Museum
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.
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.
Additional Museum Features
Places
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.
History Trail
Explore over 20 locations and countless stories that showcase the strength and resilience of the African American community over a span of 300 years in Stafford County.
VR
Explore and experience Stafford’s history during the Revolutionary War period using Virtual Reality. VR headset is not required.
Voices of Stafford
Listen to interviews from Stafford citizens who experienced first-hand the history and development of Stafford County. Among life experiences and changes observed in Stafford, some genealogy is included.
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
