MacCallum More Museum and Gardens

Description

The MacCallum More Museum and Gardens is the legacy of the Hudgins family, who first started the garden in 1929 and continued additions until 1986. Over the years they used the garden to promote their interest in the area’s history and nature. The Gardens consists of five (5) acres of largely woodland gardens, which are organically maintained, with paved walkways throughout offering easy access to all areas. Native dogwoods and redbuds predominate in the early spring and then give way to herb and wildflower gardens containing many native and naturalized species, attractive to both birds and butterflies. Native columbines, beeblam, cardinal flowers, and jewelweed bloom in succession from the early spring until late fall, providing the natural food source of ruby-throated hummingbirds. Native elderberries and pokeweed berries are a favorite of eastern bluebirds, brown thrashers, northern cardinals, and cedar waxwings. Purple coneflowers, black-eyed susans and tickseed sunflowers (Bidens aristosa) attract American goldfinches, house finches, mourning doves, Carolina chickadees, song sparrows and many butterfly species. Cultivated varieties such as parsley, dill and fennel serve as nurseries for black swallowtails, while monarch butterflies migrating through are sustained by over 200 species of herbs and flowers including milkweed and butterfly bushes (Buddlea spp.). Explore the boxwood-lines paths and the numerous fountains for nesting house wrens and constantly chipping northern cardinals. Search the treetops for blue jays, whose squeaky calls resound overhead. Enjoy the unending variety of songs from the northern mockingbird, and during migration be on the lookout for all sorts of migrant warblers and vireos, especially after inclement weather. Other wildlife in the gardens include flying squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, snakes, lizards, bats, and wild turkey. Also, there are a myriad of insects including many beneficial ones, which are essential in maintaining the proper balance needed in a diversified environment. Explore all the corners of the lush organic gardens from the beautiful fountains and statuary from around the world to the unique theme gardens. Enjoy strolling through the arboretum and the newly established native wildlife habitat area and learn about the flora and fauna that abound. The Museum houses three permanent exhibits: an extensive Indian artifact collection found locally dating from 9500BC; the Thyne Institute exhibit, an African-American boarding school established in Chase City in 1876; the Mecklenburg Hotel exhibit, a hotel and spa established in Chase City in 1903, famous for its curative waters; and revolving art exhibits of various mediums.

Directions

Physical Address: 603 Hudgins St., Chase City, VA 23924

From the intersection of US 360 and US 15 in Wylliesburg, follow US 15 southwest 3.1 miles to SR 92. Turn left (east) on SR 92 and follow 7.2 miles to SR 49/W. 2nd Street. Turn left (east) on SR 49 and follow 0.7 miles to SR 47/E. 2nd St. Continue east on SR 47/2nd Street for 0.1 miles to Hudgins Street. Turn left and go north 0.1 miles (cross over Houston Street and Walker Street). The Museum Office/Gift Shop is on the right (one story cottage w/green shutters).