The Hill House Museum will be closed for tours until May 15th. However, if anyone reaches out via email or Facebook and wants a tour, we will accommodate the request. Thanks and be safe.
Shop Local for unique holiday gifts
The Hill House Museum is open Wednesday, December 9th noon-3:00. Stop by and check out our unique holiday shop, and also take a tour. Our unique glass ornaments and holiday tea bags have been a hit. Also, we have our famous box of "Five Sisters" blend tea available, and 19th Century shard china ornaments.
Can't make it Wednesday? We are open again Saturday noon-3:00 or by appointment on other days. Call (757-714-3226) Facebook message, or email.
Great Holiday Gift!!!
Looking for a unique Christmas gift?
This one of a kind gift will surely put a smile on anyone's face. This already wrapped gift contains the following:
1 box of Five Sisters Blend tea
1Tea-cup, saucer, and spoon
Cloth Napkin
German Glass ornament (Inge-Glas)
Handmade Ornament
Olde Towne book
1 spoon
All for $25. You can avoid crowds by just stopping by the Hill House Museum and picking up this one-of-a-kind special gift for you or someone special.
Call 757-714-3226, email us at info@thehillhousemuseum.org or Facebook message to arrange pick-up.
Olde Towne Ghost Stories book
Ghost Stories of Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia book
Halloween is next week and this book would make a great gift or addition to your library collection. There is no Ghost Walk this year however ,this book keeps the stories alive......Boo!
Open Wednesdays and Saturdays noon-3:00. Pop in and grab a copy while they last. $10 each
Re-opening of the Museum
The Hill House Museum is
Opening for tours
Starting Wednesday, October 7th
(Wednesdays only)
Noon-3:00
Here is what you can expect…
ü No more than 6 in a group can tour at one time
ü Masks must be worn at all times by staff and visitors
ü Social Distancing guidelines will be followed
ü $5 per person
ü Due to limited staffing tours are available, for now, only on Wednesdays
Acrophobia????
You have to admit members of the Hill Family were not afraid of heights. As you can see from the attached picture, the main staircase view from the fourth floor looking down to the second does not help those who suffer from Acrophobia, the fear of heights. In-turn this amazing architectural feature allows visitors of the museum the opportunity to be connected to each floor by this main artery of the home, the staircase.
The Flower Closet
What is one area of the Hill House Museum guests always marvel at and sometimes wish they had one in their house?
The Flower Closet!
Since the Hill sisters loved horticulture and gardening the flower closet was a place that was well utilized this time of year. In the past when the gardens were blooming the colorful fragrant flowers would have been brought inside, arranged in the flower closet, and placed throughout the Hill House. There is a working sink in the flower closet and many shelves on which colorful and ornate vases sit reminiscent of the glory days of the past. The Hill sisters won many International Flower Show awards and many of those accolades sit on those shelves with the vases. In fact, many of the awards are “First Place” due to their unique contributions to the horticulture world.
Flowers can make a bad day brighter and more colorful! So, enjoy the attached pictures of the Hill House Flower Closet virtually, and maybe be inspired during these pandemic times to bring some color into your home just like the Hill sisters once did.
Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Each year the Hill House Museum celebrates Mother’s Day by hosting a tea. So, with this year’s tea cancelled we decided to post pictures of past Mother’s Day teas.
It is always a great day when we host this special tea, and we hope to continue the tradition next year.
Our wish to you is…May you always have a warm pot of tea on the table and someone you love to share it with..Happy Mother’s Day!!!
201 North Street
In the upcoming weeks we plan on posting something of historical significance along with a brief description accompanied with some pictures. This new feature will give our followers an opportunity to not only become familiar with the many historic documents found in the archives of the Hill House Museum, but also learn something new about Portsmouth’s rich history.
This week’s feature is the historic home located at 201 North Street. The 18th Century house located at the Southwest corner of North and Crawford Streets has seen many changes through the years, but still retains much of its original architecture. One of the distinguishing features of the exterior is a gable on the East end of the main section that has a deep cornice with decorative dentils. The house commands a sweeping view of the Southern branch of the Elizabeth River along with a clear view of the Norfolk skyline.
The house was altered in the late 19th century with a two-story addition added to the south side along with a wrap-around porch (see 1962 attached photo).
The attached elevation drawing shows PRHA’s late 1960’s proposed revitalization efforts for this house which never occurred. This rendering has the removal of the two-story addition on the rear, the wrap-around porch, and the entrance on North Street. As the old adage reminds us, “things have to get worse before they can get better”.
Many persons important in the history of Portsmouth have owned this house. Claudius Murdaugh (late 1800s) was a judge of the Court of Hustings. Another owner was John Gayle, who was a member of the state legislature. So, Olde Towne has few examples of 18th century architecture and 201 North Street plays a significant contribution in allowing others to have a glimpse of a classic architectural style. While enjoying the Spring-like weather take a stroll past this home and study the evolution of change that has knocked on its door many times (see attached present day picture).
Mardi Gras fun with neighborhood kids
Mardi Gras fun in Olde Towne. Today, beads directly from New Orleans, were thrown off the porch of the Hill House Museum for the neighborhood kids. Not only was it exciting but as the kids caught the beads they also caught the spirit of the event. Happy Mardi Gras everyone!
