Our Story – Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum

In 1974, a group of local carvers formed the Back Bay Wildfowl Guild hoping to showcase the wildfowl art, carvings, artifacts, and photographs of our area. When the City of Virginia Beach purchased the historic de Witt Cottage in 1992, the Guild thought this would be the perfect location for their museum. Together, the guild and the Virginia Beach Foundation converted the 100 year old cottage into a waterfowl museum, gift shop, and home for the Guild.

our history is our legacy

Historic de Witt Cottage

Step back in time and into Virginia Beach history at de Witt cottage, the 1895 home of our museum.

Wildfowling Heritage

Meet expert carvers and friendly volunteers who are happy to share their knowledge and talents.

Art & Exhibits

Take a close up look at our remarkable collection of wildfowl art and carvings in our hunt club setting.

Recent Blog Posts

edward “ned” burgess 10/16/1868 – 10/13/1958 Born in Duck, NC and raised in Currituck County NC. Ned was a prolific…

November 29, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: Edward “Ned” Burgess

Tuesday November 30, 2021 is Giving Tuesday. We humbly ask that you consider The Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum to make…

November 22, 2021

Giving Tuesday

December 7, 2021 marks a huge milestone—our first big event since before the pandemic! We’re all very excited to present…

November 15, 2021

Annual Holiday Party

By martha davenport It’s November and the Inaugural Gingerbread Extravaganza is underway. What exactly is a Gingerbread Extravaganza? That is…

November 8, 2021

Gingerbread Extravaganza

Pell Austin – Hen Canvasback 11/20/1887 – 11/13/1961 Pell Austin was born and raised Corolla, NC. He and his wife…

October 25, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: Pell Austin

2021 certainly has not been the year we had hoped it would be. A third wave of the coronavirus, the…

October 18, 2021

From the Museum Director: October

10/ 04, 11, 18, 25/2021: de Witt Garden Club 10:00 am, at the museum Meets every Monday Bring your work…

October 11, 2021

Upcoming Guild Events: Holidays Are Coming!

By Mary Reid Barrow, Virginia Beach Beacon, October 2, 2007 Back Bay was once known as a hunter’s paradise because…

October 7, 2021

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: Last Mid-Atlantic Waterfowl Festival

September 27, 2021

Best of Ducks Unlimited 2021 Photo Contest

L.T. Ward & bro. For more than fifty years, the carving partnership of L. T. Ward & Bro. of Crisfield,…

September 20, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: L.T. Ward & Bro.

Friends of the AWHM, As we move into September, I wanted to provide a brief update about where we are…

September 13, 2021

President’s Message: September

June 5, 1911 – November 27, 2008 Paul was the 9th of the 10 siblings and the last living that…

September 6, 2021

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: Paul de Witt

08/02, 09, 16, 23, 30 /2021: de Witt Garden Club 10:00 am, at the museum Meets every Monday Bring your…

August 30, 2021

Upcoming Guild Events

August 20, 2021

CANCELLED: Fall Barbecue & Oyster Roast

Wallace o’neal, sr. 1867-1955 Born in Barco, Currituck County, North Carolina As a young man Wallace lived in Duck, NC…

August 16, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: Wallace O’Neal, Sr.

The deWitt Cottage Garden Club has been hard at work and their efforts are paying some big dividends. In July…

August 9, 2021

BIG NEWS: We are an Ocean Friendly Garden!

Friends of the AWHM, I hope my note finds you healthy and happy as we quickly move through the “Duck…

August 3, 2021

President’s Message: August

Sunrise Over The de Witt Cottage Photograph mounted on a Canvas Wrap Retail 8X10 $40.00 Museum Members $20.00 Retail 11X14…

July 26, 2021

On Sale Now in the Museum Gift Shop – July

John W. Austin July 11, 1891 – April 11,1981 Born on Hatteras Island, NC where his father William Riley was…

July 19, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: John W. Austin

The de Witt Cottage, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1895 by Bernard P. Holland,…

