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Virginia Military Institute Museums & Archives

In 1818 the Lexington Arsenal was created in Lexington, Virginia to store weapons intended for use by the state militia. In 1839 the Virginia Military Institute was founded as the first state-supported military college in the nation. Small at first, the institute grew and is currently home to approximately 1,700 cadets. VMI offers four year undergraduate degree programs in liberal arts, science, engineering, and social sciences requiring its students to maintain an academically and physically rigorous schedule that is intended to prepare them for roles as citizen soldiers.

Virginia Military Institute

Virginia's first public museum collects, preserves, & interprets the legacy of VMI.

"The whole history of VMI is a triumphant chronicle of the part which the Citizen Soldier can play in a Democracy." - FDR, November 11, 1939

In 1845, the then Superintendent Francis Smith conceptualized the VMI Museum upon receiving a gunlock found at Jamestown. Fast forward 173 years and the museum’s historic collection has proven to be a visual record of VMI and alumni involvement in our nation. Today, located inside Jackson Memorial Hall, the museum uses the 15,000 artifact collection to tell these stories. You will see Stonewall Jackson's horse, Little Sorrel; the door to General George C. Marshall's room in the Barracks; one of the rarest antique firearm collections in the world, and much more.

With so much to see and do, where does one start? Visitor favorites include the life size scale of cadet living quarters that you can walk through; the raincoat Stonewall Jackson wore when wounded in Chancellorsville; seven Medals of Honor awarded to alumni; and General George S. Patton’s helmet. 

The museum covers two floors with 6,300 square feet of exhibit space. The first floor takes you through the history of the Institute, from 1839 into the 21st century, highlighting notable events that shaped the Institute. There is the pen President Woodrow Wilson used to sign Senate Bill 544 in 1915; two uniforms worn by one of the first females to graduate from the Institute in 2001; and a first edition copy of the VMI Bullet known as the Rat bible. The second floor features those who made extraordinary contributions to our nation and world. Jonathan M. Daniels’ First Classman cape is on display and an exhibit honoring alumni who have fallen in the line of duty since September 9, 2001.

VMI Museum

The Cadet Battery was cast in 1848 specifically for VMI.

The VMI Cadet Battery consists of four mid-Nineteenth Century cannons once used to train the Corps of Cadets. Built for the institute in 1848, the cannons are scaled down versions of the field artillery from the era. Weighing in at over 550 pounds each, the Cadet Battery was commanded by Major Thomas J. Jackson, later known as “Stonewall.” Jackson was a professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and the Instructor of Artillery at VMI from 1851 until the start of the Civil War in 1861.

The guns were used by several units during the war, including the Rockbridge Artillery under the command of William Pendleton. It was Pendleton, an Episcopal minister, who named the four cannons Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. After the Civil War the federal government disarmed the institute and the guns were removed. The Cadet Battery was restored in 1875. The tubes are original but the carriages they sit on have been replaced several times. The cannons sit in front of the Stonewall Jackson statue on the Parade Ground at the institute. 

Cadet Battery

Originally constructed in 1848 the VMI Barracks have expanded to allow for growth of the Cadet Corps.

The Barracks at VMI are home to cadets for all four years of their schooling. The buildings making up the cadet living quarters are: Old Barracks, New Barracks, and Third Barracks. Originally constructed in 1851, the Old Barracks had to be rebuilt in 1866 because of the damage done by Hunter’s Raids during the Civil War. Designed by architect Alexander Davis, the Gothic revival style has been continued in newer construction on post. In 1923 Old Barracks was expanded and an enclosed courtyard became part of the layout, a design feature that has continued as the Barracks expand. 

New Barracks was constructed in 1949 and is dedicated to General George C. Marshall, class of 1901. A statue of General Marshall was erected in 1978 outside of New Barracks Arch, also called Marshall Arch. Third Barracks was completed in 2008 and allowed the VMI cadet population to grow to its current size. 

Barracks

Virginia Mourning Her Dead guards over the cadets who fell in the Battle of New Market.

