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
