FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 22, 2011 |
Contact: Jennifer M. Guild, Senior Officer for Public Relations and Marketing
Tel: (804) 342-9665 | Email:
jguild@vahistorical.org
2011 & 2012 Exhibitions and Events Calendar
(As of June 22, 2011. Calendar subject to change - please visit www.vahistorical.org to confirm)
Museum Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Admission is free.
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS:
An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia
Through December 30
From 1861 to 1865 Virginia stood at the center of a military and social revolution. How we define freedom, liberty,
patriotism, and nation today is directly related to the diverse experiences of the individuals who participated in the war.
Using more than 200 original objects and 17 state-of-the-art audiovisual programs, this 3,000 square-foot exhibition
encourages visitors to consider how a single event, separated by 150 years can influence and address the questions of
today—what was gained, what was lost, what was undecided, and what was left for us to resolve? An American Turning
Point is a signature program of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission and is supported by
the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Heads and Tales
Through September 22, 2012
This exhibition features material from the vast Virginia Historical Society portrait collection. The paintings presented tell
poignant stories about five people—a woman who inspired the English poet Alexander Pope; a royal governor who was
murdered by a mob; a Federalist politician struggling against the tide in Jeffersonian Virginia; a patron of the arts who
made his fortune as a robber baron in the Gilded Age; and a Virginia suffragette, freethinker, and political radical. Their
tales are told by analysis of components of their pictorially complex portraits.
End of an Era: The Photography of Jack Jeffers
Opens February 20, 2012
This exhibition displays large-format black-and-white prints of people and landscapes from the Appalachian region of
western Virginia taken by award-winning photographer Jack Jeffers. Before Jeffers moved to Wyoming, the Virginia artist
donated 123 monumental images to the Virginia Historical Society. Jeffers stated in 1996, “What you have represents
almost thirty years of my life. Much of what I have recorded is already past history and most of the people I photographed
are either dead or close to it.”
For the Love of Beauty: The Art Collection of Lora and Claiborne Robins
Opens March 12, 2012
This exhibition presents nineteenth-century Hudson River School landscape paintings and colonial furniture collected by
philanthropists Lora Robins (1912–2010) and her husband E. Claiborne Robins, Sr. (1910–1995). These items were
displayed in their home Clear View, located in Richmond, Va. The Robins family bequeathed the house and its contents
to the Virginia Historical Society. This exhibition represents the first time that this personal collection has been publicly
displayed.
An Artist’s Story: Civil War Drawings by Edwin Forbes
Opens May 20, 2012
In 1862, twenty-three-year-old Edwin Forbes joined a corps of artists sent to Virginia to capture scenes of the war that
would illustrate the pages of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. Forbes and his colleagues did much to shape public
perceptions—then and now—of the American Civil War. This exhibition features 156 original pen-and-ink drawings that
Forbes produced from wartime sketches to illustrate his book, Thirty Years After: An Artist’s Story of the Great War.
DAYTIME BANNER LECTURES:
Daytime Banner Lectures begin at 12:00 p.m. and cost $6/adults, $5/seniors 55+, and $4/students and children under 18. Lectures are free for VHS members and to Richmond Times-Dispatch readers with a Press Pass coupon. Seating is offered on a first-come first-served basis. Reservations are not required.
June 30 "The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine," Todd Kliman
July 14 "Facts & Legends of Sports in Richmond," Brooks Smith and Wayne Dementi
October 13 "The First Thanksgiving," Peggy DeBellis Bruce
October 27 "Civil War Medicine," Dr. Adrian Wheat
November 30 "1861: The Civil War Awakening," Adam Goodheart
December 8 "Virginia’s Confederate Monuments," Timothy Sedore
January 26 "Abolitionist Art and the American Slave Trade," Maurie D. McInnis
February 23 "The Bicentennial of John Jasper," Samuel K. Roberts
March 29 "Lost Communities of Virginia," Terri Fisher
April 19 "Brown’s Battleground: Prince Edward County after 1954," Jill Titus
May 17 "Lee at His Zenith, 1862–63," Jeffry Wert
June 14 "The U.S. Marines at Belleau Wood, June 1918," Patrick Mooney
EVENING BANNER LECTURES:
Evening Banner Lectures begin at 7:00 p.m. and cost $6/adults, $5/seniors 55+, and $4/students and children under 18. Lectures are free for VHS members and to Richmond Times-Dispatch readers with a Press Pass coupon. Seating is offered on a first-come first-served basis. Reservations are not required.
October 26 "Civil War Medicine," Dr. Adrian Wheat
DAYTIME GALLERY WALKS:
Daytime gallery walks begin at 12:00 p.m. and cost $6/adults, $5/seniors 55+, and $4/students and children under 18. Walks are free for VHS members. Reservations are not required.
July 13 The Civil War in Virginia: The Home Front, William M. S. Rasmussen
August 3 The Civil War in Virginia: Why the Battle of Kernstown?, Andrew Talkov
September 28 The Civil War in Virginia: The Emancipation Proclamation, Lauranett Lee
October 12 The Story of Virginia: Reconstruction and Recovery, William M. S. Rasmussen
October 19 The Civil War in Virginia: Battle Flags, Rebecca Rose
November 9 Art in The Story of Virginia, William M. S. Rasmussen
December 7 The Civil War in Virginia: Did the Civil War End at Appomattox?, Paul Levengood
EVENING GALLERY WALKS:
Evening gallery walks begin at 6:00 p.m. and cost $6/adults, $5/seniors 55+, and $4/students and children under 18. Walks are free for VHS members. Reservations are not required.
September 8 An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia, Chris Van Tassell
October 13 The Civil War in Virginia: This Time It’s Personal, Andrew Talkov
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Free Family Day Open House July 9
The Virginia Historical Society offers a day full of games, historical demonstrations, trivia, register-to-win opportunities, music, crafts, children's activities, behind-the-scenes tours, food tastings, and much more! This event takes place from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Admission and all activities are free.
BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS:
A View from the Inside: A Behind the Scenes Tour of the Virginia Historical Society
This behind the scenes tour features areas of the Virginia Historical Society not normally open to the public, including the
paper conservation lab, museum collections storage, rare book rooms, and manuscripts storage. Tour participants will also
get the chance to see unique and interesting items in the VHS collection that are not routinely on display in the museum.
The behind the scenes tours will be offered monthly and each tour will be led by a collections curator who will focus on a
different theme. Tours take place from 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and each tour costs $10 for VHS members and $17 for
nonmembers. Each tour is limited to 20 participants. Reservations are required and may be made on the VHS website or
in the VHS Museum Shop. No refunds will be given after reservations are made.
Virginia's Historical Treasures, Wednesday, July 27
Virginia’s Civil War Wednesday, August 24
Make Me a Map, Thursday, September 22
The Age of Exploration, Monday, October 10
ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES:
For more information, or to register for any adult education class, please visit www.vahistorical.org.
The Idea of a Constitution September 15 and 22
This class will explore what constitutions are, what they are designed to do, and how they reflect and interact with the
ideas and events of time and place. It will examine the roots of American constitutionalism in English constitutional
history (such as Magna Carta), in thinking about natural rights and social compact theory (especially John Locke), in the
colonial charters (notably Virginia’s 1606 Charter), and in contemporary politics. There will be a comparative dimension to
the seminars, comparing Virginia’s Constitution with those of other states, with the United States Constitution, and with
those of other countries. A. E. Dick Howard, the class instructor, was executive director of the commission that wrote
Virginia’s current constitution and directed the successful referendum campaign for ratification of that document. Howard
is the White Burkett Miller Professor of Law and Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. This class takes place from
5:30–7:00 p.m. and costs $50 for VHS members and $65 for nonmembers.
