Join us on Saturday, February 26th for a geocaching Meet and Greet (between Noon and 12:30) followed by a tour of the Moses Myers House beginning at 12:30 pm. The tour will be led by Karen Dutton, Assistant Manager of Visitor Services at the Chrysler Museum, who has led many tours of the house before. The tour will last about an hour. On street parking may be limited. The best bet is to park at MacArthur Mall and exit on the Freemason Street side. <br><br>
The stately Moses Myers House (323 East Freemason Street) creates an exceptionally accurate picture of the late Federal period and the life of this prosperous Jewish family. Moses Myers, an early American entrepreneur, and leading citizen, built the house to accommodate his growing family and social prominence. The home was passed down through several generations of the family and eventually to Norfolk mayor Barton Myers, who carried out early architectural restoration in 1892.<br><br>
Five generations of the Myers family lived in the Moses Myers House from 1795–1931. The Myers family attained a prominent position in Norfolk history, rising to become leaders in both economic and social affairs. In addition, they were the first permanent Jewish-American residents in the Norfolk area and composed the region’s entire Jewish population for over a decade.<br><br>
The family’s greatest achievements were the result of the work of Moses Myers and Barton Myers. Moses Myers not only laid the foundation for the future prosperity of Norfolk, but he also began a Myers family tradition of community involvement and investment. The family served in local government and patronized theatre and the arts. Commercially, the Myers family made investments in improvements to transportation, such as railroads, steamship companies, and bridge construction projects, all of which made travel and trade into and out of Norfolk easier and more efficient. The family firm, Myers & Company, was one of Norfolk’s leading antebellum businesses and contributed to the reconstruction of Norfolk after the Civil War. Barton Myers guided Norfolk’s progress into the modern era of the twentieth century.<br><br>
Although the Myers family made significant contributions in both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, their activities during the early 1800s are the most completely documented. The Myerses and their correspondents would witness or be otherwise affected by most events of national and international significance during this period, allowing a unique look into a vibrant past.