Carytown, Then and Now
When you hear Carytown, what comes to mind? Read more
Archive for month: March, 2014
Start Your Engines!
Help us fund raise to add new objects to the collection!
Rendering of “This is Richmond, Virginia” exhibition – Opening Fall 2014!
A crock, a fender and a washing machine walk into a museum…does it sound like the beginning of a really bad curator joke?
The new “This is Richmond, Virginia” exhibition will draw significantly from the exisiting collections of the Valentine. Key objects from our painting, decorative arts, costume & textile, and archival collections will be featured…many of which will be exhibited for the first time!
In this eclectic mix will be objects that have been collected specifically for this exhibition. From an early-20th century washing machine made at Richmond Cedar Works (now the site of Rockett’s Landing) to a mid-19th century crock made by an early Hugenot immigrant to the region, our curators have been working with donors and the collections committe to help bring exciting new objects to the exhibtion that will help us tell new stories.
Expect to see lots of surprises and odd combinations when the exhibit opens in October!
You Can Help!
We can’t tell the story of the Richmond International Raceway and NASCAR without a great object.
As an experiment in new fundraising approaches, you can help us purchase a car fender through a crowdfunding website (I’m not really sure what this means, but it makes us sound cool).
The fender from famous car #2 was dented during an RIR race and is signed by its driver and Winston Cup Champion Randy Wallace.
Just follow this link to the Kickstarter campaign to learn more about the object and help us raise money to add it to the collection.
Bill Martin, Director
RVA50 Object 22 “Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Richmond”
“Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Richmond”
John Warrock, printer
1831
Richmond, Virginia
Paper, leather
FIC.004133 Read more
2014 Richmond History Tours Season Kicks Off on April 1
The Valentine Richmond History Center is pleased to announce the 2014 Richmond History Tours. The History Center offers more than 340 opportunities to explore Richmond history on foot, by bus or with your dog. Read more
We are VERY Richmond
Why we are using local contractors, architects, and designers for our renovations.
We want to be VERY Richmond!
The continuing renovation has provided a unique opportunity for the Valentine to express our belief in the talent and creativity of our own region. There is much conversation these days about locally sourced and handcrafted food. (There are a lot of great new restaurants!) Our goal is to create a space downtown that reflects the history of local enterprise and innovation in everything we do.
We are your homegrown museum!
Richmonders have funded this project and we are now reinvesting your support in our community. What better way to do this than to create a team of local contractors, architects, designers, and artists to work with us on this project. Our architects are Glavé & Holmes, our general contractors are Kjellstrom + Lee, and our exhibition designers are Riggs Ward.
These are all companies based in Richmond and known for their high quality work and commitment to the community. We are fortunate to have such great resources right here in our community.
Are you curious about our progress? Join us for one of our Hard Hat Happy Hours that occur every Wednesday from 4:30-6:00pm. You can contact me for more information or RSVP online and let me know you’ll be coming by.
If you would like to help keep us calm and hammering on, you can support the History Center on our secure donation page at /give
Bill Martin, Director
RVA50 Object 20 “Charles Dickens In Richmond, 1842″
“Charles Dickens In Richmond,” 1842
Harper’s Weekly, October 8, 1864
Wood engraving
V.45.28.60, .61 Read more
RVA50 Object 21 “Plate, 1938”
Plate, 1938
Wedgwood, Etruria, England
Ceramic
V.82.97.01 Read more
My Internship Experience by Carly Winfield
Carly Winfield, a senior at the University of Mary Washington, interned during the fall semester at the History Center and focused on planning the 2014 Community Conversations series. Read more
Who Are You Wearing?
From the 18th century to yesterday, we can tell the history of the region through the clothing we have worn and the other textiles that are a part of our daily lives.
Who Are You Wearing?
It’s a difficult (and easy) question for the Valentine. We have an answer as long as Richmond’s history. From the 18th century to yesterday, we can tell the history of the region through the clothing we have worn and the other textiles that are a part of our daily lives.
It’s quilts. It’s couture. It’s Robert E. Lee’s boots!
At long last, with the opening of the Klaus and Reynolds Costume and Textile Galleries in May of next year, we are creating a new runway for the history of Richmond fashion.
The Valentine’s costume and textile collection is recognized as one of the largest and most significant in the United States.
The new galleries will allow us to spotlight (probably a bad word because of the damage to textiles from too much light exposure) one of the Valentine’s signature collections.
In addition to the building projects associated with our campaign, we are also building our endowment. I am pleased to announce that we will begin recruitment for the new Nathalie L. Klaus Curator of Costumes and Textiles this week. This new curator’s first task will be to create the inaugural exhibition in our new galleries.
I have included a few renderings of these galleries that are located on the lower level.
With our renovations, we will finally be able to answer the question…who have Richmonders been wearing?
Are you curious about our progress? Join us for one of our Hard Hat Happy Hours that occur everyWednesday from 4:30-6:00 p.m.You can contact me for more information or RSVP online and let me know you’ll be coming by.
If you would like to help keep us calm and hammering on, you can support the History Center on our secure donation page at /give.
-Bill Martin, Director
RVA50 Object 19 “Bench, circa 1910”
Bench, circa 1910
Tredegar Iron Works
Iron
V.78.156 Read more
About Us
The Valentine is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
The Valentine is a BBB Accredited Charity and meets the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