The statute Virginia Mourning Her Dead is Virginia Military Institute’s monument to the cadets who fought in the Battle of New Market. The monument was dedicated in 1903 and stood in front of the Old Jackson Memorial Hall, part of the west wing of barracks at the time. The statue was sculpted by Moses Ezekiel, a member of the Class of 1866 and a veteran of the Battle of New Market. The names of all the cadets in the Corps of 1864 are inscribed on the monument. The statue was moved to its current location in 1912 and at this time, the remains of six cadets were placed in the niche under the monument. Of the 257 cadets who fought in the battle forty-seven were wounded and ten were killed. 

Each year on May 15th, the anniversary of the Battle of New Market, a ceremony is held in front of the monument. The event features a roll call of the names of cadets who lost their lives at New Market. When the name of each who was killed is called a representative from the same company in today’s corps answers, “Died on the Field of Honor, Sir.” The ceremony also recognizes all of the institute alumni who have made the ultimate sacrifice. 

Virginia Mourning Her Dead

In March 2004, a Barracks arch and courtyard were dedicated to Civil Rights hero Jonathan Daniels.

"One of the most heroic Christian deeds of which I have heard in my entire ministry was performed by Jonathan Daniels." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jonathan M. Daniels was valedictorian of the VMI Class of 1961. After graduation, he enrolled at Harvard University to pursue English literature before ultimately attending seminary at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was at this point that Daniels became actively involved in the Civil Rights movement by assisting with voter registration efforts in Alabama. He also walked in the famous march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

At a voter rights demonstration in Fort Deposit, AL, in August 1865, Daniels and twenty-two others were arrested and taken to Hayneville county jail.  Following their release, Daniels and Richard Morrisroe, a priest, went with two black teenagers, Joyce Bailey and Ruby Sales, to Cash's Store for a soda. At the store, a part-time deputy sheriff named Tom Coleman confronted them with a shotgun. When Coleman aimed the shotgun at Ruby Sales, Daniels pushed her out of the way, saving her life. The shot from Coleman's shotgun hit Daniels and killed him instantly. Because of this ultimate selfless act, the only Barracks arch named for a cadet is the Daniels Arch and Courtyard.

Daniels' selfless act is celebrated through two books and a 1999 documentary about his life. The date of his death is on the Episcopal Church's Calendar of Lesser Feasts and Fasts and he is among the fifteen people honored in Canterbury Cathedral's Chapel of Martyrs in England. At VMI, the Board of Visitors established the Jonathan M. Daniels '61 Humanitarian Award in 1997. The Daniels Arch and Courtyard memorializes Daniels’ heroic act on the VMI campus as an example for all future Cadets.

Daniels Arch & Courtyard

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Explore museum content and digital tours around the state

Explore the Lynchburg Museum System's two sites ~ The Lynchburg Museum at the Old Court House and Point of Honor, Dr. George Cabell's 1815 house overlooking the James River and downtown Lynchburg.

Lynchburg Museum System

Explore Salem Museum's Exhibits and Grounds

The Salem Museum

The Taubman Museum of Art is part of the lively metro mountain mix of arts, culture and outdoor fun in the heart of downtown Roanoke, Virginia.

As you enjoy your visit, you will notice internationally renowned architect Randall Stout took special care to honor naturalistic elements of the Roanoke region.

Taubman Museum of Art

George C. Marshall: He won the war. He won the peace. Learn about the man known as World War II's "Organizer of Victory," and Nobel Peace Prize winner for the Marshall Plan. Marshall is the Virginia Military Institute's most famous graduate (Class of 1901) and its only five-star general. 

The independent, non-profit George C. Marshall Foundation preserves and perpetuates Marshall's legacy through the George C. Marshall Museum & Library and offers a wide range of programming and resources for use by the general public, amateur historians, scholars and students of all ages. We are located on the Parade Ground at VMI.

George C. Marshall Museum & Library

A National Register Historical Landmark and one of the oldest, most original operational grist mills in the country located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. This water-powered grist mill was built in 1782 in an area that would become the quaint village of Millwood. 

The Burwell-Morgan Mill…come marvel at the unusual and immense interior water wheel..come see, feel, and listen to the power of the turning wooden gears, shafts, bins, and old millstones, while the dedicated miller explains the process of grinding wheat and corn just as it was done over 200 years ago. Freshly ground flour, corn meal , and grits are available for sale at the mill.

