WILLIAMSBURG — The Virginia Museum of History & Culture has launched the Virginia 250 Passport on Nov. 11.
The collaborative, statewide initiative is in partnership with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
The passport encourages Virginians and visitors to commemorate America’s 250th by engaging with the Commonwealth’s foremost historic sites and museums, according to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. The project is supported by the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
The museum said passports will be available free of charge at signature sites, VMHC, Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, Monticello and JYF’s Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, as well as at the VA250 Mobile Museum, select VA250 events and all 12 Virginia Welcome Centers. A total of 250,000 copies will be distributed, the museum said.
“This statewide partnership between some of the finest history institutions in the nation is an example of how, when we work together, we can create engaging, meaningful experiences for our fellow Virginians,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “We encourage you to pick up your passport while supplies last and spend a year with us traveling around our great Commonwealth.”
The Virginia 250 Passport will serve as a travel guide, discount book and keepsake, according to the announcement. The 64-page commemorative booklet features descriptions of the 70 participating museums and historic sites across five regions of the Commonwealth: Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, Southwestern Virginia and Tidewater.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin published a video announcement to mark the launch of the program.
“America’s 250th anniversary is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come together, reflect on our shared past, and recommit ourselves to the continued progress of our nation. And there is no better place to do this than right here in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Jamie Bosket, president & CEO of the VMHC.
Travelers can collect unique stamps while visiting each passport site, according to the announcement. Once they have secured a stamp in their passport, they can receive up to a 15% discount at future participating locations that charge admission. Collecting at least five stamps makes them eligible to enter a prize drawing. Prizes will be drawn in December 2026 and include yearlong museum memberships and cash awards up to $2,500.
“Colonial Williamsburg is ready to meet these historic moments, our own centennial and our nation’s 250th anniversary, and we invite all of America and the world to join us,” said Cliff Fleet, president and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
“The 250th Passport is another reminder of the extraordinary historical assets we have in Virginia. It also reflects the cooperative spirit these organizations share with each other and the public we dutifully serve,” said Christy S. Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
The Gloucester Museum of History will also be featured as a destination in the newly launched Virginia 250 Passport.
“Gloucester County’s history is alive with people and events that helped shape America’s founding. Visitors are invited to step inside our museum, housed in a 1770 tavern, and explore the stories that bring this remarkable heritage to life,” said Robert Kelly, Gloucester County’s Historic Resources Supervisor. “We look forward to welcoming guests from across Virginia and the nation to Gloucester.”
The Virginia Department of Education will be partnering with superintendents across the Commonwealth to ensure that schools and teachers are aware of the passport, and are sharing it with students and families statewide, the museum said.
“The Virginia 250 Passport is a wonderful tool that can be used both inside and outside the classroom to inspire curiosity, learning and civic pride as it makes history come alive across the Commonwealth,” said Aimee Rogstad Guidera, Virginia Secretary of Education. “By exploring the people and places that shaped our nation, young Virginians and their families can connect more deeply with our shared story and gain a greater appreciation for the ideals that continue to define the Commonwealth and our country.”
The Virginia 250 Passport program runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026. For more information, visit VirginiaHistory.org/250Passport.
