Photo courtesy Norfolk Convention & Visitors Bureau

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The Willoughby-Baylor House is located on E. Freemason Street in Norfolk.

Photo by Willoughby-Baylor House, courtesy Ed Pollard

Norfolk History Museum at Willoughby-Baylor House, Norfolk, VA

Come and explore Norfolk's rich history

by Wanda Long | January 27, 2012

Built in the 1700s, the Willoughby-Baylor House is one of Norfolk, Virginia's earliest homes. In addition to being a colonial-style building, it also houses the Norfolk History Museum. The museum gives insight on Norfolk's rich history and is open to the public on weekends.

Captain William Willoughby, a descendent of an English immigrant, constructed the Willoughby-Baylor House in 1794. The home was family-owned until 1890, which is the year that it was sold. The building was purchased by the Norfolk Historical Foundation in the early 1960s and restored. Today, guests can tour the home and explore the Norfolk History Museum.

The museum allows visitors to take a closer look at Norfolk's history with displays representing the city's commercial, maritime, and military beginnings. Permanent and temporary exhibits from the Chrysler Museum of Art are also showcased at the home. Visitors can stroll through the garden at the Willoughby-Baylor House and view its colonial-style landscaping. The museum can be seen on self-guided tours on Friday through Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m.

The Willoughby-Baylor House is managed by the Chrysler Museum of Art. For more information on the museum, visit http://www.chrysler.org/about-the-museum/historic-houses/willoughby-baylor-house/. The home is located at 601 E. Freemason Street and the phone number to the museum is (757) 664-6200.