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Encyclopedia Virginia
What Encyclopedia Virginia is
Encyclopedia Virginia is a free web resource for exploring Virginia’s history and culture. It publishes topical and biographical entries written by scholars for general readers, with contributor and editor review followed by checks from fact checkers and copy editors. Entries can include primary documents, images, audio and video, and virtual tours. The broader media collection also includes podcasts and 3D objects. Readers can search, browse alphabetically, explore biographies and categories, or browse maps and media. Its Map App offers map, distance-ordered list, and category-filter views of historical events. For school use, entries are labeled for Grade 4, Grade 8, and Grades 11+. New entries continue to appear, and since 2012 the project has been digital publisher for the ongoing Dictionary of Virginia Biography with the Library of Virginia. Text is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. The project is a Virginia Humanities initiative partnered with the Library of Virginia.
Who it suits
It suits students, teachers, and communities looking for Virginia history and culture in written, primary-source, and multimedia formats. Readers who need text reuse should note the stated noncommercial, share-alike license.
What it does well
- Free access with no paid tiers stated
- Entries pair scholarship with editorial and fact-checking review
- Map App offers several ways to explore events
- School entries are labeled for three grade ranges
- Text has a stated Creative Commons license
What to know first
- Media-object copyrights are not owned by the site
- Staff cannot answer individual research questions
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free access | Free resource; no paid tiers stated | Free |
As encyclopediavirginia.org lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit encyclopediavirginia.org.
- Search for a topic or browse alphabetically, by biography, category, map, or media.
- Choose an entry or media item to explore.
- Use the Map App to browse historical events by map, distance, or category.
Verdict
Encyclopedia Virginia combines reviewed historical writing with primary materials, media, and browsing tools. It is a useful fit for learning about Virginia, though media reuse permissions may need to come from rights holders.
Questions
Is Encyclopedia Virginia free?
Yes. The resource is free, and no paid tiers are stated.
Which platforms does it support?
Encyclopedia Virginia is available on the web.
Can I reuse its text?
Textual content is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.
Can I reuse images, audio, or other media?
The site says it does not own copyrights to displayed media objects. Contact the rights-holding organization for reuse permission.
Who publishes Encyclopedia Virginia?
It is a Virginia Humanities project in partnership with the Library of Virginia. Since 2012, it has also been digital publisher of the ongoing Dictionary of Virginia Biography.
Can staff answer individual research questions?
Staff cannot assist with individual research questions. The site's FAQ suggests contacting the Library of Virginia.
Facts from Encyclopedia Virginia's own pages
- Browse and search
- The site provides search, alphabetical browsing, biographies, a map, media, and virtual tours. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Content
- The site publishes topical and biographical entries written by scholars, edited for a general audience, and fact checked. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Content license
- Textual content is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Corrections
- Readers can report entry errors through the comment form on an entry or by email, preferably with supporting citations. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Dictionary of Virginia Biography
- Since 2012, Encyclopedia Virginia has partnered with the Library of Virginia as digital publisher of its ongoing Dictionary of Virginia Biography. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Editorial review
- Entries go through contributor and editor review, and are separately reviewed by fact checkers and copy editors. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Education
- The site offers scaled entries labeled for Grade 4, Grade 8, and Grades 11+. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2008 · encyclopediavirginia.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Virginia Humanities says it is headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia. · virginiahumanities.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Map app
- The Encyclopedia Virginia Map App lets users explore historical events by map, distance-ordered list, and category filters. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Media formats
- The media collection includes virtual tours, 3D objects, video, podcasts and audio, and images. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Media rights
- The site says it does not own media-object copyrights and directs users to contact the rights-holding organization for reuse permission. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- Encyclopedia Virginia says it does not own copyrights to the media objects displayed on the site. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Organization
- Encyclopedia Virginia is a project of Virginia Humanities in partnership with the Library of Virginia. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Partnership
- Encyclopedia Virginia is a Virginia Humanities project in partnership with the Library of Virginia. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Primary sources
- Entries are accompanied by primary documents and media, including images, audio and video clips, and virtual tours. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Primary sources and media
- Entries can include primary documents, images, audio and video clips, and virtual tours of historic sites. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Encyclopedia Virginia is a free multimedia resource about Virginia’s history and culture for students, teachers, and communities. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Reader feedback
- Readers can report entry errors using the form at the bottom of an entry or by email, preferably providing citations to sources. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Search and browsing
- The site provides search, alphabetical browsing, biographies, categories, maps, and media browsing. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- Staff cannot assist with individual research questions; the FAQ suggests contacting the Library of Virginia. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Text reuse
- Text content is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Updates
- New entries are published regularly as content creation continues. · encyclopediavirginia.org, 9 Oct 2026
Where Encyclopedia Virginia stands on Freedom251
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