Isle of Wight County Museum facts for kids
The Isle of Wight County Museum is a special place in Smithfield, Virginia. It helps everyone learn about the history of Isle of Wight County. The museum keeps old items and stories safe for people to explore.
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Discovering the Museum's History
The Isle of Wight County Museum started in 1976. This was just before the United States celebrated its 200th birthday. Many people in the county wanted a place to save their history.
So, a group of local citizens worked hard. They formed a team to find, organize, and show historical items. Their goal was to create a new museum.
The museum first opened on November 21, 1976. Its first home was the historic 18th-century Gaming House. This building is located at 124 Main Street in Smithfield. For the first three years, volunteers kept the museum open. They welcomed visitors on Sunday afternoons and by appointment.
The museum quickly grew too big for its first home. Many people donated or loaned items to the collection. In 1979, the museum moved to a new, larger building. This was the Bank of Smithfield, built in 1913, at 103 Main Street.
Later, in 1990, the museum expanded again. It bought the Folk Building next door. This building was also built in 1913 and used to be a dry goods store.
In October 2006, a big storm caused a flood. The museum's basement filled with three feet of water. This was very damaging to the museum and its collection. But many people helped out. Staff, volunteers, and other museums worked together. They helped the museum clean up and reopen in 2008.
Today, the museum continues to grow and welcome visitors. It has a full-time director and curator. There are also part-time guides called docents. The museum is open seven days a week. It offers special events, research help, and educational programs. You can visit in person or follow them on social media!
What You Can See: Museum Collections
The museum has many interesting exhibits. You can see very old fossils from prehistoric times. There are also items from colonial times and even before.
One exhibit looks like an old-fashioned country store. Other displays teach you about the famous Smithfield ham industry. The most famous item at the museum is truly unique. It's known as the world's oldest, edible cured ham!
The World's Oldest Ham: A Famous Story
The famous "pet ham" of P.D. Gwaltney Jr. lives at the Isle of Wight County Museum. This ham was cured in 1902. It was accidentally forgotten and hung in one of Gwaltney's packing houses for 20 years!
By 1924, this special ham was kept in an iron safe. The safe was opened daily so guests could see it. Gwaltney called it the world's oldest Smithfield ham. He even put a brass collar on it! He took the ham to shows and expos. He wanted to show how well his smoking method preserved meat.
The ham became so famous that it was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!. It appeared in the popular series in 1929, 1932, and 2003.
Every July, the museum throws a birthday party for the ham. You can even check on the ham anytime! The museum has a special Ham Cam that watches it all day.
Images for kids
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Isle of Wight County Museum, located in the Bank of Smithfield building
