Hunter House Victorian Museum, Norfolk
Steeped in elegance, the Hunter House Victorian Museum stands as a beautifully preserved time capsule. Designed by Boston architect William Pitt Wentworth in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, this red-brick residence was completed in 1894 and served as the family home for merchant and banker James Wilson Hunter, his wife Lizzie Ayer Barnes Hunter, and their three children.
Stepping through its doors feels like traveling back in time. The museum preserves nearly all of the original furnishings, decorative arts, and personal belongings of the Hunter family. Visitors wander through two floors curated to reflect the domestic flair of the era, with features such as curved walls, stained-glass cabinetry, pocket doors, and a lavish walk-in closet that highlights the grandeur of turn-of-the-century Victorian living.
Since opening as a museum in 1988, the Hunter House has remained a nonprofit institution dedicated to historical education and preservation. Guided tours provide insightful narratives about the family鈥檚 life, their social context, and the broader cultural currents of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Equally compelling is the story of the Hunter family itself-the three Hunter children-James Jr., Harriet, and Eloise-never married and lived their entire lives in this home. They passed away one after the other, with the last sibling Eloise dying in 1965. After that, the house remained untouched until it officially opened as a museum in 1988, essentially preserving their lives within its walls.
Editors note: Temporarily closed.
Stepping through its doors feels like traveling back in time. The museum preserves nearly all of the original furnishings, decorative arts, and personal belongings of the Hunter family. Visitors wander through two floors curated to reflect the domestic flair of the era, with features such as curved walls, stained-glass cabinetry, pocket doors, and a lavish walk-in closet that highlights the grandeur of turn-of-the-century Victorian living.
Since opening as a museum in 1988, the Hunter House has remained a nonprofit institution dedicated to historical education and preservation. Guided tours provide insightful narratives about the family鈥檚 life, their social context, and the broader cultural currents of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Equally compelling is the story of the Hunter family itself-the three Hunter children-James Jr., Harriet, and Eloise-never married and lived their entire lives in this home. They passed away one after the other, with the last sibling Eloise dying in 1965. After that, the house remained untouched until it officially opened as a museum in 1988, essentially preserving their lives within its walls.
Editors note: Temporarily closed.
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Hunter House Victorian Museum on Map
Sight Name: Hunter House Victorian Museum
Sight Location: Norfolk, USA (See walking tours in Norfolk)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Norfolk, USA (See walking tours in Norfolk)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Norfolk, Virginia
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In 1636, English colonists established a small settlement along the Elizabeth River, recognizing the area鈥檚 natural deep-water harbor as a vital asset for... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles