FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | December 8, 2009 |
Contact: Jennifer M. Guild, Senior Officer for Public Relations and Marketing
Tel: (804) 342-9665 | Email:
jguild@vahistorical.org
Virginia Historical Society Offering Free Admission in 2010
Board Voted Unanimously to Expand Museum Access to All
Richmond, VA—In a bold move at the November 18, 2009, board meeting, Virginia Historical Society (VHS)
trustees voted to waive admission fees next year. This decision comes as part of a long-term strategy to promote
access to the society's collections and remove obstacles to sharing history. Effective January 2, 2010, it will not cost
guests any money to visit the VHS museum or research library.
"In spite of a serious economic environment, the board unanimously agreed that we cannot balance the
budget by pricing history out of the public's reach," said Virginia Historical Society President and CEO Paul A.
Levengood. "I am pleased we can offer free admission in 2010. Although the highest a ticket price has ever been at
the VHS is $5, that is still a barrier to some. I will do everything in my power to ensure that anyone who takes
advantage of this opportunity will have an enjoyable, educational, and entertaining visit."
"We will adopt a fundraising strategy to make free admission permanent," said Pamela R. Seay, Vice President
for Advancement at the VHS. "VHS donors understand that the intrinsic value of history is far greater than the price
of admission to a museum. The value of history is measured by what we learn from it."
The VHS is presenting the following new exhibitions in 2010: Cold War Crisis: The U-2 Incident (January 16–May
30, 2010); Memories of World War II: Photographs from the Archives of The Associated Press (May 9–August 1, 2010); Bizarre Bits from Virginia: Oddities of the Collection (June 12, 2010–February 13, 2011); Virginia Rocks: Rockabilly Music in the Old Dominion (August 28–December 30, 2010); and Organized Labor in Virginia (September 4–December 30, 2010). The
Portent: John Brown's Raid in American Memory and The John Marshall High School Corps of Cadets opened in October and will
continue to be on display until April 11, 2010.
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: Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–5 pm and Sunday 1 pm–5 pm (shop and museum galleries only). Admission is free. For group tour information, call (804) 342-9652. For more information, please call (804) 358-4901 or visit www.vahistorical.org.
|
Share
