Founders Day
The annual Founders Day program invites all to travel to our colonial past and experience the music, debates on issues of colonial importance with living history players, and family fun. We showcase our historic assets with sailing ships of the era, encampments, and other activities. Take a look at past Founders Days events!
Founders Day
Saturday, August 2, 2025
The Friends of Urbanna presents Founders Day, enlivening Urbanna as it celebrates its colonial heritage. Delight in Colonial-style fife and drum musicians as the “town crier” opens the day’s festivities in the heart of town on Virginia Street.
Come, savor the history! Preceded by colonial musicians at the historic Urbanna Baptist Church at 11am meet18th-century historic interpreters portraying Thomas Jefferson and George Wythe (courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation), who will engage in a lively discussion about the actions of the Second Continental Congress, which convened in May 1775, after the recent battle of Lexington and Concord. Just back from the Congress, with all colonies represented, see what stories our patriotic Virginians have to report: Will the “rebellion” turn to war, or will Britain repeal its iron grip?
Be sure to stop by the backyard at the James Mills Scottish Factor Store, as Virginia Navy sailors in the American War of Independence will present an encampment, with live firing from 10 am to 3 pm with swivel guns. Watch and listen as interpreters will showcase an accurate view of Navy life in the 18th century through their clothing, weapons and tools, and rations. The sailors ashore will be doing 18th-century skills, such as cooking, sailmaking, surgeon's demos, and ropework, plus musket and pike drills.
Go inside the Scottish Factor Store and Town Museum, open from 11am-3pm, featuring docents and historians, who will share the history of the Scottish Factor Store, the last remaining one of its kind in the country. Jim Robusto will guide you through the story of an Urbanna treasure, the Mitchell Map, declared by the Library of Congress to be one of the most important maps in our country’s history. Enjoy a stroll in the colonial Medicinal Garden in the back lawn of the Museum next to the Virginia Navy encampment.
Wander down to the Urbanna Town Dock to view and tour the Luna, a 1768 replica sloop, docked all weekend. Guided tours by costumed guides will let you tour the ship and tell tales of its adventures in colonial times.
At the corner of Cross and Virginia Streets, you will find the Explorer, a replica of the shallop used by John Smith in his 1608 explorations of the Chesapeake Bay and tributary rivers. You are also invited to visit the encampment of “Anas Todkill,” Director of Living History and Historic Trades at Jamestown, alongside the Explorer. As you speak with Todkill, you’ll learn he is a well-documented traveler with Smith on his explorations.
Be sure to visit our historic buildings: In the center of town, The Women’s Club (one of only 11 remaining colonial courthouses still standing) will be open for tours from 11-3, and the historic colonial residence Lansdowne will be open for tours from 12:30 to 3pm.
Come and enjoy all the colonial events of the day in the quaint and historic town of Urbanna with its friendly and welcoming people, several excellent restaurants, and multiple unique boutique shops.
This annual event is sponsored by the Friends of Urbanna, River Counties Community Foundation, the Town of Urbanna, Urbanna Business Association, and private donors.
Photo credit: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the HMS Otter
Founders Day
Saturday, August 3rd, 2024
Colonial-style fife and drum musicians and the “town crier” will open the day’s festivities in the heart of Urbanna On Virginia Street at the Women’s Club at 10:15am.
At 11am, eighteenth century historic interpreters portraying Richard Henry Lee and George Mason will engage in a strategic discussion about the War and the New Nation, held at the historic Urbanna Baptist Church, 121 Watling Street, Urbanna, Virginia.
The James Mills Scottish Factor Store and Town Museum will be open from 11am-3pm featuring historian, Barbara Lovelace, sharing the history of the Scottish Factor Store, the last remaining one of its kind in the country. Jim Robusto will guide you through the story of an Urbanna treasure, the Mitchell Map, declared by the Library of Congress to be one of the most important maps in our country’s history. Enjoy a stroll in the colonial time Medicinal Garden in the back lawn of the Museum.
Wander down to the Urbanna Town Dock to view and tour the Luna, a 1768 replica sloop. Guided tours by period costumed guides will offer information on the ship and its purpose in colonial times. The Luna will be docked all weekend.