The Historic Burwell-Morgan Mill

Discover culture around the state

Explore Virginia Museums

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Find a museum to host your next field trip

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Lynchburg Museum

Built in 1815 by Dr. George Cabell and his family overlooking the James River in Daniel's Hill

Point of Honor

VMCW is one of three museums owned and operated by the Virginia Military Institute.

The Virginia Museum of the Civil War

An outdoor living-history Museum that brings the past to life!

Frontier Culture Museum

St. John's Church

Edgar Allan Poe Museum

See U.S. history through the eyes of Marines.

National Museum of the Marine Corps

Learn how the 1927 Bristol Sessions led to Bristol becoming known as the birthplace of country music.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Second oldest working capital in the United States

Virginia State Capitol

Built in 1813, the Governor’s Mansion is the oldest in continuous use.

Governor's Mansion

Here lie those dearest to Edgar Allan Poe.

Shockoe Hill Cemetery

Find a museum near you

Discover the Diversity of Virginia Museums

Civil War History

Northern Virginia

Central Virginia

Guide to NOVA Culture

Virginia Association of Museums

Chicago Scene

Irving Park Brown Line

Things to do off of the Harrison red line stop in South Loop. Whether you want to do some shopping, grab a slice of pizza, have some fun or listen to some great music, there is plenty to do in this college area.

Harrison Red Line

The Loop's State/Late Red Line Stop is an exciting area with plenty to see and do. Do some shopping, eat a delicious meal, have fun with friends, and catch a show.

State/Lake Red Line Stop

Blue line stop in the River North neighborhood has a lot to do to keep you busy.

Chicago Blue Line Stop

Places to go around the Southport Brown Line stop in Lakeview!

Southport Brown Line

Leading to an eclectic area with a plethora of different restaurants, markets, and museums, Morgan Station is a stop that will give you a days worth of adventures.

Morgan Green/Pink Line Station

If you're looking for a new place to explore with a younger crowd and unexpected adventures, then the Granville Stop is the one for you.

Granville Red Line Adventure

Diversey is located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, filled with various restaurants, bars, and music venues. There are endless entertainment options just steps from the station.

Diversey Brown Line

The heart of Lincoln Square holds nods to the past with an eye on whatever the future may bring.

Western Brown Line

Places to go off the Sheridan Red Line stop!

Sheridan Red Line

Things to do off the Merchandise Mart brown line stop. The station is right in the center of River North and is a great nightlife area.

Merchandise Mart Brown Line

Toeing the edges of the historic Logan Square and edgier Wicker Park; come have the best of both worlds.

California Blue Line Adventure

If you're coming into the city from the South side, there is much to learn and explore when taking the train from the South Chicagoland area.

LaSalle/Clark Street Blue Line

North/Clybourn features dining from diverse cuisines, creative bars and a mini getaway from the city.

North/Clybourn Red Line Station

Located in the historic Logan Square neighborhood, enjoy the best sites, foods, and shopping all within walking distance of train station.

Logan Square Blue Line

The Red Line Station at Grand Avenue and State Street is a popular subway stop in River North. With plenty of unique restaurants and entertaining shops around, you are definitely able to spend all day in the area.

Grand/State Red Line

As a transfer stop in Lakeview, the Belmont Station gets a lot of traffic during the day. Stepping out of the station, you will find many bars/restaurants, unique shops, theaters, and many other places to keep you entertained.

Belmont Red/Brown Line Stop

The Jackson Red Line has a great location in the Loop right by the entrance of Grant Park. Things to do off the Jackson train stop.

Jackson Red Line

Things to do near the Armitage Brown Line in Lincoln Park.

Brown Line Armitage Stop

The historic neighborhood is the epicenter of African-American culture in Chicago.

Bronzeville

Located in East Lakeview, Boystown is the first officially recognized gay village in the United States. This small, but spunky neighborhood hosts Chicago's gay pride parade as well as many bars, clubs, restaurants, theaters, and historical landmarks that will entertain and educate every, whether you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community or not. All are welcome in this 'gayborhood'.

Boystown

What once began as one of Chicago's first commuter suburbs, Ravenswood is now known for its art scene and industrial buildings turned hot spots. It's a great neighborhood to walk around, especially their historic district with their Victorian mansions.

