Middlesex County Museum’s special open house for its new “Middlesex Early Inhabitants” exhibit is set for 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7. The exhibit showcases fossils and Native American artifacts found in the waters and soils of Virginia. This family friendly exhibit offers a way for children to learn about early county history. Refreshments will be served.
The fossil section contains multiple showcases of shells, teeth, bones and even dinosaur excrement from the animals that lived in Middlesex before humans came. Nancy Gibbs, a recent donor of her private collection of fossils to the museum, will attend the open house and discuss her 40 years of collecting. She will bring her specialized tools and gadgets that she uses to find her artifacts.
A large variety of arrowheads, grinding stones, axes, and other tools are on display for visitors to see. Also included are modern ceremonial items donated by Willard H. “Bear” Loving to the museum from his private collection. Learn about Middlesex’s two indigenous tribes John Smith recorded in his journals and on his famous map from his 1608 voyages around the Chesapeake Bay. Other maps from the 1600s are also included as samples of the earliest recordings of Middlesex life.
The museum is located in Saluda at 777 General Puller Highway, one block from the Middlesex County Historic Courthouse. It is open 1-5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and 1-3 p.m Sunday. For information, visit www.middlesexmuseum.com.
