History Matters Walkway
Paving the Way for Cape Charles’ History - One Brick at a Time
The Cape Charles Museum greatly appreciates the outstanding support of our community. The Museum operates solely from memberships and donations. This means that over 80% of the funds needed to keep the Museum’s doors open must come from other sources. Grants, unfortunately, don’t cover operating expenses.
Purchasing an engraved brick means that your contribution leaves a lasting mark on history, just as past generations have shaped Cape Charles. You can have a brick engraved in your name or in memory of a loved one and take pride in the town’s past and know that your support helps keep the Museum running and its stories alive.
Your Engraved Brick on Our Walkway
The Cape Charles Museum is dedicated to preserving our historical and cultural resources while fostering a sense of community that enhances well-being and prosperity, now and for generations to come. We partnered with Bricks R Us for this historic fundraiser. Check out the engraved Brick options at Learn More button below.
Benefits Cape Charles Museum Programs
Fish Fry and Homemade Baklava Fundraiser
Take Out food fundraiser at Cape Charles Museum, 814 Randolph Avenue, Cape Charles, VA. Ticket sales online have been shut down but you can still come in person between 4-7pm. May want to get here early, some tickets still available at Rayfields and Table and Tonic
Cape Charles Museum Opens May 10th
Visit us this season
Discover the wonders of rail & water transportation history at Cape Charles Museum and Welcome Center Museum. Our collections include rare and artifacts, such as steamship models, railroad & steamer memorabilia. Visitors can also explore exhibits showcasing the carnivals & circus’ of the past, along with permanent transportation & local artifacts exhibits.
Open for the season on May 10th.
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Become a Member or Renew Membership
Happy New Year. We invite you to become a Museum member or renew your membership for 2025. Click on the Memberships button to purchase, or save the form, print & mail with your check.
Cape Charles Historical Society and Museum
Located inside a historic power plant are displays of photos & artifacts depicting the history of Cape Charles and the railroad and ferry service, a large model collection of Chesapeake Bay steamboats. The campus has a collection of rail cars, a locomotive, jetty house, pilot house of Capt. Edward Richardson RR barge.
Available now
Cape Charles - A Railroad Town
This popular book by Jim Lewis has long been out of print.. Xenophon Press has re-published it for us. It is for sale in Hard Cover or Soft Cover versions.
Purchase at the Museum, or order online. Website orders shipped only.
also, see our permanent exhibits
Our Busch-Sulzer Diesel Generator
Our Busch-Sulzer Diesel Generator
Our Busch-Sulzer Diesel Generator
This engine and generator supplied power to the town and local area during periods of peak demand from 1947 until the mid-1980s.
Our Chesapeake Bay Ferry Models
Our Busch-Sulzer Diesel Generator
Our Busch-Sulzer Diesel Generator
An extensive model collection of Chesapeake Bay ferries and steamboats from the mid-19th Century until the opening of the Bridge-Tunnel. Use the button to see Jim Garrison's video series on the Virginia Ferry Corporation (VFC). SEE MORE ON VFC BELOW
The Virginia ferry corporation
Jim Garrison continues work on his video series on the ferries, and he is looking for more images and film. If you have something you would be willing to share for future productions he would be very grateful.
your donations keep our museum open
Our locomotive and freight cars were donated to the museum at the closure of the Cape Charles rail yard. Moving them to our site strained our finances in 2019, and now we have to begin their restoration. Meanwhile, we receive, archive and display many artifacts related to the history of Cape Charles, as well as maintain an extensive library of historical photographs. Please consider a donation to help us continue to preserve the history of this historic Eastern Shore town..
