By the Lafayette River in Norfolk lies an Elysian museum and garden surrounded by water, trees, and curated gardens: The Hermitage.
“The Hermitage embodies an ethos centered on art, nature, and community; we offer a unique combination of historic preservation, artistic engagement, and environmental stewardship,” says Ashleigh Maggard, the museum’s development director.
It all started with William and Florence Sloane, New Yorkers who came to Hampton Roads in 1893 to operate William Sloane and Company, a textile manufacturer; they built their Arts & Crafts-style home in 1908. The Sloanes were serious art collectors and were instrumental in founding what became the Chrysler Museum, named for the automotive heir and art collector, Walter P. Chrysler. Eventually, the Sloanes created the Hermitage Foundation, which encouraged the arts, contributing their home and contents to the foundation. Florence’s vision was to create a vibrant space where the arts could thrive and the community could gather, exactly what the collections and events at Hermitage accomplish to this day.
The beauty of the artworks inside is also reflected in the 12-acre gardens outside. The towering pines and blooming flowers are an extension of the art, “a living, breathing gallery where every season brings a new perspective,” says Maggard. “The same sense of awe you feel standing before a centuries-old artifact or a bold contemporary sculpture finds its echo in the way light filters through the trees, or in the first bloom of spring.” TheHermitageMuseum.org
This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue.
