Eastern Shore Museum Network Connects 15 Cultural Institutions Across Virginia’s Historic Peninsula

The Eastern Shore Museum Network, established in 2009 with support from Virginia Humanities, links 15 museums and historic sites along Virginia’s Eastern Shore—a narrow peninsula bounded by the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. From NASA Wallops Flight Facility’s space exploration exhibits in the north to Cape Charles’ railroad and maritime heritage sites in the south, the network preserves the region’s diverse 400-year history.

The Eastern Shore has served as a gateway to America since colonial times, with its barrier islands, working watermen communities, and Victorian-era railroad towns each contributing unique chapters to Virginia’s story. Today’s network includes everything from lighthouse museums and railway depots to agricultural heritage sites and research libraries, making this isolated but historically rich region more accessible to visitors. Virginia Humanities continues as an active partner, supporting the network’s mission to connect these scattered cultural treasures across Accomack and Northampton counties.

The collaborative approach helps smaller institutions share resources while highlighting the Eastern Shore’s role in space exploration, maritime commerce, agriculture, and Chesapeake Bay culture.