Ravenswood

The Loop is known as Chicago's official downtown area and is one of the most important central business districts in the world! Here, you will find stunning architecture, fascinating cultural centers, plenty of shopping areas, and award-winning restaurants.

The Loop

The area surrounding Wrigley Field is ripe with opportunities to take in movies, live music, and Chicago's architectural history.

Wrigleyville

Lakeview

This charming neighborhood has many exciting things to do from great restaurants to fun nightlife to entertaining theaters and so much more. You don't even have to spend a dime if you don't want to as Lincoln Park is home to beautiful parks including a free zoo!

Lincoln Park

There are a lot of exciting things happening in this neighborhood downtown! From exquisite restaurants to fun nightclubs to beautiful parks, South Loop has it all.

The South Loop

A special and unique neighborhood that is full of history and eclectic style, Andersonville is a Chicago staple.

Andersonville

Chinatown is a lively business district in the south of Chicago. Here, you will find plenty of cafés, dim sum restaurants, teahouses, and an outdoor mall. Embrace the Chinese culture in Chicago's very own Chinese neighborhood.

Chinatown

West Town is filled with iconic landmarks, museums, restaurants, and much more in this Polish dominated neighborhood.

West Town

Chicago's official motto is "Urbs in Horto," which means "City in a Garden," and they have certainly lived up to that expectation. There are many green spaces and gardens in the Windy City making it a pioneering city in advancing landscape architecture. Chicago is still adding more but, for now, these are some of the best green spaces and gardens to visit.

Best Green Spaces and Gardens

It can be hard to leave your dog at home every day, especially on the weekends when your excuse is the place you are going to doesn't allow dogs. Luckily, there are a lot of dog-friendly places in Chicago that your canine friend will love to go to! Here are the best dog-friendly spots in the city.

Fun Dog-Friendly Places

The Budget Savvy Travelers

Chicago has one of the most iconic skylines in the world. This insider guide shows you the best vantage points to capture a memorable photo of the skyline of Chicago. Best of all? These are all places that you can visit that are all free of charge.

Where to Find Chicago's Best Skyline Views for Free

Hyde Park is rich in history, and with the University of Chicago nearby, and various other outlets of entertainment, there is no end to the options offered when exploring.

Hyde Park

The Adams/Wabash stop leads into a quaint, historical community with many famous spots that visitors​ should see.

Adams/Wabash Pink Line

Wilson is a CTA stop located in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. It is surrounded by cafes, coffee shops, and bars.

Wilson Red Line

Argyle station offers an array of cultural experiences from Tea/Malaysian Cafe to the most talked about LGBTQ bar in the city.

Argyle Red Line Stop

Explore all of the unique and exciting places that the Clark/Division Red Line Stop has to offer.

Clark/Division Red Line Stop

Things to do near the Chicago/State red line stop, which will lead you to the Near North Side and Streeterville neighborhoods.

Chicago/State Red Line Stop

Chicago has had their share in pop culture as many movies and TV shows used the Windy City as their setting. A lot of those movies actually had their set in Chicago so you can visit some of the places you saw in your favorite film! From Ferris Buller's Day Off to The Blue's Brothers to Dark Knight, your inner fan will be ecstatic to snap a picture where your favorite actors were!

Famous Movie Spots in Chicago

Chicago’s art scene is thriving and there are so many intimate spaces all over the city to go and see it. From the hundreds of galleries, to the back alley poetry spots, and the nonprofit book stores, if you’re looking to find some art that barely anyone has seen, Chicago is for you.

Chicago Underground

When strolling through this hipster neighborhood, stop by these unique coffee shops for a break in your day.

Best Coffee spots in Wicker Park

Picking a restaurant for your date night can be hard, especially when Chicago has so many great options. We narrowed it down for you, though, to the top dinner places for two.

Best Dinner Places for 2

Hungry for something sweet? Look no further than one of the many ice cream parlors Chicago has to offer.

Best Ice Cream Shops

Chicago is certainly a treasure trove of unique experiences and new things to see. There are also plenty of shops where you can take a bit of that home with you to always remember your time here. Forget the boring souvenir shops and the generic mugs; consider one of these fantastically rated small corner stores to get some items that will always remind you of the windy city.

