From Berkley Plantation’s claim to have held the true first Thanksgiving, to Richmond’s modern allure as one of the best food cities in the country, Virginia’s culinary history spans more than 400 years of European, African American and Virginia Indian influences. Food festivals scattered throughout the commonwealth celebrate harvests of tomatoes, oysters, ham, peanuts and apples, while the diversity of current inhabitants is seen in Greek, Lebanese, Latino, German and Asian food events. The museum will explore items from its collection that speak to the way food has played a role in history as a community anchor and economic driver.