14 and older.

Stratford Hall was the historic home of the Lee family. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

Bacon’s Castle

Location: 465 Bacon’s Castle Trail, Surry, VA 23883

Bacon’s Castle features unique High Jacobean architecture and holds the distinction of being the oldest brick dwelling in North America, dating to 1665. Visitors can explore the 17th-century English formal garden and learn about enslaved African Americans at the circa 1830 slave dwelling.

Tickets are normally $10 for students and $15 for general admission.

Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown

Location: 16120 Chiswell Ln., Beaverdam, VA 23015

Scotchtown is Patrick Henry’s only original standing home, where he lived from 1771 to 1778 and developed his “Liberty or Death” speech. The site also highlights the experiences of African Americans who lived there.

Regular tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students.

John Marshall House

Location: 818 East Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23219

The John Marshall House was home to the “Great Chief Justice” for 44 years. Marshall served as Supreme Court chief justice from 1801-1835. Tours emphasize Marshall’s role in shaping the federal judiciary during the nation’s early years.

Tickets are normally $10 for students and $15 for general admission.

Smith’s Fort

Location: 217 Smith Fort Ln., Surry, VA 23883

Named for its proposed location as Capt. John Smith’s “New Fort,” the Smith’s Fort site sits across the James River from Jamestown. Visitors can see an earthwork representing a 1609 fort attempt. The current manor house dates to 1765.

Regular tickets are $10 for students and $15 for general admission.

Cape Henry Lighthouse

Location: 583 Atlantic Ave., Fort Story, VA, 23459

The Cape Henry Lighthouse, the first federally funded public works project, guided ships near “First Landing” for nearly a century. Today, the tower offers panoramic views of the horizon.

Regular tickets are $8 for students and $12 for general admission.

The Cape Henry Lighthouse offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

Science Museum of Virginia

Location: 2500 West Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220

The Science Museum of Virginia features four floors of exhibits and interactive displays. The Dome showcases prairie wetlands, outer space, and dinosaurs on a 76-foot screen.

Regular tickets range from $11 for preschoolers to $18.50 for adults.

The Science Museum of Virginia has a massive footprint spanning four floors. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

Virginia Museum of History & Culture

Location: 428 N Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond, VA 23220

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is your one-stop shop for all things Virginia. The museum features a wide assortment of exhibits, many of which rotate out, so there’s always something new to see. The long-term “Story of Virginia” exhibit is worth seeing because it sheds light on a 16,000-year period of Virginia history through the display of over 500 artifacts.

Tickets are normally $8 for children aged five and up, and $12 for adults.

Children’s Museum of Richmond

Location: 2626 W Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220

The Children’s Museum of Richmond isn’t your typical museum, but rather a place where children can visit to learn and have fun. Some of the exhibits feature Amtrak trains and art studios.

Tickets are normally $9 for both children and adults.

Virginia Holocaust Museum

Location: 2000 E Cary St., Richmond, VA 23223

The Virginia Holocaust Museum educates visitors about Holocaust victims and survivors. Permanent exhibits include the Children’s Memorial, honoring the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished.

Regular admission is free for children and $10 for adults.

Poe Museum

Location: 1914 E Main St., Richmond, VA 23223

The Poe Museum chronicles Edgar Allan Poe’s life and career through exhibits in the Old Stone House, Richmond’s oldest standing residential building. It claims the world’s largest collection of Poe artifacts, including rare manuscripts.

Tickets are normally $ for youth and $10 for adults.

The Poe Museum features an assortment of artifacts related to the famous Richmond resident’s life. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

Watermen’s Museum

Location: 309 Water St., Yorktown, VA 23690

Want to learn more about the role Chesapeake Bay watermen have played from pre-colonial times up to the present day? The Watermen’s Museum tells that story through an assortment of exhibits that include both military and civilian tales.

Tickets are normally $4 for students and $5 for young adults.

The Watermen’s Museum features both military and civilian history. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

Virginia Zoo

Location: 3500 Granby St., Norfolk, VA 23504

The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk offers visitors the chance to observe a wide variety of exotic animals up close. The zoo is divided into various trails, like the African Safari Trail, where cheetahs can be seen, and Asia: Trail of the Tiger, where Malayan tigers can be seen. Zookeepers also frequently meet with visitors to share insights about the animals.

Tickets are normally $14.95 for children and $12 for adults.

Jefferson-Madison Regional Library

The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library offers more limited museum passes than Williamsburg but provides free access to two destinations. The library’s website shows pass availability as well as pickup locations.

Virginia Discovery Museum

Location: 524 E Main St., Charlottesville, VA 22902

The Virginia Discovery Museum emphasizes hands-on activities and imaginative play. Two main galleries feature exhibits ranging from STEM to literacy.

Tickets normally cost $12 for children and adults.

Frontier Culture Museum

Location: 1290 Richmond Ave., Staunton, VA 24401

Want to know what it was like living in frontier Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley? Visit the Frontier Culture Museum, an open-air living history museum, to get a sense of what life was like for those who settled along the Great Wagon Road, as well as the Native American tribes that called the area home. Notably, costumed historical interpreters are placed throughout the museum.

Tickets are normally $7 for children ages 6-12, $11 for children ages 13-college, and $12 for adults.

The Frontier Culture Museum is the largest open-air living history museum in the Shenandoah Valley. (Courtesy of Frontier Culture Museum)

Alexandria 

Alexandria’s “Key to the City” attractions pass costs $20 but provides access to nine historic locations normally totaling $60. Passes can be purchased at the Alexandria Visitor Center, located at 221 King Street, or online.

Notable sites include Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, a 1700s tavern where Thomas Jefferson’s inaugural banquet was held in 1801, and the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, housed in an 1839 Greek Revival building.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

READ MORE: 17 summer events in Virginia to add to your calendar ASAP