Richmond, VA – As its History Matters Campaign: The Story of Virginia for all Virginians continues, and major construction proceeds, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) is preparing for a dramatically expanded and renewed museum experience – all as part of the most transformative capital and programmatic improvement plan in its nearly 200-year history.

Our Commonwealth, a new multi-million-dollar, long-term exhibition, will serve as a centerpiece of the museum’s new offerings and a complementary experience to its existing long-term exhibition, The Story of Virginia. Opening along with the museum’s grand reopening in the Spring of 2022, this extensive, marquee exhibition will provide an in-depth, multi-sensory exploration through the five major regions of Virginia and will feature stories and artifacts from partner organizations and cultural institutions throughout the state.

It will be divided into galleries for Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, Southwest and Tidewater Virginia, taking guests on a memorable journey. Scenic elements and large-scale, slowly changing digital projections called “living murals” will frame the narrative footprint of each region, and unique soundscapes will complete the effect, immersing visitors as they discover the arts, culture, food, music, industry, and people that make each region unique. Objects, archival materials, images, and personal stories will explore key historical moments and regional themes.

In furtherance of the VMHC’s aspiration to enhance its statewide reach and do more to serve and reflect all Virginians, the museum has forged new local museum and non-profit partnerships in each of the five regions of the state to curate Our Commonwealth with an innovative collaborative approach. This hallmark exhibition is made possible by the generous support of donors to the Museum’s ongoing, $35M History Matters Campaign.

“Our Commonwealth is completely unique as this approach to exhibition development has created a network of local and statewide museums and non-profits who are contributing to a state history museum project as a united body. This collaborative curatorial effort is an incredible first for us all, and it gives us great pride to host this exhibition at the VMHC,” said VMHC President and CEO Jamie Bosket.

The VMHC will be working with two esteemed companies to complete this multi-sensory immersive exhibition experience. The PRD Group, founded in 1988 in Chantilly, Virginia, will provide planning, research, and design services for the creation of Our Commonwealth, as well a major renovation of the other areas in the VMHC. Past projects of note from this company include The World of 1607 for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Visitor Education Center, and The American Experience at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Donna Lawrence Productions, a company specializing in motion picture work for cultural institutions will create a film for the museum’s new immersive orientation theater. Past work of this company includes New Birth of Freedom, a film featuring Morgan Freeman at the Gettysburg National Battlefield, the film Freedom Rising at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the films Revolution and Washington’s War Tent at the Museum of the American Revolution, also in Philadelphia.

STATEWIDE PARTNERS

CENTRAL VIRGINIA

Lynchburg Museum – located at the Old Court House in Lynchburg, the museum exhibits artifacts, photograph, and artwork representative of the city’s history. Learn more at https://www.lynchburgmuseum.org.

Fredericksburg Area Museum – Housed in historic Town Hall/Market House (c.1816) FAM’s mission, to collect, research, interpret, teach, and preserve the history of our region, is the foundation of the Museum’s programs and events, exhibitions, educational initiatives, and collecting activities that touch the lives of all citizens and help them make meaningful and personal connections to history. Learn more at https://famva.org.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Office of Historic Alexandria – The Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) represents this city that has more than 250 years of history and hospitality to its credit, offering an array of historic homes, churches, businesses, and museums. Learn more at https://www.alexandriava.gov/Historic.

The Manassas Museum – Established in 1972, the Manassas Museum is located in Downtown Manassas. Incorporated in 1975, the City of Manassas is 10 square miles of beautiful homes, and one-of-a-kind restaurants and shops located about 30 miles south of our Nation’s Capital. Learn more at https://www.manassas.gov.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley – located in Winchester, VA, the MSV endeavors to preserve and enrich the cultural life and heritage of the Valley. Located on the largest green space in the city of Winchester, the MSV is a regional cultural center that includes the museum, seven acres of formal gardens and the Glen Burnie House dating to the 18th century. Learn more at https://www.themsv.org/.

Rockbridge Historical Society – located in Lexington, VA, the Rockbridge Historical Society hosts a local history museum across from the Lexington Visitor Center, with artifacts spanning four centuries of area history, genealogical resources, historic maps and books for sale, and a stone-terraced garden with picnic tables. Open by appointment by email RHS@rockbridgehistory.org, learn more at https://rockbridgehistory.org/.

SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA

BRIM – Blue Ridge Institute & Museum – located in Ferrum, VA, the museum was created by Ferrum College in 1973 to document, interpret, and present the folk heritage of the Blue Ridge region, working steadily throughout Appalachia while maintaining an emphasis on the western portion of the Commonwealth. Learn more at http://www.ferrum.edu/blueridgeinstitute/. 

WKMA – Never the Same Museum – located in Abingdon, VA, the William King Museum of Art houses exhibitions ranging from contemporary art in the Appalachian region to fine art from around the world. WKMA is also the home to the Betsy K. White Cultural Heritage Research Archive, a thorough documentation of the rich decorative arts legacy of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Learn more at https://www.williamkingmuseum.org/,

TIDEWATER VIRGINIA

Historical Society Eastern Shore of Virginia – located in Onancock, VA, the Historical Society is the place for learning the history, experiencing the culture and educating visitors of all ages about Virginia’s Eastern Shore via various programming, summer camps, field trips and adult education throughout the year. Learn more at https://www.shorehistory.org/.

The Mariners’ Museum and Park – located in the Newport News, VA, the Mariners’ Museum and Park connects people to the world’s waters, through the shared maritime heritage of all. Learn more at https://marinersmuseum.org/.

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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.

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is located at 428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond’s Museum District. Hours are Monday – Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the galleries and museum shop, Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the research library. For more information call 804.340.1800, visit VirginiaHistory.org, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.                                             
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