Media Alert
March 24, 2022
Taylor Fuqua, Manager of PR & Marketing; tfuqua@VirginiaHistory.org; 804.342.9661
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Museum of History & Culture will premiere a number of innovative and immersive exhibitions and galleries in conjunction with the reopening of its building May 14, 2022. The $30+ million renovation and expansion is the most extensive transformation in the institution’s nearly 200-year history. Among the marquee exhibitions are Our Commonwealth, a multisensory exploration through the five major regions of Virginia that features artifacts from cultural institutions throughout the state, and American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith, a Smithsonian-organized exhibition that will dynamically bring the great American experiment of democracy to life. All exhibitions are free with museum admission: $10 general admission; free for VMHC members; discounts for seniors, children and military/veterans.
“The VMHC’s new exhibitions, experiences and spaces are designed to welcome, inform and reflect our audiences, inviting participation and meaningful dialogue,” said VMHC President & CEO Jamie Bosket. “Bridging the past and present through multiple perspectives and compelling storytelling is key to fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose.”
The signature long-term exhibition Our Commonwealth will launch audiences on a memorable and scenic journey, with living murals — large-scale, changing digital projections — and custom soundscapes that will immerse them in the arts, culture, food, music, industry and people of each region. In a unique approach to exhibition development, it incorporates stories and objects from across Virginia, thanks to the robust regional partnerships that the VMHC developed with institutions around the state. Among these statewide partners are the Lynchburg Museum and Fredericksburg Area Museum (Central Virginia); Office of Historic Alexandria and Manassas Museum (Northern Virginia); Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and Rockbridge Historical Society (Shenandoah Valley); Blue Ridge Institute and Museum and WKMA/Never the Same Museum (Southwestern Virginia); and Historical Society Eastern Shore of Virginia and the Mariners’ Museum and Park (Tidewater Virginia). These rich and inspiring collaborations have led to enhanced curatorial insights and have increased the depth of connection with the five regions of the state.
American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith will examine our government’s founding and the continuing story of America’s bold experiment in a government “of, by, and for the people.” The exhibition will feature five major themes: the first bold leap to democracy as “A Great Leap of Faith”; a nation for and by the people in “A Vote, A Voice”; political campaigning with “The Machinery of Democracy”; the power of the American people to go “Beyond the Ballot”; and sustaining our nation with “Creating Citizens.” American Democracy will feature VMHC and Smithsonian collection artifacts, as well as contemporary objects and touchable artifacts. Audio/video presentations from the Smithsonian and The History Channel and immersive technologies such as touch-screen adventures will enhance the visitor experience.
Treasures of Virginia will feature a rotating display of extraordinary items related to individuals or events that shaped the identity of Virginia and the nation. They inspire awe, while also prompting reflection about what we treasure as individuals, as communities and as a society. Artifacts include a personal diary of George Washington’s from his first term as the first President, the writing desk of poet and civil rights activist Anne Spencer (1882-1975), the lunch counter from Richmond’s F.W. Woolworth Store where Black civil rights activists staged a sit-in to protest racial discrimination in 1960 and one of the earliest printings of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
Commonwealth Explorers offers a playful exploration space specifically designed for VMHC’s youngest visitors and their companions. Launching a connection to Virginia’s distinctive history and culture for years to come, the hands-on, interactive exhibit uses a wide range of story-driven features for kids to see, touch and experience Virginia’s past and present.
History Matters is an introductory exhibition that speaks to the ways history connects us all. This gallery will feature selections from VMHC’s vast collection of 9 million items, inspiring visitors to seek a deeper understanding of the transformative power of history through several themes, including how history helps us discover ourselves and connect with our communities; how it motivates us to explore and be creative; and how it inspires our future by helping us to understand our past. Artifacts in the installation include sneakers worn by Rainbow Minute radio show co-host Judd Proctor at his wedding to co-host Brian Burns in 2006, an early 1900s child banjo from Carroll County, Virginia, a rare portrait of Meriwether Lewis, a shovel used on Admiral Richard Byrd's exploration of the South Pole, original photographs of civil war soldiers and a terra-cotta bowl made by Pamunkey Indian artist Mary Bradby.
The Lettie Pate Evans Orientation Theater presents a 17-minute film to orient visitors to the full sweep of Virginia’s history, both natural and human, generating excitement to discover the details of that story throughout the museum spaces. Using voices, imagery, music, sound design and theatrical effects, Imagine Virginia will explore the natural and socioeconomic forces that converged in Virginia, shaping the Commonwealth’s history and culture.
Continuing displays that will also be on view in May 2022 include: Uncommon Strength: An Archeological View of Resilience, developed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which explores the customs, behaviors and lifestyles of enslaved African Americans through DHR’s archeological holdings. Finding the Familiar, which considers ordinary objects from multiple perspectives and explores how they connect to our shared history. Taking Aim, featuring the stories of craftspeople, soldiers, hunters and lawbreakers as told through firearms from the VMHC collection. And the Great Hall, an iconic space with spectacular objects — including a 1950s-era “kiddie” airplane amusement park ride! — that serves as an introduction to the museum’s uniquely Virginia experience and a prominent gathering place for public programs and special events.
For all related exhibition program details and registration links, please visit VirginiaHistory.org/exhibitions/grand-re-opening.
The VMHC is the only institution dedicated to presenting the entire history of Virginia, over time and across regions. Its nationally significant collection, renowned research library, galleries and public programs demonstrate the centrality of Virginia to the narrative of the United States.
The transformation of nearly two-thirds of the VMHC’s 250,000-square-foot building includes a grand two-story entrance atrium; an immersive orientation theater; approximately 50% more exhibition space to accommodate an exciting mix of long-term and changing exhibitions; an entirely new research library; several community meeting and gathering spaces; a new campus connector between the VMHC and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; an enhanced green space; and a new café and museum store, among other amenities.
The museum’s grand reopening events include member and supporter previews, followed by a full public opening celebration with live music, free admission and family activities the weekend of May 14 and 15, 2022. For all the details and information about becoming a member, please visit VirginiaHistory.org.
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.