Eastern Shore of Virginia Barrier Islands Center

Eastern Shore of Virginia Barrier Islands Center
Name	Eastern Shore of Virginia Barrier Islands Center
Established	1996
Location	Willis Wharf, Accomack County, Virginia
Type	Cultural heritage museum, research center, conservation organization

Eastern Shore of Virginia Barrier Islands Center is a nonprofit cultural heritage museum and research organization located near Chincoteague Bay on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The Center documents the human and natural history of the barrier islands, interprets maritime heritage, and supports ecological research on islands such as Smith Island (Virginia), Ship Island (Virginia), and Assateague Island. Working with regional partners including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Smithsonian Institution, and local governments, the Center serves as a hub for scholars, residents, and visitors interested in the Delmarva Peninsula and Atlantic coastal resilience.

History

The Center was founded in the late 20th century by residents and historians responding to rapid changes on the Delmarva Peninsula, threats from storms like Hurricane Isabel (2003), and ongoing erosion affecting sites such as Wallops Island and Metompkin Island. Its origins trace to collaborative efforts among organizations including the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Nature Conservancy, and grassroots groups from Accomack County, Virginia. Early projects documented vernacular architecture on islands like Hog Island (Virginia) and oral histories from island communities associated with fisheries centered on blue crab and oyster harvests tied to locales such as Pocomoke Sound. Over time the Center expanded programs to encompass collections stewardship, archaeological surveys, and partnerships with federal agencies including the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Mission and Programs

The Center’s stated mission emphasizes preservation, interpretation, and scientific inquiry related to the barrier islands and adjacent waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Programs are designed in coordination with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, the University of Virginia, and the College of William & Mary. Ongoing initiatives include a cultural landscape inventory modeled after work by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, community-based oral history projects similar to those conducted by the Library of Congress, and climate resilience planning influenced by research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Center also administers fellowships and volunteer opportunities that draw participants from the American Museum Association network and regional conservation groups like the Audubon Society.

Collections and Exhibits

Collections encompass artifacts, photographs, maps, and recorded interviews documenting island life, maritime industries, and natural history. Holdings include period navigation instruments comparable to those at the Mariner’s Museum, folk art tied to island families, and archival maps from the U.S. Coast Survey. Exhibits rotate to highlight themes such as lighthouse keeping associated with structures like Crisfield Lighthouse and shipwrecks cataloged by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Collaborative exhibits have been mounted with the Eastern Shore Public Library and traveling panels have been loaned to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and community centers in Onancock, Virginia and Cape Charles, Virginia.

Research and Conservation

The Center facilitates and participates in interdisciplinary research spanning coastal geomorphology, historical archaeology, and marine ecology. Scientists from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Old Dominion University, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center have used Center archives to study sediment dynamics, habitat loss on islands like Assawoman Island, and species distributions including shorebirds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Archaeological projects have involved collaboration with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and academic teams from the College of William & Mary’s Institute of Maritime Studies to document shell middens and collapsed homesteads. Conservation efforts coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on habitat restoration and with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on monitoring sea-level rise.

Education and Outreach

Educational programming targets K–12 students, university researchers, and the general public through workshops, field trips, and lecture series. Partnerships with the Virginia Department of Education and regional schools bring curricula on coastal ecology and maritime history into classrooms, while summer internships emulate models from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service. The Center’s oral history project archives narratives similar to collections at the Library of Congress and offers training in ethnographic methods used by scholars at the University of Maryland. Public outreach also includes community forums addressing storm preparedness aligned with guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and interpretive programming during regional events such as the Chincoteague Pony Swim.

Facilities and Access

Located near Willis Wharf, the Center occupies a modest exhibit and research space with storage for climate-controlled archival materials and laboratories for artifact processing. Facilities support boating access for fieldwork to islands reachable from local marinas in Onancock and Onley, and collaborate with marine transit providers similar to services operating from Chincoteague Island. Access is coordinated with county authorities in Accomack County, Virginia and by appointment for researchers; public hours and special events align with seasonal tourism patterns on the Eastern Shore (Virginia). The Center maintains relationships with regional accommodations and visitor services in towns such as Cape Charles, Virginia and Saxis, Virginia for conference and workshop participants.

Category:Museums in Accomack County, Virginia