VIRGINIA BEACH — One of the city’s oldest and most important structures will reopen Friday to the public, who will have the opportunity to not only tour the historic home, but to see the newly constructed Thoroughgood House Education Center.
The 2,700-square-foot Visitor’s Center/Education Center also boasts an area that will showcase artifacts and also allow for exhibits that focus on local history.
The Thoroughgood House closed in February of 2016. Staff moved items from the collection to another location and construction began in March.
“This Education Center will provide us with even more opportunities to expand our programming and events offerings for this wonderful historic site,” said Anne Miller, Virginia Beach History Museums manager. “The Thoroughgood House finally has an education center befitting a National Historic Landmark.”
Other events will take place Friday, including Revolutionary War reenactors from the 7th Virginia Regiment and also the Youth Regiment.
The home itself was built nearly three centuries ago — sometime around 1719. While it was long thought that Adam Thoroughgood, one of Virginia’s first colonists, built the home, it is now believed that his great-grandson Argall had the home built.
Argall died during construction however, and his wife Susannah and son John oversaw the home’s completion. The two also added “extensive wainscoting and paneling,” and the home’s “dramatic turned staircase.”
The grand opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will include the unveiling of a new highway historical marker for the home.
The Education Center will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Parking is available at the Bayside Presbyterian Church, 1400 Ewell Road and shuttles will run both days.
