New Exhibits Open at Museum

In November, the Tavern Museum opened two new exhibits, Fossils in King and Queen County and the Archaeological Investigation of the Remains of Two Early 18th Century Vessels. The fossils being displayed were found in King and Queen County by Mr. Newell Randall, a long time resident of the county who has had a love of fossil hunting since the age of 10. Mr. Randall is interested in introducing a view of the world “beneath our feet” and is excited about sharing his collection with others, especially students. His artifacts cover a variety of marine animals, predominantly sharks over a number of geological eras. Noted geologists and curators of natural history exhibits have provided input into the meticulous identification of his finds. The exhibit of the Remains of Two Early 18th Century Vessels tells the story of the 2009 discovery and subsequent documentation of colonial era wooden vessels off the Mattaponi River shoreline at Newington Plantation, listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. These wrecks have been identified as the oldest vessels archaeologically investigated to date in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This exhibit is provided by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hurst, owners of Newington Plantation, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.