The Gwynn’s Island Museum opened for the season on Friday, offering visitors a chance to explore the history, ancestry and archaeology of the island.

The museum houses a large collection of information relating to Gwynn’s Island’s founding families and is an excellent resource for anyone tracing their family history, said a press release. Tom Edwards, museum director and an avid historian, is on hand weekly to talk about the exhibits and history of Gwynn’s Island and to assist with any research.

The Battle of Cricket Hill display now includes a British three-pounder cannonball that was found on Edwards Creek and is possibly from the Lady Charlotte or one of the other tenders stationed in Milford Haven during the July 1776 battle. John Mathiesen, who did research on the cannonball, said it most likely landed in Edwards Creek on the last day of the battle, which was also the last day of Lord Dunmore’s occupation of Gwynn’s Island.

With the help of Gwynn’s Island Civic League Museum and Foundation members Frances Atherton, Lanette and Steve Beebe, Martha and Casey Frame, Cathy and Paul Jensen, and Sue Mathiesen, the museum has been refreshed both inside and out, ready to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.

Regular hours are 1-5 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. Admission is free, with donations accepted to help maintain the building and exhibits. Family groups and organizations may call 804-725-5022 or visit the website gwynnsislandmuseum.org to arrange a visit outside regular hours.

Walk of Honor

The museum is encouraging the public to purchase bricks to be placed on the Gwynn’s Island Museum Walk of Honor, a walkway leading to the doorway on which donors’ names are engraved.

Each 4” x 8” brick costs $50 and has three lines of engraving available, with up to 16 spaces and characters per line.

To order an engraved brick, send a check for $50 to Gwynn’s Island Museum, 107 Millstone Lane, Hudgins, Va. 23076, c/o Tom Edwards.