At the corner of Cross and Virginia Streets, you will find the Explorer. A replica of the Shallop used by John Smith in his explorations of the Chesapeake Bay and tributary rivers. You are invited to visit the encampment of “Anas Todkill,” Director of Living History and Historic Trades at Jamestown alongside the Explorer. Todkill is a well-documented traveler with Smith on his explorations.
In the center of town, The Women’s Club (one of only 11 remaining Colonial Courthouses still standing) will be open for tours from 11-3, and the historic colonial residence Lansdowne will be open for tours from 12:30pm to 3pm.
Come enjoy all the colonial events of the day in the quaint and historic town of Urbanna with its friendly and welcoming people, several excellent restaurants, and multiple unique boutique shops.
Sponsored by Friends of Urbanna, River Counties Community Foundation, the Town of Urbanna, Urbanna Business Association, and private donors.
Founders Day: A Celebration of Urbanna's Colonial History
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Colonial style fife and drum musicians and the “town crier” will open the day’s festivities in the heart of Urbanna at the Women’s Club at 10:15am.
At 11am, Colonial Williamsburg re-enactors, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson, will engage in a lively and realistic and entertaining debate over the “Separation of Church and State” held at the historic Urbanna Baptist Church, 121 Watling Street, Urbanna, VA.
The James Mills Scottish Factor Store and Town Museum will be open from 11am to 4pm featuring historian, Barbara Lovelace, sharing the history of the Scottish Factor Store, the last remaining one of its kind in the country. And view the Mitchell Map, declared by the Library of Congress to be one of the most important maps in our country’s history. You will be guided through the map’s creation and uses by one of the Museum docents. Enjoy a stroll in the colonial time Medicinal Garden in the back lawn of the Museum.
Wander down to the Urbanna Town Dock to view and tour the Luna, a 1768 replica sloop. Guided tours by period costumed guides will offer information on the ship and its purpose in colonial times. The Luna will be in the docks all weekend.
At the corner of Cross and Virginia Streets, you will find the Explorer. A replica of the Shallop used by John Smith in his explorations of the Chesapeake Bay and tributary rivers. You are invited to visit with “Anas Todkill” (a Jamestown re-enactor) at his encampment alongside the Explorer. Todkill is a well-documented traveler with Smith on his explorations.
In the center of town, The Women’s Club (one of only 11 remaining Colonial Courthouses still standing) will be open for tours from 11am to 3pm; the historic colonial residence Landsdowne will be open for tours from 12:30pm to 3pm with a children’s story time on their front lawn at 1:30pm.
Come enjoy all the colonial events of the day in the quaint and historic town of Urbanna with its friendly and welcoming people, several excellent restaurants and multiple unique boutique shops.
Sponsored by Friends of Urbanna, River Counties Community Foundation, the Town of Urbanna, Urbanna Business Association, and private donors.
Photo credit: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Founders Day: A Constitutional Debate
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Be sure to join us at the Urbanna Visitor Center and Museum – this one-of-a-kind Scottish Factor Store is the only remaining Scottish Factor Store in the country. Here you will enjoy stories of colonial times in Urbanna and the Scottish Factor Store as told by historian Barbara Lovelace and view the Paul Malone presentation on the rare and valuable Mitchell Map that hangs in the Museum. Join in colonial games under the tent on the lawn and enjoy the lovely colonial medicinal garden. Don’t miss our Museum in the Streets Signs all around town to further explore the history of this wonderfully historic spot in Virginia.
The museum is open on weekends from February through November. We hope you will bring your friends and family to visit this special place in the history of our country. The Friends of Urbanna, a 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the deep and rich history of Urbanna and the surrounding areas. The goal of the organization is to raise awareness of and educate the local community on the history of Urbanna and surrounding areas. Friends of Urbanna has been appointed by the Urbanna Town Council to be the primary advisory group to the Town on the continuing development and preservation of the Scottish Factor Store Museum. Connect with us on Facebook at Friends of Urbanna
Our gratitude and appreciation for financial support goes to The River Counties Community Foundation, the Town of Urbanna and other private donors. Thank you for coming. We hope to see you next year!
