Mission
RICE'S HOTEL/HUGHLETT'S TAVERN FOUNDATION, INC. EXISTS TO RESTORE & PRESERVE THE COURTHOUSE HOTEL/TAVERN, TO RESEARCH & INTERPRET ITS HISTORY TO AREA CITIZENS AND VISITORS. THE STORY OF THE TAVERN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA, REFLECTS WHAT HAPPENED IN COUNTLESS COURTHOUSE VILLAGES THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA. TO RESTORE HISTORIC HOTEL/TAVERN, CONSIDERED THE ONLY SURVIVING "COURTHOUSE TAVERN" IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. RESTORATION OF THE MAIN STRUCTURE IS COMPLETED. INTERPRETIVE AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO SCHOOL GROUPS. OTHER TOURS CAN BE ARRANGED BY REQUEST. A RESTAURANT WHICH REFLECTS THE PERIOD OF THE ORIGINAL TAVERN HAS OPENED. A WORKING BLACKSMITH SHOP WAS DEDICATED DURING 2005. THIS STRUCTURE EXPANDS THE INTERPRETIVE ROLE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TAVERN IN THE COURTHOUSE COMMUNITY. THIS BUILDING IS BECOMING A MAJOR PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. THE TRANSPORTATION CENTER CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED IN 2006. THIS BUILDING