July 12, 2021

Back Bay Wildfowl Memories: deWitt Cottage History

First of all, I want to invite everyone back to the museum on September 7th 2021 for our first in…

July 5, 2021

From the Museum Director: July

The deWitt Cottage was supposed to celebrate her 125th birthday on September 22, 2020. We all know what happened in…

June 28, 2021

From the Museum Director: June

GALLUP BROTHERS PEG HEAD COOT The Gallup brothers (Paul, Dick & Bruce) Paul Gallup owned The Premier Millworks Company located…

June 21, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: June

It looks like summer is here AWHM Friends! Happy post Memorial Day to everyone, I hope that everyone had a…

June 14, 2021

June President’s Message

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild or Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum; Confused? We are often asked, here at the museum, what is…

June 7, 2021

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories

Again, this year (2021) we would typically be preparing to have dinner at the Lucky Oyster on May4th, to celebrate…

May 5, 2021

From the Museum Director: May

Delbert “Cigar” Daisey, born on Chincoteague Island,was one of the last surviving island residents who had made a living as…

May 5, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: Delbert Lee “Cigar” Daisey

What a wonderful feeling it is to be able to reopen the museum to the public again. It has been…

April 6, 2021

From the Museum Director: April

Hen Widgeon Leon White was born and raised in the Currituck Inlet area of NC –South of Wash Woods. Leon…

April 6, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: Leon White (1860-1914)

In Honor of General Chuck Yeager Life long hunter, outdoorsman, test pilot , war hero (February 13, 1923 to December…

March 10, 2021

In Honor of General Chuck Yeager

Delon Lee Dudley 1860-1942 Lee Dudley was one of twins (Lee & Leonard). The twins grew up on The West…

March 10, 2021

Collector’s Shelf: Delon Lee Dudley 1860-1942

We were hopeful back in November and December that we were going to be able to have a Dine Out…

March 10, 2021

From the Museum Director: March

Archeology Dig On February 1, 2021, in the face of below freezing temperatures and single digit windchill, Allison M. Conner,…

March 10, 2021

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories Archeology Dig

James Best (1866-1933) Born and raised in Kitty Hawk, N.C. The goose is from the famous stand of eighteen geese…

February 17, 2021

James R. Best Swan/Goose

02/01, 08, 15,22,2021: de Witt Garden Club 10:00 am, at the museum Meets every Monday Bring your work gloves and…

February 15, 2021

Upcoming Guild Dates February 2021

Friends of the AWHM, I hope my note finds you well as we continue to navigate COVID-19 and its impact…

February 12, 2021

President’s Message

In May of 1991 Lawrence Maddry wrote a newspaper column in the Virginian-Pilot about the deWitt Cottage and the House…

February 12, 2021

Julia C. deWitt

I don’t know about the rest of you; but, I have never been so glad to see a year come…

January 19, 2021

From the Museum Director

Jimmy grew up on Back Bay & Knotts Island area. He kept his boat at Bay Haven Marina –Harold Grimstead…

January 19, 2021

COLLECTORS SHELF: James L. Rowe “Jimmy” – Coot with metal head

HERB AND ANNE VERHAAGEN Herb and Ann Verhaagen are longtime members of the Back Bay Wildfowl Guild. Both of them…

January 19, 2021

Back Bay Wildfowl Memories Where are they now?

Dear members and friends of the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, What a year?! This hasn’t been the 125th anniversary we…

December 20, 2020

President’s Message

Earl Wayne “Bill Scripture (Born 1941 –Present) Born in Florida, moved to South Carolina where he learned to Hunt…

December 15, 2020

Collector’s Shelf

Giant Christmas tree next to dewitt cottage 100 Miles of Lights began in 1998 as a regional effort to…

December 10, 2020

New Attraction to Virginia Beach Boardwalk Mile of Lights

Duck Hunters could be shoulder to shoulder in many states due to Canadian Border Restrictions Things might get a…

September 25, 2020

Duck Hunters & Border Restrictions

Will was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and moved with his family to Creeds, Virginia, where he grew up and worked…