Finding the perfect gift: Unique Shops Around Chicago

Chicago is chock-full of restaurants with delicious, high-calorie foods that while worth devouring, aren't exactly healthy for you. Luckily, the Windy City has plenty of health-conscious restaurants to balance out your meals. Here are the best ones in the city that will make you feel proud to be eating something so healthy.

Best Health-Conscious Restaurants

Bubble Tea is that colorful drink you see quite often on your Instagram feed. They are a Taiwanese tea-based drink that tends to be very sugar but delicious. There are a lot of bubble tea cafés to be found around Chicago but here are the best ones.

Best Bubble Tea Cafés

If you're looking for a party, River North is the place to be.

River North Night Clubs

Chicago has more than 7,300 restaurants to choose from and some are certainly more popular than others. That doesn't mean, though, that the less commonly known places to eat aren't good, they are just harder to find. On your next lunch break, check out these places to grab a meal.

A Better Lunch Break (Less commonly known restaurants)

Lakeview knows how to keep you entertained each night with a variety of nightclubs, restaurants, and fun things to do with your friends.

Top Nightlife Places in Lakeview

Travel down memory lane with a visit to the South Side spots most frequented by former US president, Barack Obama.

Footsteps of Obama

The Lakeview community is very family-orientated with plenty of places for you to enjoy with everyone. Bring your kids and make memories at these family-friendly places.

Family-Friendly Lakeview Places

Chicago is a city beaming with theatrical art. Beyond the professional
theaters of the city lie dozens of storefront theaters that offer a more close-up experience
for audience members.

Black Box Theaters

Wrigleyville isn't just known as the home of the beloved Chicago Cubs—it's also a popular bar and pub area, especially for sports fans. New to the area and looking to make some new friends? Here is a guide to the highly rated Wrigleyville bars, right off of the Addison Red Line stop.

Wrigleyville Bar Crawl

Known for innovative museums and galleries, unique food creations, and much more. You can't go wrong with the West Loop.

West Loop/ Fulton Market

See the food that best represents "Asia on Argyle".

Southeast Asian Eateries Near The Argyle Red Line Stop

Logan Square

Explore comedy in the prime comedy city in the country, but don’t settle for Second City.

Best Comedy Spots

Gold Coast

This North Side neighborhood has a rich community and plenty of history dating back to when it was a camp and trail path for Native American Tribes.

Historical Adventures in Lakeview

An insider's guide to Streeterville, a neighborhood in the near North side of Chicago, that is surrounded by the river and the lake, making it one of Chicago's most beautiful communities.

Streeterville

Travel to River North, a Chicago neighborhood that is filled with state-of-the-art restaurants, high-quality entertainment, and hip nightlife.

River North

A coastal neighborhood in the Chicago area that has a ton of theaters, parks and eateries for everyone.

Edgewater

View Chicago is a tribute to Daniel Hudson Burnham, whose 1909 Plan of Chicago envisioned an organized city, defined by beauty and open space. In the early 1900s, when he looked at a chaotic city with a lakefront jammed with railway cars and industrial waste, he proclaimed, "The lakefront by right belongs to the people." Working with Edward H. Bennett and Chicago’s civic community, he build the most remarkable downtown lakefront in the world that would soon become a place for people to play. Walk the View Path, experience the history of the lakefront, explore Daniel Burnham’s vision for Chicago’s front yard and see the ultimate view of the city’s skyline – the Burnham View.

View Chicago

View Chicago is a tribute to Daniel Hudson Burnham, who proclaimed, "The lakefront by right belongs to the people.” Walk the View Path, experience history, explore Daniel Burnham’s vision for Chicago’s front yard and see the ultimate view of the city’s skyline – the Burnham View.

The Chicago Skyline

“The Insider's Guide” Of Where To Go And What To Do In Chicago

Virginia Military Institute

VMI Museum

VMI Museum

Cadet Battery

Cadet Battery

Barracks

Barracks

Virginia Mourning Her Dead

Virginia Mourning Her Dead

Daniels Arch & Courtyard

Daniels Arch & Courtyard

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