Welcome to
Discover Stafford
Stafford County spans more than 400
years of significant contributions in the
building of our nation.
We invite you to explore the stories we
know, add the stories not yet told, and
stay engaged as we celebrate and
Discover Stafford together!
Stafford Stories
Explore the stories and images of Stafford County. These stories are part of the history of a county, then a state, then a nation. It’s all connected. Stafford’s stories are America’s stories.
Heritage Trail
Explore and experience Stafford’s African American history spanning 300 years in Stafford County.

Historical Figure of the Week

William Matthew Norman
Born c.1838 – Died 1918
William M. Norman (c.1838-1918) was the son of Thomas Norman (c.1790-1846) and Mildred Ficklen Hill (1804-1886) of Edge Hill in the Widewater area of Stafford County, Virginia. During the War Between the States, William served with the 9th Virginia Cavalry. In April 1862 he was held in Falmouth as a prisoner of war. For a few years after the war, Norman partnered with James Edward Schooler (c.1833-1898) in a general merchandise store near Stafford Courthouse. In 1870 he was working at a sawmill but, according to his obituary, was an invalid for the last forty years of his life. William M. Norman was the last of the Norman family to live at their family homeplace, Edge Hill. He died unmarried.

History in Stafford
Explore the past with our interactive historical map, featuring artifacts and locations throughout history. Zoom in to discover more information and click on markers to learn more about specific time periods and places.
Get Involved

Discover Stafford is looking for volunteers for our upcoming events and projects. If you can spare some time to help out, it would be greatly appreciated. Even just a few hours can make a big difference.
Get Social
Stay current on everything Discover Stafford using Facebook and Instagram.
We invite you to use #discoverstafford to share your Stafford experiences on our social platforms.

Donate

Your gift will support our mission to teach, research and interpret the history and culture of Stafford County.
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Learn about upcoming Society and Museum news. Become a member so you can be one of the first to know.