September 21, 2020

COLLECTORS SHELF: WILLIAM “Will” Kight, Jr. (1897-1977)

09/07/2020: Labor Day 09/01/2020: Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Membership Meeting 7:00pm, Virtual – Bring an item for show and tell! 09/9, 14, 21,…

September 14, 2020

Upcoming Guild Events

This past week, through the magic of television news, we were witnesses to the fury of hurricane Laura as she…

September 7, 2020

Back Bay Wildfowl Memories: Hurricanes Affecting The Mid Mid-Atlantic 1895-2020

Friends of the AWHM, As we move into September, I wanted to provide a brief update about where we are…

September 1, 2020

President’s Message

Doug Jester was an all-around sportsman who enjoyed fishing, guiding, hunting and commercial decoy carving. His speedy carving process provided…

August 17, 2020

COLLECTORS SHELF: Doug Jester (1876 – 1961) Chincoteague, VA

On May 1, 2019 Shore Gallery and Design took possession of the gift shop in the deWitt Cottage. Using the…

August 12, 2020

FEATURED PRODUCTS FROM SHORE GALLERY SEASIDE GIFT SHOP

Can anyone guess what is happening in this picture? Obviously, it is the ocean; but what are all those people…

August 10, 2020

Back Bay Wildfowl Memories Ocean Swimming

It’s August, and as I sit here writing this column, the first major Atlantic hurricane of the season is raking…

August 3, 2020

Museum Director’s Message

My Grandfather was in elementary school at the time of this story. I will guess fourth or fifth grade, that…

July 27, 2020

School Yard Toy Cannon By Jim Mehne

I would like to begin by acknowledging your Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Board of Directors. It is because of their…

July 24, 2020

Museum Director’s Message

Friends of the AWHM, Well….this has been fun. July 1st, for many, signifies summertime. Days and nights filled with beach…

July 20, 2020

President’s Message

Ira Hudson was born in 1873 in Maryland but he grew up in Delaware. He later moved to Chincoteague, Virginia…

July 13, 2020

COLLECTORS SHELF: Ira Hudson 1873-1949

Miles Hancock led an amazing life that could never have unfolded the way it did if he had lived anyplace…

July 6, 2020

Miles Hancock ( 1887 1974)

Happy Summer AWHM Friends! I want my message to you this month, again, to be one of transparency. Hey! We…

June 22, 2020

President’s Message

June 19, 2020

Free Decoy Identification & Evaluation

de Witt Garden Club – Every Monday at 9:00 am We are a hands on Garden Club So bring your…

June 15, 2020

Upcoming Guild Events

I hope and pray that each of you have had a relaxed and safe Spring. You may or may not…

June 12, 2020

Museum Director’s Message

Our doors are open and accepting visitors to our Museum and Shore Gallery Seaside Gifts. We are operating in…

June 8, 2020

We Are Open for Business!

The deWitt Cottage will celebrate it’s 125th birthday on September 22, 2020 and she has gotten a bit of a…

June 8, 2020

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: The Grand Old Lady of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Like the majority of you I have been spending my days at home. This has given me the opportunity to…

May 29, 2020

From the Museum Director

Although our Stay at Home order has drastically changed our lives, we still hope that we will soon begin to…

May 25, 2020

One of a Kind Engagement and Graduation Photos

May and Spring have finally arrived on the calendar and April showers have encouraged many of our cottage flowers to…

May 15, 2020

From the Events and Gardens Desk

Friends of the AWHM, I hope my note finds you all well in this difficult and crazy time. We are…

May 11, 2020

President’s Message

May 7th is National Teacher’s Day! If you have ever taken a teacher for granted you can now see during…

May 7, 2020

National Teacher Day

While most of you have been staying home to comply with the Virginia Governor’s Order; City of Virginia Beach Contractors…

May 4, 2020

May Day, New Roof Installed For deWitt Cottage

I drove around my little section of Virginia Beach yesterday, to two grocery stores, four pharmacies, a gas station mini-mart,…