Unknown No Longer: Workshop on Using VHS Database of Slave Names September 29
In September the Virginia Historical Society will launch an innovative, searchable online database of slave names found in
the VHS collections called Unknown No Longer. The site provides a new resource for genealogists, historians, and all
students of local history. The VHS will make the site live with a critical mass of several thousand names, but it is a work in
progress, and many thousands of additional names of enslaved individuals will appear as they are added to the program.
Members of the VHS team who are constructing Unknown No Longer will conduct this workshop. They will give
participants detailed hands-on instruction for maneuvering through the database and extracting the most helpful
information in the most efficient way possible. This class takes place from 5:30–7:00 p.m. and costs $25 for VHS
members and $35 for nonmembers.
Architecture in Detail: Identifying Architectural Styles October 13, 20 and 27
This class, taught by architectural historian Robert P. Winthrop, will discuss the identification of architectural styles with
particular emphasis on Richmond and Virginia. Although Richmond participated in national architectural movements,
there were local preferences and characteristics that gave it individuality and character. The class will cover national styles,
but the focus will be on the regional expressions of these styles in Virginia. The class is to serve as a field guide to
architectural styles, including both the general characteristics of the style and the small details that are typical of the style.
This class takes place from 5:30–7:00 p.m. and costs $75 for VHS members and $90 for nonmembers.
History of the United States Marine Corps November 3, 10, 17 and December 1
Since 1775, when two battalions of Continental Marines formed, the Marine Corps has served in every one of the nation’s
wars. In the twentieth century, the USMC became the primary exponent of amphibious warfare and has taken a leading
role in quick-response expeditionary operations. This four-part class will trace the story of the U.S. Marines through key
battles—Derna (1805) and Peking (1900); Belleau Wood (1918); Iwo Jima (1945); and Khe Sanh/Hue City (1968). The
class will provide an overview of USMC history and focus on the years before and after each class period to link it to the
next era. Patrick Mooney is Visitor Services Chief at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. This class takes place
from 5:30–7:00 p.m. and costs $100 for VHS members and $120 for nonmembers.
CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING:
For more information, or to register for any of the children's educational programming, please contact Caroline Legros at (804) 342-9652 or clegros@vahistorical.org.
The Story of Virginia Family Hour June 22 & July 6 and 20
Families of all ages may visit the Virginia Historical Society for an educator-led tour of the award-winning The Story of
Virginia, An American Experience exhibition. Learn about Virginia’s 16,000-year history and explore how the
Commonwealth has changed and evolved over its centuries of existence. This tour begins at 3:00 p.m. and is free and
open to the public. All ages are welcome. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
August Afternoons August 1-31
Every day in August, the Virginia Historical Society will open its doors to families of all ages for our August Afternoon
activities. Visitors will be able to participate in educator-led programs, craft activities, and group readings of historicallythemed
books. All programs are free and open to the public. Advance reservations are not required. August Afternoons
takes place from 2:30–4:30 daily in the Carole M. and Marcus M. Weinstein Classroom. August Afternoons is sponsored
by the Rotary Club of Richmond.
Stories at the Museum
The Virginia Historical Society is offering special educator-led readings of history books. Every program will include a
group reading of the selected book and a craft activity related to the text. Each month the books will have a different
theme. Programs are free and take place Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. Book lists will be posted each month at
http://www.vahistorical.org/education/stories.htm.
National Hispanic Heritage Month September 7, 14, 21 and 28
Americans through Time October 5, 12, 19 and 26
Native American Heritage Month November 2, 9, 16, and 30
Americans through Time December 7 and 14
VIRGINIA HOUSE EVENTS:
Virginia House, owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society, is located at 4301 Sulgrave Road in Richmond's Windsor Farms neighborhood. All Virginia House events required advance registration. For more information, or to register for any of the Virginia House events, please contact Tracy Bryan at (804) 353-4251 or tbryan@vahistorical.org.
