Institutional History Museum and Galleries
Founded in 1749 as Augusta Academy in Augusta County, Virginia, Washington and Lee University is the ninth-oldest college in the United States. For close to a century, specific chapters of the University’s rich and complex history – particularly those related to our namesakes – have been chronicled in museum and gallery spaces, including the University Chapel, and through historical markers on campus. In 2018, the University committed to creating an Institutional History Museum to serve as an educational resource for the W&L community and the broader public.
The new museum will complement the university’s existing historical galleries, telling the full and rich history of the university, its people, traditions, and impact throughout the arc of the nation’s history. Its mission is to care for, exhibit, and interpret artifacts to help visitors understand the many people and events that shaped Washington and Lee’s history. The museum will offer modern exhibitions, inclusive interpretation, and engaging programs that educate and inspire the campus community and the general public to reflect on Washington and Lee University’s history and its place in the greater history of the nation.
Fundraising is currently underway for the new facility, which will be built on the university’s front campus near the intersection of Jefferson St. and Washington St.
Contact Us
Matt Davis, Director of the Institutional History Museum Linda Cummings, Administrative Assistant
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Washington and Lee University
204 West Washington St.
Lexington, VA 24450
Institutional History Museum
Our comprehensive, modern museum located steps from Lexington’s historic downtown will share Washington and Lee’s complete history while highlighting the university’s connections to American history for the campus community and public. The museum will display many of the university’s notable collections and historical works of art, of which many have never been previously displayed. With more convenient and centralized access to these works, faculty and students will more effectively incorporate them into classroom discussions, academic research and additional educational programming.
University Chapel and Galleries
Completed in 1868 at the request of Washington College President Robert E. Lee, University Chapel (first known as “the College Chapel”) has been a gathering place for the campus community since its inception. The building, which originally included an auditorium for weekday worship services as well as the president’s and treasurer’s offices and the YMCA headquarters, has evolved over more than 150 years to incorporate historical gallery spaces and the Lee Family crypt. It continues to be used for university events.
Related Resources
Learn more about the university’s collections of art and history, our namesakes, and other regional sites of interest.
Art Museum and Galleries
Our campus Art Museum and Galleries hold exhibitions, lectures, classes, and events throughout the year. They advance learning through direct engagement with the collections and facilitate an interdisciplinary appreciation of art and culture.
Special Collections
Special Collections and Archives at Washington and Lee University collects, preserves, and makes accessible materials supporting the diverse teaching and research needs of our students, faculty, staff, and the greater community.
Regional History Museums
Historical sites of interest in the area include, the VMI Museum, the George C. Marshall Foundation, Frontier Cultural Museum, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, and the Stonewall Jackson House. More information on these sites is available on their websites or at the Lexington Visitors Center.
George Washington
Learn more about the history of George Washington through his papers and related historical sites, including the Mount Vernon Estate, Museum and Gardens.
Robert E. Lee
Learn more about the history of Robert E. Lee through the Lee Family Digital Archive and related historical sites, including the Stratford Hall and Arlington House.
Bill and Wendy Payne Champion W&L’s Institutional History Museum with $3.5M Gift
Trustee issues challenge for support of the project.
Washington and Lee University to Replace Foundation Landscaping Surrounding University Chapel
The diverse palette of plant materials includes native plant species focusing on varied colors, sizes and textures to accentuate the beauty of the historic structure.
W&L Sets Location for Institutional History Museum
Plans for Washington and Lee University’s Institutional History Museum are beginning to take shape.
Matt Davis Appointed Director of W&L’s Institutional History Museum
Davis has served as director of historic museums at Georgia College & State University since 2018.
Statement Regarding the Relocation of Plaques to a New Exhibit in University Chapel
Four historical plaques relocated on campus are being installed in a new exhibit in University Chapel.
W&L to Perform Maintenance on Ivy Adorning University Chapel
The iconic vines will receive significant pruning to ensure their overall health.
W&L Announces Upcoming Campus Construction Projects
A new Williams School facility and renovations to University Chapel and Sydney Lewis Hall among several projects on the horizon.
W&L Stages a New Exhibition Illustrating Chapel History
The University Chapel and Galleries recently opened an exhibition titled “Setting the Stage: A Glimpse Inside 150 Years of the University Chapel Auditorium.”
W&L to Dedicate Chavis Hall March 9
John Chavis was an alumnus of W&L and the first African-American known to receive a college education in the United States.
MaKayla Lorick ’19 is collecting oral histories from African-American alumni, faculty and staff as part of a project that aims to include those missing perspectives in Washington and Lee University’s history of desegregation and integration.
Washington’s Will is ‘a True National Treasure’
The will, a favorite piece for use in accounting and taxation classes at W&L, reveals much about Washington’s character and views.
Two tiny, leather-bound volumes in Special Collections feature signatures and bookplates that make them extraordinarily rare.