mary ball washington museum & library

This is a small but important museum especially for family's with young children. I'd suggest making it part of a family day trip down rte 3. Start with George Washington's birth place followed by Robert E . Lee's home and ending up here at the Mary Ball Washington Museum. What We liked about this museum was the sense of what life was like in the years before America's independence and what life was like in Northern Neck, VA.. (Note:There is also the really old county jail building next door great for kids to explore). At the end of the day I'd suggest staying at the Kilmarnock Inn which has several President's home facades on guest houses.

I am used to museums that have rooms and rooms of displays. This one has 2 rooms and a couple of additional outbuildings. I was glad to see the preservation effort, but didn't feel that the presentation made me understand what it was really all about. The building housing the collection, a jail and an additional outbuilding comprised the whole of the museum. Except for one employee, I was alone there. The employee tried to keep herself busy in the gift shop while I puttered through the rooms. I got the impression that she was basically waiting for me to leave so she could get back to where she had been in the rear of the building before I intruded. There are a few interesting examples of 19th century women's dresses there. It is worth seeing if you are passing through the area. Admission is free.