As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, communities across the country are reflecting on the people, places and stories that shaped American history. Here in Gloucester and Mathews, local museums and legacy suites serve as reminders of that history, preserving artifacts and documents that connect today’s residents with generations past. To mark the milestone, the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal dropped in on museums across both counties to see what drives their work and learn more about their unique messages. The museum staff and volunteers shared the purpose of their establishment and pointed out their most important collections. We also grabbed a few photos of some key artifacts for a quick look inside the exhibits, which we will share with our readers in the coming weeks. This week, we feature two museums that concentrate on telling the countywide, time-spanning histories of our hometowns: the Gloucester Museum of History and the Mathews Museum. Gloucester Museum The Glou...