Last updated: 10/28/2012
306 Depot Square
Abingdon, VA 24212
P. O. Box 484
Abingdon, VA 24212
Tuesday - Friday
10 AM - 4 PM
The society is closed on all Federal holidays and closes during inclement winter weather.
Located in downtown Abingdon, Virginia, the Historical Society is headquartered in the Old Norfolk&Western Train Depot. The Society is a leading center in the region for genealogical and historical research.
The Historical Society of Washington County has roots in the past and a vision for the future. The Society recognizes that history is the key to understanding who we were, who we are, and who we shall be. The Society will provide the facility and means to collect, preserve and share information regarding the heritage of the County and surrounding region, and encourage interest in historical and genealogical research, and preservation of local historic properties, sites and artifacts.
25-30 YEARS - MAINLY A DISCUSSION GROUP, INFORMAL RESEARCH, PUBLIC LECTURES
1960s - COUNTY CEMETERY INVENTORY, "HIGH ON A WINDY HILL", SET THE TONE AND DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE
INCORPORATED IN 1965; GRANTED NON-PROFIT, 501[c][3] ORGANIZATION STATUS IN 1973
1995 - STARTED COMPUTER-BASED INDEX SYSTEM
2002 - MOVED INTO THE HISTORIC PASSENGER DEPOT IN DOWNTOWN ABINGDON
1,000+ family files
52,000 pages of digitized documents
27,000 digitized photos
Records from nearly all Virginia counties
Records from bordering states
Local architectural surveys and histories
Listings of early SWVA Virginia settlers
Bible records, obituaries, letters, diaries, etc.
Marriage license project = 14,000 licenses recovered from courthouse basement
Buildings, places and events
Audio/visual recordings of veterans telling about war as they saw it
The Historical Society has digitized over 27,000 photographs and over 52,000 pages of documents. These images are divided into three main categories: People; Places and Objects; and Documents.
The People master index lists digitized photographs of people in varying scenes both posed and candid.
The Places and Objects index lists the images we have digitized of churches, houses, schools, bridges, mills, railroads, tombstones, historical scenes, etc.
The Document index lists digitized images of documents covering a wide range of historical interest, such as marriage certificates, obituaries, military documents, letters, newspaper articles, business receipts, etc.
All of the images are viewable at the Historical Society Library and copies are available for purchase.
Research Library, staffed by volunteer assistants
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: No
Searchable computer data base
research assistance
copies of digitized documents and photos for sale
other local history and genealogy related books for sale
extensive information available on small family cemeteries
a large collection of tombstone photos
The Historical Society is staffed by volunteers and there are times that we do not have enough staff available to keep the library open five days a week. If you are planning a trip to visit us, please call ahead to be sure we will be open.
Online Gift Shop
Wheelchair Accessible
Parking
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