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Girl Scout Days at Virginia House
Girl Scouts now have the opportunity to earn badges and try-its from Virginia House. Using the unique site, Virginia House staff will help Girl Scouts fulfill various requirements. Girl Scouts will explore the gardens, wildlife, and history of Virginia House while participating in the specially designed programs. Each Girl Scout program costs $5 per child. Times and program topics vary by date. Advance registration is required.
September 10 12:30 p.m.: "People of the World" Try-It | 3:00 p.m.: "Local Lore" Badge
October 15 12:30 p.m.: "Stitching It Together" Try-It | 3:00 p.m.: "Global Awareness" Badge
November 5 12:30 p.m.: "Eco-Explorer" Try-It | 3:00 p.m.: "Outdoor Surroundings" Badge
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Harvest Tea and Tour September 10
Your afternoon includes a tour of Virginia House followed by a stroll through the fall gardens. While you enjoy tea, sandwiches, and sweets on the terrace, learn how to harvest herbs and include them in your tea at home. Participants will even have a chance to sample herb-infused treats and develop their own tea blend. This event takes place from 2:00–5:00 p.m. and costs $20 for VHS members and $22 for nonmembers.
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Gingerbread Tea and Tour
Celebrate the holidays and create a new family tradition! Design and build your own gingerbread house using gingerbread pieces, snow-like frosting, gumdrops, candy canes, and other colorful treats. Cider and cookies will be served as Virginia House staff talk about holiday traditions in the Tudor home. This event costs $15 per family for VHS members and $17 per family for nonmembers.
Gingerbread Tea for Families December 3, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Gingerbread Tea for Families December 4, 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Gingerbread Tea for Adults December 7, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Gingerbread Tea for Families with Children 5 and Under December 10, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
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Holiday Tea and Tour December 8 and 9
Spend an afternoon at two famous Richmond Tudor homes! Your visit begins with a guided holiday tour of the great rooms of Agecroft Hall followed by a walk through the gardens to Virginia House. Your visit concludes with tea and a guided tour of the festively decorated Virginia House. This event takes place from 3:00–5:00 p.m. and costs $23 for VHS members and $26 for nonmembers.
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Behind the Scenes Tour
Join the staff for a behind-the-scenes look at Virginia House. Visit seldom-seen areas of the museum and enjoy a close look at the collections of Alexander and Virginia Weddell. The house, preserved much the same as it was when the Weddells resided there from 1928-1948, includes English and Spanish antiques, silk draperies, oriental carpets, and fine silver and china. After the tour, guests are welcome to visit the over eight acres of grand gardens at Virginia House. This house museum tour is free for VHS members and $6 for nonmembers.
March 23 5:30 p.m. | March 25 12:00 p.m.
June 23 5:30 p.m. | June 24 12:00 p.m.
October 20 5:30 p.m. | October 21 12:00 p.m.
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Garden Tour September 1
Join the staff for an in-depth look at the over eight acres of grand gardens at Virginia House. It took 20 years for Virginia Weddell, working with noted landscape architect Charles Gillette, to create the picturesque gardens. From formal spring tulip displays to the naturalistic plantings, the gardens and grounds of Virginia House provide a rich tapestry of texture and color throughout the year. Today, close to 1,000 types of ornamental plants thrive throughout formal and naturalistic gardens. This event takes place from 5:00–7:00 p.m. and is free for VHS members and $6 for nonmembers.
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Jr. Ambassador Passport Travels Summer Camp July 25–29
This camp introduces participants to a variety of international cultures and customs. During the week-long educational program, campers ages 7–10 will explore the culture, food, geography, and music from countries where Alexander Weddell (Virginia House owner and resident from 1928–1948) served as a diplomat. Each day focuses on a different country, giving campers the opportunity to compare and contrast customs and traditions. At the end of the week, campers will receive a passport certificate and share what they have learned with family and staff at a special party. This camp takes place from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. daily and costs $135 per VHS member's child or grandchild and $150 for nonmembers.
