LIBRARIES Essex County Public Library - Bess Haile - Library Director The Friends of the Essex Public Library present a Weekend with a Writer and features a series of weekend workshop and dinner events, each inviting a different professional author to visit Tappahannock and share their experience and wisdom with a workshop group - tickets and packages available from the library and from the Essex Inn. The Essex County Library houses more than 29,000 books, covering such diverse subjects as gardening, home repairs, getting on the internet, and fiction from Hawthorn to Anne Rice, along with a complete collection of children's books and activities, visual aids and large print publications, a full collection of 40 of the most popular periodicals, video and audio tapes, access to fax, photocopiers, computers and public access to high speed Internet. Library hours are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday and Tuesday; 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Wednesday and Thursday; 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm Friday; 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday. Call 804-443-4945 or email the library for more information. The library has full Inter-Library Loan access to books in other libraries throughout the USA. Programs offered at the library include Pre-School Story Hour (limited to 10 children per session), and Summer Reading programs for children aged 3 to 11. The library has built an attractive new facility to meet the needs of all the Essex County citizens. It is located at the intersection of Rt. 17 and School Bus Drive (Elementary School) southwest of the present library. The architect's drawing shown above provides approximately 8,000 square feet at a cost of $700,000. Just under ten miles across the river in Warsaw is the Rappahannock Community College Library which is also open to the public. With over 40,000 volumes, it is a full service college library. For more information visit the RCC Library site at http://www.rcc.vccs.edu/public/library/library_home.htm VISIT ESSEX COUNTY MUSEUM Essex County Museum website Essex County Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. The museum’s mission is to: preserve the rich heritage and history of the county, educate the citizens of Essex County and it’s visitors through stimulating educational programs, publications, and displays including historic memorabilia, inspire an interest in further research and appreciation of the unique traditions that are a part of Essex County. The museum purchased its current location, at 218 Water Lane in the historic district of Tappahannock, in December 2003. We are currently in the process of expanding our use of the building to include a new gallery, expanded gift shop, handicapped accessible entrance and restrooms, a meeting and reference room, and an archival records storage area. The Museum and the Historical Society merged in 2006 to form one organization whose mission is to preserve and share the Essex County story. The benefits of this union are many. Combining our resources will greatly increase Essex County’s ability to provide the citizens of Essex and it’s visitors with a more rewarding and complete experience when they visit the museum. The museum’s permanent exhibit area displays artifacts and historical research that tells the story of Essex County from prehistoric times to the twentieth century. Changing exhibits feature themes related to historical snapshots designed to inform as well as entertain visitors. Jamestown 2007 exhibit will open in the spring of 2007 and be featured into 2008. The collectors case currently local veterans of WW II. A virtual tour provides an interactive computer opportunity to tour the historic town of Tappahannock whose history dates back to John Smith’s 1608 landing at Hoskins Creek. The permanent exhibit area features the story of Essex from prehistoric time through the twentieth century. The museum’s gift shop features many items including colonial era toys, children’s books, and numerous historical books about Essex County as well as Virginia. Museum hours are 10:00am - 3:00pm on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sunday hours are 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Volunteer docents are anxious to make your visit both pleasant and rewarding. Call the museum at 804-443-4690 in advance to arrange a walking tour of historic Tappahannock. Those persons interested in a museum membership or financial support for museum operations or the building fund should contact Essex County Museum, P.O. Box 404, Tappahannock, Virginia 22560. ESSEX COUNTY MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY Visit the Essex County Museum and Historical website Three centuries of court house records dating to 17th Century "Old Rappahannock," which embraced both sides of the river, Essex County, Virginia, is a treasure trove for historical and genealogical study. Tappahannock, the county seat, is older than Richmond, Fredricksburg, or even Williamsburg. To center attention on this rich heritage and its potential benefit to future generations, and to reverse the drain of historical material to outside institutions, the Essex County Historical Society was organized in 1951 at the instigation of Miss Edith Latane of St. Margaret's School in Tappahannock and merged with the Museum in 2006. The Museum and Historical Society is a member supported, nonprofit (501(c)(3) educational activity with these objectives:   • The collection and preservation of manuscripts, photographic images, printed material, and other the collection and preservation of manuscripts, photographic images, printed material, and other physical remains pertaining to the history of the area.   • The study and writing of the history of Essex County and its people, in relation to its mother county of "Old" Rappahannock, the local community, the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world at large.   • The promotion of historical programs, lectures, exhibitions, and similar activities in pursuit of these objectives.   • The interpretation and exhibiting of the material culture of the county. Twice annually the Historical Bulletin publication which records significant articles and has been published since 1971 is distributed to members. Back issues continue to be available on a limited basis. The archives of the Society, a small but growing collection, are available for research by members and by special arrangement for others. Donations of pertinent books, family and business records, church and organizational histories, photographs, and similar material are always welcome. The special interests of genealogists and "old home" researchers are appreciated. While the Society has no corporate research capability, volunteers on a time-available basis can do simple searches, and individuals familiar with the rich historical court and other records of Essex County can be referred. The Essex County Museum and Historical Society meets once a year in May for the annual meeting and selection of board members. Approximately three to four times a year the Society hosts workshops and other events. A guest speaker presents a lecture a historic site or other topic of historical interest. Annual dues for the Society are $20 for individuals and $45 for families. This would include semi annual copies of the bulletin of the Society and the newsletter. Address membership correspondence to: Essex County Museum and Historical Society, P. O. Box 404, Tappahannock, Virginia 22560. Submissions of well-researched and documented articles for the bulletin are welcomed. Historic Sites in the Area Other historical places in the area include Washington's birthplace Wakefield (33 miles), Lee's home Stratford Hall (27 miles), and Ingleside Vineyards (35 miles). An abundance of other museums are also within driving distance including Richmond (45 miles), Historic Williamsburg and Jamestown (75 miles) and even places like the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. (95 miles). Web page last updated: April 22, 2008 [Click here to report a correction or new information for this web page]