Step Into 1776
Explore the Battle of Cricket Hill through a remarkable new diorama now on display at the Mathews Museum.
What did Mathews County look like in the summer of 1776, as Revolution swept through Virginia?
A new exhibit at the Mathews Museum invites visitors to step into that moment in history through a remarkable 6-foot by 6-foot diorama of the Battle of Cricket Hill. Created by local model enthusiast, Museum volunteer, and Mathews resident Don Good, the detailed three-dimensional display brings one of Mathews County’s most dramatic Revolutionary War stories to life.
The diorama depicts Gwynn’s Island, the mainland, Fort Hammond, and Lord Dunmore’s fleet gathered in Hills Bay. With miniature boats, troops, and carefully crafted landscape details, the exhibit gives visitors a vivid way to understand the people, places, and events connected to the July 1776 conflict.
Visitors will also learn about life on Gwynn’s Island and the roles of Lord Dunmore’s Royal Ethiopian Regiment and the Loyal Virginia Regiment, adding deeper context to the local history surrounding the Battle of Cricket Hill.
As part of the exhibit, Mathews resident, historian, and Museum supporter Bill Molyneaux filmed a presentation with Don Good explaining Lord Dunmore’s brief stay in what was then Gloucester County and how the battle unfolded over three days, just after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Battle of Cricket Hill diorama is part of Mathews County’s VA250 commemorative activities, honoring the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and highlighting the important role local history plays in the larger story of Virginia and the nation.
We invite the community, families, students, history lovers, and visitors to come see this extraordinary exhibit and discover how Mathews County’s Revolutionary War past comes alive at the Museum.
