The Barrier Islands Center is housed on the former site of the Almshouse Farm in Machipongo, VA. Many Americans have heard their parents or grandparents joke about ending up "in the poorhouse," but did you know that expression comes from a very real part of U.S. history? An almshouse, also known as a "poorhouse," was used to house poor people and their families in the days before welfare programs. They were typically county-run, and those who were able were expected to work: men would work on the farm while women were often put to work spinning wool or doing other domestic chores. Homeless people, the mentally ill, orphans, and those with diseases like tuberculosis and smallpox were among the "inmates" directed by the court to live at the almshouse. The Almshouse Farm served as the site for the Northampton County poorhouse for almost 150 years, from 1804 until 1952.

The Barrier Islands Center is comprised of three historically noteworthy buildings: the 1883 Almshouse, the 1910 African-American Almshouse, and an 1804 Quarter Kitchen. 

The Almshouse

Built in 1883, this is the third building to serve as the Almshouse for Northampton County between 1804 and 1952. While in use as the Almshouse, the Superintendent for the Poor lived downstairs with his family, and the Almshouse "inmates" stayed in 13 rooms on the second floor. The building now houses the Barrier Islands Museum, the gift shop, and “Fun in the Attic,” filled with Native American artifacts, whale bones, a trapping exhibit, and an interesting architectural feature: the Twisted Chimney. The chimney has delighted adults and children alike and is highlighted in the first BIC children's book, "The Hog Island Sheep in a Twisted Christmas Tale."

The African-American Almshouse

The African-American Almshouse housed any black "inmates" of the Almshouse Farm. Built in 1910, the west end was the main entrance and probably was a day room with a central stove for the residents. There were ten rooms for the black poor and no in-house plumbing. This building was renovated in 2013 and now serves as the BIC Education Building. It is the site for the My First Field Trip program, other education initiatives, our oral history recording studio, research library, archival storage, and exhibit design studios. The Beazley Foundation Community Room provides a versatile space for documentary screenings, community meetings, and more.

1804 Quarter Kitchen

The oldest building on campus, the Quarter Kitchen, consists of two small one-room buildings: a circa 1804 masonry side and a later wood frame addition. The masonry side was built as a one-room hall-style building, with living quarters, a large fireplace on the main floor, and a sleeping loft above (the term Quarter Kitchen refers to a kitchen that is also used as sleeping quarters). The wood frame addition was added in the 1840s. The building probably served many purposes during the Almshouse era: Almshouse kitchen, an early African-American Almshouse, and space for hog killing and sausage-making. The building was closed to the public for several years due to structural damage.

The Quarter Kitchen has recently been rehabilitated, thanks to a successful public campaign and private grants. The historic gem is now a coastal food-ways gallery and a demonstration kitchen.