How MacCallum More Museum & Gardens Has Evolved
From Private Estate to a Cultural Landmark
MacCallum More Museum & Gardens (MMMG) is more than just a garden—it's a testament to vision, dedication, and history, shaped by the Hudgins family and renowned landscape architect Charles F. Gillette. Over the past century, MacCallum More Gardens expanded from a private 1.24-acre retreat into a six-acre public treasure, featuring historic artifacts, lush landscapes, and MacCallum More Museum, which houses one of the largest and most important Native American artifact collections in the region.
This page explores the timeline of MacCallum More Museum & Gardens' evolution, highlighting key acquisitions and the transformation of the property into the landmark it is today.
🌿 A Timeline of Growth & Expansion
The gardens and museum grew over several decades, each expansion adding to their beauty and cultural significance.
🔹 1927: The Birth of MacCallum More Museum & Gardens
Lucy Morton Hudgins purchases the original 1.24-acre estate.
- Renowned landscape architect Charles F. Gillette designed the initial formal gardens.
- The gardens featured a sunken garden, goldfish pond, and a network of stone walls.
🔹 1941-1944: Expanding Northward
Lucy and her son, William Hudgins, acquire additional lots to the north.
- The guest cottage, which now serves as the office and gift shop, was built in 1941.
- In 1946, Judge and Mrs. Hudgins sold William the lot where the guest cottage stands.
🔹 April 2, 1959: The Major Expansion
William Hudgins acquires ten more garden lots (#23-32) to the north from Robert J. Walker, Jr.
- This marked the most significant expansion, nearly doubling the property size.
- During this period, the only developed areas were the formal Gillette-designed gardens around the house, guest cottage, and sunken garden.
- The remaining land was wild, later used for vegetable gardens and tennis courts.
🔹 1964-1965: Full Ownership & Legacy
William Hudgins inherits and consolidates the future site of MacCallum More Museum & Gardens.
- Upon Lucy’s passing in 1964, William inherited half of the original estate.
- In 1965, he acquired his brother Edward’s half, making him the sole owner of the property.
🔹 December 20, 1971: The Final Addition & Museum Site
William Hudgins acquires the last remaining lot to the east—the future site of the MacCallum More Museum.
🏛️ MacCallum More Museum Evolution (1983-1996)
From a vision to a cultural treasure
In 1983, William “Billy” Hudgins began construction on a museum to house an extensive Native American artifact collection, featuring 50,000+ artifacts collected from Mecklenburg and Charlotte counties and Kerr Lake, which he has purchased from Arthur Robinson. Billy worked on the museum until his passing in February 1986.
- The estate’s executor continued construction until 1991, when the Board of Trustees took over. It was originally called the Fine Arts Museum of Southern Virginia.
- The museum was completed, the exhibit installed, and the grand opening was held on April 19, 1996.
- The name was subsequently changed to embrace the larger property that became MacCallum More Museum & Gardens. The Museum is known as the MacCallum More Museum.
🏡 Hudgins Street: A Community Legacy
How Lucy Hudgins shaped Chase City’s streetscape
Beyond the gardens, Lucy Hudgins played a major role in shaping Chase City’s landscape.
- In 1927, she bought and cleared the land east of Walker Street, once used as a town dump.
- She developed Hudgins Street, transforming it into a picturesque residential area.
- The street later became home to the museum and other key sites.
🌿 A Living Legacy
Today, MacCallum More Museum & Gardens is more than just a garden—it's a place of history, preservation, and discovery. Visitors can explore winding woodland paths, elegant formal gardens, centuries-old artifacts, and a museum rich in local heritage.