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The Church’s fifteen exquisite windows were commissioned by the Ladies’ Memorial Association of Petersburg in memory of soldiers buried at the adjacent Blandford Cemetery. From 1901 to 1912, Tiffany and his team of artists designed, created, and installed the windows.

A guided tour of the Church Museum reveals its history as an 18th-century Anglican house of worship, its eventual abandonment and fall into disrepair, its use as a field hospital during the Siege of Petersburg, and its restoration.

Blandford Cemetery, one of the oldest and largest in America, is the resting place of veterans and many others who are part of the region’s history.  A tour includes monuments and tombs, and funerary art representing outstanding examples of eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth-century gravestones, sculptures, and decorative iron fences.

Did You Know?
America’s Memorial Day Holiday was inspired by events at Blandford Church Museum and Cemetery. Soon after the Civil War ended, Mary Logan, wife of Union Commander General John A. Logan, witnessed a group of schoolgirls placing flowers on the graves of soldiers. Deeply moved when she saw the ritual repeated the next year, she related the story to her husband, who took steps that ultimately led to the observance of Memorial Day as a national holiday.

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Education: Learn about the arts from our world class art educators and teaching artists

Healing: Join us in exploring the arts’ natural ability to help us heal

Research: We believe that all great things start with curiosity

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One of Virginia’s Most Historic Counties

The artifacts and exhibits in the Prince George County Regional Heritage Center tell the story of the county from its earliest beginnings to the present day. Founded in 1702, the county’s borders originally stretched to North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to being noteworthy for its large land area, Prince George has produced many fascinating people and possesses a rich and immersive history.

Native son, Edmund Ruffin was a noted scientist and agriculturalist who is credited with new farming methods that saved farmland throughout the region. Ruffin was also an ardent secessionist who was present at Fort Sumpter when the first shot of the Civil War was fired. During that war, much of what now comprises the city of Petersburg and Dinwiddie County was within the borders of Prince George.  Much of the fighting in the Petersburg Campaign occurred on Prince George County soil. The “Beefsteak Raid”, a daring cavalry attack orchestrated by Confederate General Wade Hampton to capture 2,500 head of cattle from the Union Army, took place along the shores of the James River in Prince George. This epic story and others like it are represented and related in the Heritage Center by illustrative and explanatory artifacts and exhibits.

The Center’s exhibits tell the fascinating story of the County’s history from prehistoric, through first inhabitants to 20th century immigration, and all of the wars that have touched its soils.  African-American history, Czech and Slovak heritage, religions, education, many generations, all represented and presented in the Heritage Center state-of-the art exhibits and programs. Located in the 1883 courthouse, the old courtroom is also open to visitors.

Did You Know?
Prince George County is named after Prince George of Denmark, the consort of Queen Anne. Together they ruled Great Britain until his death in 1708.

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The Beacon is also home to the Old Dominion Barn Dance featuring producer Donna Meade who is a former Mercury-Polygram recording artist and a member of Virginia’s Country Music Hall of Fame. Meade was married to Jimmy Dean. Since Dean’s passing in 2010, Donna is enjoying performing again as well as producing the Old Dominion Barn Dance. She is the writer of the Barn Dance theme, and her childhood sweetheart and husband of 8 years, Jayson Stevens, serves as production manager. Donna is proud to revive and preserve Virginia’s venerable country music show by presenting the best in traditional country and Bluegrass entertainment, and is honored to be serving as hostess!

The Beacon has two (2) beautifully appointed ballrooms for special events (weddings, reunions, receptions, socials, conferences, luncheons, corporate events, product launches, etc). The theater proper steadily features live music showcasing the intimacy of the venue and its status as a first-rate entertainment/corporate event facility.

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Local artists create works in oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, jewelry, sculpture and mixed media. Original works and prints are available for sale.

PAAL presents a summer concert series each year, and a favorite annual event in December is the “Trees of Christmas” exhibition that features the decorating skills of local organizations.

The Petersburg Area Art League showcases the works of local artists through exhibitions in three galleries.

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Gallery owner and resident artist Ronald Walton was born in New York City and attended Brooklyn College. He is acclaimed for his creation of the “Rollcubistic” style of portraying human form. This unique technique of painting encompasses the use of round sphere-like balls patterned to form a humanistic figure. His use of color combination and depth creates a lavish and illuminating affect. Walton’s work can be found in public and private collections throughout the United States. Walton is an artist who continues to create new work. “Art should be practiced in good, bad, high, or low spirits,” says Walton.

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Fort Lee’s live children’s theater program, “KidKapers,” not only delights, but also educates and inspires young people in the community while creating memories that families will treasure for years to come.

The Theater Company at Fort Lee has become one of the most active performing groups in the region, offering up a variety of Main Stage productions like Broadway musicals, comedies and dramas.

Building 4300, Mahone Avenue Fort Lee, VA 23801

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The Ward Center is available as an event venue.

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