April 27, 2020

From the Museum Director 4/27/20

Friends of the AWHM, Due to the current international emergency surrounding COVID-19, the doors to our beloved de Witt Cottage…

April 20, 2020

President’s Message 4/20/20

Nathan Cobb, Jr. market hunted and formed a salvage team with his father Nathan, Sr. and his two brothers Warren…

April 13, 2020

Collector’s Shelf: Nathan Cobb, Jr. (1825-1905) Cobb Island, VA

This is not the first pandemic that the Historic deWitt Cottage has seen in its 125 year history. Just over…

April 6, 2020

A History Lesson: The Spanish Flu

What a difference a few weeks makes. As a nation, we were on top of the world. Stock market doing…

April 3, 2020

Latest News & Updates 4/3/20

by Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor, Delta Waterfowl Magazine Today’s retriever training literature tends to focus on some rather advanced skills, such…

March 30, 2020

Duck Dogs

With a snap of the fingers, February is a distant memory. We have been very busy at the Museum with…

March 24, 2020

From the Events Desk

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild is participating in the Gathering of the Guilds at the historic Francis Land House in Virginia Beach. We need volunteers to…

March 19, 2020

Upcoming Events: Gathering of the Guilds

I want to thank everyone who attended “Dine out for The de Witt” Tuesday night February 11th at Surfrider Seafood…

March 16, 2020

From the Museum Director

Friends of the AWHM, While many of my messages feature the de Witt cottage and operations as my focus, my…

March 13, 2020

President’s Message

Joseph “Joe” Dempsey Perry, March 9, 1893- January 25, 1981 Son of William Thomas Perry of Kitty Hawk, NC. His…

March 9, 2020

Collector’s Shelf: Joe Perry Redhead Decoy

A resident of Norfolk, Virginia, Pete DiPietro was born in Brooklyn, New York. Following high school he joined the United…

March 2, 2020

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: Sebastian “Pete” DiPietro September 25, 1939 – January 6, 2020

Friends of the AWHM, I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to 2020. It’s hard to believe that we…

February 24, 2020

President’s Message

by Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati Enquirer A snowy owl has been spotted in northern Ohio this winter. Does that mean Cincinnati…

February 20, 2020

Snowy Owl Survival

Born on Bells Island, NC Son of a market hunter, Constantine “Stant” White. Clarence was the youngest of fifteen children….

February 17, 2020

Collector’s Shelf: Clarence Grady White, Sr. 1905-1993 (Canvas Goose w/ Red Eyes)

Happy New Year! Another year of success and happiness has passed. With every New Year comes greater challenges and obstacles…

January 20, 2020

Museum Director’s Message 1/20/20

A few words about Alice Walsh By Jim Mehne Alice was a special person. Most of you who knew and…

January 20, 2020

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: Alice Lucas Walsh 1934-2020

By Mark Cromwell Fitzhugh made his living on the water and operated a hunting camp on the beach side of…

January 13, 2020

Collector’s Shelf: Fitzhugh Munden (1906-1965)

By Lynn Hightower From the archives of the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, The Virginian –Pilot, Find a Grave.com, and Past…

January 6, 2020

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: 125th Year of the de Witt Cottage

Happy 2020 to all the friends of Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum! I want to share my most heartfelt gratitude and…

January 1, 2020

President’s Message 1/1/20

Well, we are about to put another calendar year in the archives of the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum. We have…

December 9, 2019

From the Museum Director 12/9/20

IT WAS APRIL 1914 and Bernard P. Holland, in his second term as mayor of Virginia Beach, was fighting to…

December 2, 2019

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: Princess Anne Hotel

I trust everyone had a wonderful and warm Halloween. This morning’s weather is quite a ways away from the 80…

November 28, 2019

President’s Message 11/28/20

Tuesday, December 3, 2019 will be the date for our annual Christmas Party. We will gather in the Fraternal Order…

November 11, 2019

From the Museum Director

If ever you wanted a taste of our forefathers’ hardiness, you’d find it at Wash Woods. There, in thickets of…

November 4, 2019

Collector’s Shelf: Charles Waterfield (Ruddy Duck Decoy)

