My Big Bethel book makes me feel like Henry Lawson Wyatt.
John V. Quarstein is an award-winning historian, author, and preservationist. He has served as an adjunct professor at several universities including the College of William and Mary and after 30 years, he is the Director Emertius of the Virginia War Museum. John is now the Historian for the City of Hampton, Virginia. He also serves as a museum consultant and historian for various cities and counties, such as the city of Poquoson and county of Gloucester. Furthermore, he provides leadership and project management for the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, The Mariners’ Museum, The Chamberlin, Rebecca Vaughan House, and T.C. Walker House. During his 32-year career he has created or revitalized 16 museums and preserved 9 historic sites, such as Lee Hall Mansion, Endview Plantation, Warwick Court House and portions of the Williamsburg Battlefield.
Dr. Quarstein is the author of nine books including Fort Monroe: The Key to the South, C.S.S. Virginia: Mistress of Hampton Roads, and A History of Ironclads: The Power of Iron Over Wood. He also serves as historian for the local PBS affiliate WHRO producing, narrating and writing films documenting Hampton Roads history such as the ‘Here & Then’ and ‘Civil War in Hampton Roads’ series as well as individual productions such as ‘Jamestown: Foundation of Freedom’ and ‘Halloween Haunts’. He produces two shows for the City of Hampton’s Channel 47 television station. Quarstein is now working on two new documentaries including ‘Pirates of the Chesapeake’.
An avid duck hunter and decoy collector, John V. Quarstein lives on Buckroe Beach in Hampton, Virginia and on his Eastern Shore farm.
