- Old Jail Museum - Though founded in 1968, the Society had no home until, in 1980, the Goochland Board of Supervisors gave permission for the Society to adapt the Old Stone Jail (c. 1833) on the Courthouse Green into a museum and library. From 1980 to 1997, the Jail served as the first headquarters building for the Society. The Jail was constructed when the James River & Kanawaha Canal was being built westward along the James River. River stones were brought up the hill to the site.
After the building was no longer used as a jail, restoration resulted in the removal of all the original cells and iron bars and fittings. Recently refurbished, the Jail Museum now houses the Society's new exhibit tracing the history of Goochland from the 1700s to the 20th Century.
The exhibit details the formation of the county in 1728 by Sir William Gooch, Lt. Governor. Early Indian relics and the first patent for land dated 1703 begin Goochland's history. The exhibit continues with Revolutionary War notes, early homes, and first settlers. Details on the Canal (1831) agriculture, mining, and people give a survey of historic facts relating Goochland's early history.
With little Civil War activity in the county, restoration and activities moving into the 19th Century bring Goochland up to present day history. Organizations such as Fire & Rescue, churches, and important citizens are presented with interesting artifacts.
- Goochland County of the Commonwealth of Virginia, was formed in 1727 after a petition was made to the Royal Governor at the colonial capital, Williamsburg, Virginia. Goochland was the first county created after the original eight shires of the Virginia Colony. In 1727, Goochland stretched westward to the Blue Ridge Mountains along both sides of the James River encompassing the present day counties of Powhatan, Fluvana, Cumberland, Albermarle, Chesterfield, Buckingham, Appomattux, Amherst, and Nelson.
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