Reprinted from Haunted Rooms America Website Virginia Beach is a popular spot for weekend breaks given its desirable location at…

October 31, 2019

Top 7 Most Haunted Places in Virginia Beach, VA

October 30, 2019

Another Successful Oyster Roast

The start of October typically marks the end of the “tourist season” at our beloved oceanfront. With the closing of…

October 28, 2019

President’s Message 10/28/19

October 21, 2019

Ducks Unlimited Member Photo Contest Winners

I want to thank the deWitt Cottage Garden Club for their tireless efforts to improve and beautify our gardens. They…

October 14, 2019

From the Museum Director

Reprinted from a Pilot Online Article By Matthew Korfhage The Virginian-Pilot The ballad of Ricky and Bobby is nearing its…

October 7, 2019

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: A Half Century Institution – The Raven Has Closed (1968-2019)

By Alex Perry Willis and Aella, two bald eagles named by their rehabilitator Tommy White, did their regular workout Wednesday…

September 23, 2019

Bald Eagles Recovering Well at Alton’s Keep

Lee always referred to himself as “The Tank Talker”, that is because he was always the Master of Ceremony at…

September 16, 2019

Back Bay Wildfowl Guild Memories: Arthur Lee Scarborough – October 14, 1942 – July 9, 2019

The Lynnhaven River Now Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2019 from 11:00am until 3:00pm’ It will…

September 9, 2019

Lynnhaven River Fall Festival: Volunteers Needed

PLEASE JOIN US September 12, 2019 from 3:00-5:00 PM. Shore Gallery has come ashore in the heart of the Virginia…

September 4, 2019

Upcoming Events: Shore Gallery Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Happy Labor Day to everyone, I hope you all have had a great summer and are looking forward to some…

September 2, 2019

President’s Message 9/2/19

Congratulations to The de Witt Cottage Garden Club and President Jacky Richards for winning another Award of Merit from The…

August 26, 2019

From the Events and Gardens Desk

The Historic deWitt Cottage opened its doors to reality television on Saturday, August 20, 2019. Producers from Sharp Entertainment in…

August 15, 2019

Free Decoy Identification & Evaluation

Join us at deWitt Cottage on a cool crisp Fall day and enjoy salty oysters from HM Terry: Sewansecott Clams &…

August 15, 2019

Upcoming Events: 4th Annual Fall BBQ and Oyster Roast

On May 31, 2019 our hometown suffered a horrific tragedy! The workplace shooting in Building #2 of the Princess Anne…

July 19, 2019

Museum Director’s Message 7/19/19

This weekend the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum will be hosting a wedding party and a reality tv show from WE…

July 19, 2019

Love After Lockup – The Wedding

As you can see from the pictures below, the garden is just starting to bloom into its full glory. A…

May 21, 2019

From the Events and Gardens Desk

Shore Gallery at deWitt Cottage has taken up residency in the AWHM. Their presence, vision, updates, and enhanced merchandise will…

May 6, 2019

Shore Gallery at the de Witt Cottage for Seaside Gifts is Now OPEN!

Thank you to all of our friends, family and fans that voted for us across so many categories in the…

May 3, 2019

Coastal Virginia Magazine’s Best of Readers’ Choice Winner

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Join us Sunday, May 19 from 12-7 pm for beer and bourbon tastings, a shrimp boil, and BBQ – all benefiting the…

March 19, 2019

Upcoming Events: Beer and Bourbon at the Brickhouse

Enjoy a night out while helping our efforts to preserve our piece of Virginia Beach history! A percentage of the…

March 15, 2019

Upcoming Events: Dine Out for the de Witt at Surf Rider Restaurant

Pardon Our Dust! The Museum will be closed until May 1 so that we can make some changes. We are…

March 11, 2019

Pardon Our Dust – Museum Closed until May 1

Enjoy a night out while helping our efforts to preserve our piece of Virginia Beach history! A percentage of the…

January 14, 2019

Upcoming Events: Dine Out for the de Witt at Il Giardino