Media Alert
December 28, 2021
Tracy Schneider, VP for Marketing & Communications; tschneider@VirginiaHistory.org; 804.342.9661

Richmond, VA – The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) will soon complete the most extensive and transformative renovation in its nearly 200-year history, one that began in October 2020. The museum has remained open in limited capacity for the majority of the construction, but it will close from January 1 through the public re-opening on May 14, 2022. This closure will allow for the final phase of construction, the installation of numerous new exhibitions and museum experiences, and the activation of new guest amenities, including a new store and café.
 

“Construction teams have done a wonderful job of creatively managing timelines and phases allowing us to keep many of our galleries accessible to date, but we have come to the point in the project when we need to provide them and our staff unfettered access to the entire complex so that we can unveil this dramatically revamped, welcoming, and innovative museum experience for all visitors in May.” said VMHC President & CEO Jamie Bosket.

The renewed museum complex of nearly 250,000 square feet will include multiple new exhibitions spaces for long-term and changing exhibitions; a new immersive orientation theater; a new interactive learning space for families; a new research library with a state-of-the-art rare book and manuscript suite, and multiple new education/meeting rooms; a new café, museum store and other amenities; and multiple new and renewed community and event spaces, including a new great hall, a second floor event terrace, an outdoor event lawn, an expanded parking lot, and an improved VMFA campus connector.

This $30M+ project is a capstone of various expansions and improvements at the museum over the past two decades. It is also a culmination of the VMHC’s focused efforts in recent years to become the state history museum Virginia needs and all Virginians deserve – work that has already resulted in record-setting growth in museum visitation and programmatic activity. Guided by the museum’s ambitious strategic plan, which also called for the museum’s successful rebranding in 2018 as the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, these changes are intended to boldly and meaningfully reinvent the museum as it looks ahead to its third century of operation and as the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary.

While galleries will be closed for daily visitation, the VMHC will continue to host a limited number of in-person events and a slate of virtual programs for both members and the general public. More information can be found at VirginiaHistory.org/Calendar.

In early 2022, the museum will release details of its grand re-opening plans, which will include a series of preview events in early May followed by a full public opening celebration with live music, free admission, and family activities the weekend of May 14 and 15, 2022.

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The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society — a private, non-profit organization established in 1831. The historical society is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation. For use in its state history museum and its renowned research library, the historical society cares for a collection of nearly nine million items representing the ever-evolving story of Virginia.

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