The Museum, located in the old jail building beside the Louisa County Courthouse, is open on Friday and Saturday, 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM April through October. The Museum, to view exhibits, is also open by appointment.

The archives and information the museum holds is a different matter from a tour of the exhibits. The Louisa County library and courthouse have a great deal of information and are still the best places to start your research.

History of the Jail

Built in 1868, the old jail was described in 1967 as the “one of the four worst jails in the Commonwealth.” It was ordered to be closed and the Board of Supervisors took action to provide a new facility.

The Louisa County Historical Society made application to the Board of Supervisors for use of the building as headquarters of the Society and as a county museum. Following some repairs, The Honorable Harold H. Purcell, Judge of the Louisa County Circuit Court, approved lease of the building to the Society.

The interior of the present building was destroyed in 1881 when an escaping prisoner set it on fire. Repair work was done that same year. The iron and gratings were purchased from Tredegar Iron works in Richmond, Virginia.

In 1937, all the woodwork was removed and the cement floors and ceiling were installed under the WPA program. Wrought iron was imbedded in the upstairs walls and steel partitions created four cells out of two.

A jail built to accommodate eight prisoners sometimes had to house as many as seventeen. Recently a new heating and cooling system has been installed for the protection of the archives and artifacts in the museum by the Historical Society.

Library of the Louisa County Historical Society - Part of this collection is housed at the Louisa County Library for the convenience of visitors.

Archival Room - Room remains locked, material may be viewed by appointment.