Photo credit: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Founders Day: A Constitutional Debate
Saturday, August 7, 2021
A Visit to the 18th Century Scottish Factor Store
(The Continuing Drama about Urbanna’s Development in the Early Years)
Schedule of Events:
10:30 am: The Town Crier will proclaim the beginning of the Celebration and Fife & Drummers will entertain at 51 Cross St. 11:00 am and 1:00 pm: Presentations at the Woman’s Club depicting “A visit to the 18th Century Scottish Factor Store” inviting you to observe activities on a busy day in the summer of 1774.
Throughout the Day in Town,
- Enjoy a 17th boat, the Explorer, on the Town Green and take your picture by this vessel
- Take the “Museum in The Streets” tour using the signs in town and your phone – help will be available at the sign by Bristow Store on Cross St.
- Fife and Drummers will march leading you to delightful and informative locations.
- View the Mitchell Map at the Urbanna Museum & Visitor Center at 130 Virginia St. Declared by the US Library of Congress to be “the most important map in American history”.
- Engage in Colonial Games in the afternoon on the lawn at the Urbanna Museum and enjoy light refreshments
Education
Our primary goal is to introduce young people and children to our valuable colonial history through education and interpretive programs, essay contests, and special events.
- When area school children learn about Virginia history in the fourth-grade curriculum, we invite and coordinate with teachers and their students to tour the museum and learn firsthand about life in colonial Virginia.
- Since 2019, Friends of Urbanna has partnered with Middlesex County’s St. Clare Walker Middle School to conduct an essay contest for 6th graders, with different themes each year. In 2024, the essay contest focused on John Mitchell’s amazing legacy. The 6th-grade students attended onsite presentations to learn about John Mitchell and his map at the Scottish Factor Store and were asked to write an essay on his legacy. Our volunteers read and judged the essays, and we award prizes at a special Recognition Awards Program at the school, inviting parents and friends to attend. There is a special Recognition of Achievement at an upcoming Urbanna Town Council meeting for the first-place winner after the Awards Ceremony at the school, followed by an article in the local paper featuring the Essay Contest and the first prize winner.
- As part of Founders Day in 2023 we sponsored a colonial storytelling program for elementary school children on the grounds of historic Lansdowne in Urbanna.
- Many colonial games and activities are available for purchase in the Factor Store, promoting basic learning in math and social studies for children.
- *We will partner with The Friends of the Rappahannock in 2026 to introduce the 6th graders from St Clare Walker Middle School to more of the colonial history of the Town of Urbanna. Plans call for a scavenger hunt in the town and water activities that teach about the importance of our colonial port town.
Community
Friends of Urbanna partners with the Town of Urbanna and the local surrounding organizations to support the promotion of the deep history of our area and to welcome new friends into the Scottish Factor Store throughout the year. At the museum events, docents tell the story of the regional tobacco culture in colonial times and explain the creation of the Mitchell Map and its significant role in the development of our county.
A few of our activities include:
- Supporting the participation of the Scottish Factor Store Museum in the Christmas House tours, giving visitors a sense of colonial Christmas celebrations.
- Offering support for custom museum tours, including the hosting a meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
- Participation in The Urbanna Business Association sponsored Wine and Oyster Stroll, with refreshments on the porch
- Participation in the UBA sponsored Scarecrow Show-Off Contest with our very own colonial scarecrow sitting on the porch railing
- Providing docent assistance as needed at the museum for the annual official Virginia Oyster Festival, a huge gathering held in Urbanna over two days in November
- Participation in the Urbanna Christmas parade
- Talks, open to the public at the historic building housing the Middlesex Woman’s Club, by historian Dr. Jim Robusto’s ongoing research on Urbanna’s Scottish factor and 18th century Middlesex justice, James Mills. This in-depth research, “Days in Court with James Mills,” shows and explains court records from the Middlesex County Court, all of which took place in the Woman’s Club building when it was the 18th century courthouse for Middlesex.
