In the summer of 2023, thanks to donations from around the country, Virginia’s Museum of Chincoteague Island purchased the Beebe family ranch there on the island. This property was important because it was the longtime home of “Misty of Chincoteague,” the pony immortalized in Marguerite Henry’s classic 1947 children’s novel.

Since then, the museum has been working to renovate the home. Staff members have created exhibits inside the house and worked to maintain the property and ponies living there. As museum Assistant Director Cindy Faith reports, “It has been an exciting and extremely rewarding experience.”

Now, the museum is ready to move into the next phase. The Beebe house opened to the public at the end of June, just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Pony Roundup, Swim and Auction. So the museum staff and volunteers are finally ready to work on rebuilding Misty’s barn.

Lost in a fire

Misty spent most of her life on the Beebe Ranch. Her barn, although small, became a place people found familiar. It was even incorporated into several works of art by Wesley Dennis, the noted illustrator of Henry’s books, while he visited the ranch.

Over the years, guests were able to explore the barn while visiting the ranch, learn about Misty and imagine what it was like when she lived there.

Unfortunately, the barn was lost in 2019 due to an accidental fire while the Beebe family was out of town. Although the family was devastated, they were also grateful that none of the ponies were injured.

One wish has remained: to rebuild the barn and make it look as close as possible to the original. As Faith writes, “That would sure make the ponies happy!”

GoFundMe

Fundraisers for this project have already been happening over the last year. As in the past, people with a love for Chincoteague, the ponies, Misty and Marquerite Henry have already found ways to support this dream. “We are asking you to consider helping to make this dream come true,” writes Faith. “We’ve raised enough money to break ground and begin the work, but much more is needed. We are asking you to rally around the museum one more time to make this addition to the property happen.”

Accordingly, Faith has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser specifically for the rebuilding of Misty’s barn. The goal is $100,000. As she notes, 100% of any money donated will go towards the rebuilding, and any donation is 100% tax deductible. The Museum Island is a 501(c)(3) organization.

NOTE: This unique museum opened in 1972 as the “Oyster Museum,” celebrating the island’s historic contributions to the seafood industry. Officially, its name has been changed to the “Museum of Chincoteague Island,” but for tax purposes, it still will read “Oyster Museum DBA Museum of Chincoteague Island.”

Landing page illustration by Wesley Dennis from Museum of Chincoteague Island GoFundMe page