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Virginia House Naturalists Summer Camp August 1–5
This camp allows children to explore the natural history and unique nature of a place. During the week-long educational program, campers ages 9–11 will learn about habitats, native plants, eco-friendly gardening, composting and recycling. At the end of the week, campers will share what they have learned with family and staff at a special party. This camp takes place from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. daily and costs $135 per VHS member's child or grandchild and $150 for nonmembers.
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Diggin' in the Dirt Summer Camp August 8–12
This camp, cosponsored with Agecroft Hall, introduces participants to a variety of educational and craft activities. During the week-long program, campers ages 6–8 learn about Virginia plants, weather and gardening. Projects include creating butterfly gardens, growing herbs, making stepping stones, learning cloud types and weather charting. The week concludes with a Mad Hatter's tea party hosted by the camp participants for family and staff, during which craft projects are presented and certificates distributed. This camp takes place from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. daily and costs $135 per VHS member's child or grandchild and $150 for nonmembers.
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Young Virginia House Naturalists
This Saturday morning program introduces young children (ages six and under) and their parents to the natural history and unique nature of a place. Children will have the opportunity to explore the Virginia House site while learning about nature. Each program includes a story, hands-on activity, and a craft. This event takes place from 9:00–11:00 a.m. and costs $5 for VHS member's child or grandchild and $7 for nonmembers.
Plants and their Uses July 16
Clouds and Weather August 6
Flowers September 10
Insects and Butterflies October 15
Animals in your Backyard November 5
LONG-TERM EXHIBITIONS:
The Story of Virginia, An American Experience
This 10,000-square-foot family-friendly exhibition includes several
interactive features. It showcases more than 1,000 objects and covers 16,000 years of Virginia history from prehistoric
times to the present.
Virginians at Work
Hundreds of objects in this exhibition tell the story of how Virginians have made a living and why
jobs have changed. Focusing on people rather than principles, the exhibit follows four economies: agricultural (1607–
1790), commercial (1790–1865), industrial (1865–1945), and service (1945–2006).
Silver in Virginia
This exhibition includes over 400 pieces of silver not only produced in such major urban centers as Alexandria, Norfolk, and Richmond, but also works crafted in small towns like Dumfries, Fincastle, and Waynesboro.
The Virginia Manufactory of Arms
This exhibition presents weapons made in Richmond from 1802 to 1821.
Examples of flintlock muskets, pistols, swords, and rifles supplied to the Virginia militia by the state are on display.
Four Seasons of the Confederacy: Murals by Charles Hoffbauer
French mural artist Charles Hoffbauer was
commissioned by the Confederate Memorial Association to paint a series of Civil War murals, which were unveiled in
January 1921. The murals follow the changing seasons and include Confederate commanders and battle scenes. ** Please
note: the Hoffbauer murals are currently undergoing major conservation. Portions of the murals may be obstructed by
equipment, but the murals can still be viewed during this process.**
Making the Murals: Studies by Charles Hoffbauer
This exhibition shows the models, tools, and techniques Charles
Hoffbauer used to produce the large-scale mural paintings, Four Seasons of the Confederacy, that progress through the seasons
of spring to winter, from the opening years of the Civil War to its close.
Solving History's Mysteries: A History Discovery Lab
This interactive exhibition, co-organized by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, offers a broad variety of hands-on activities and focuses on the process of discovery, how we learn, and the important role historic architecture and archaeology play in defining our communities and culture.
For more than 178 years, the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) has been the steward of our state—and often
national—history. Headquartered at 428 North Boulevard in Richmond, the VHS features award-winning exhibitions that
are entertaining and educational for visitors of all ages. Although designated the Official State Historical Society, the VHS
is a privately funded non-profit organization that relies on contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations
to sustain its operations. Hours: Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Admission is free. For group
tour information, call (804) 342-9652. For more information, call (804) 358-4901 or visit www.vahistorical.org.
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