Grand Transformations

I think the label says it all.

Week 39

I think the label says it all.

Sliding glass panels will provide more flexibility in our new multi-purpose space on the ground floor.

Don’t miss your last chance to see the renovation before the grand transformation is finally revealed in October.

Please join us for our final Hard Hat Happy Hour this Wednesday 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

/
Martha Denham Portrait

RVA50 Object 39 “Martha in the Atelier Courtyard, 1931″

“Martha in the Atelier Courtyard,” 1931
Adele Goodman Clark (1882-1983)
Oil on canvas
V.83.150.02 Read more

/

Missed Connections

What happens when you try to connect a 1970’s addition, a late 19th century row house, and a house moved onto our property in the 1950’s?

What happens when you try to connect a 1970’s addition, a late 19th century row house, and a house moved onto our property in the 1950’s? Well, we discovered this week.

While we had hoped that the connections between these three buildings could be made without any major changes, the reality was that in order for our plans to work we had to jackhammer out an existing concrete ramp to our education center.

Just a few inches and a minor adjustment in the slope made everything work.

Thanks to the efforts of our architects, contractor, and staff, our visitors will be unaware of the odd intersection of these three buildings.

In many ways it speaks to our vision for the Valentine.

How do we take diverse stories and periods of our region’s history that don’t appear to relate to each other and connect them?
Well, it takes work and may require a few challenges to our assumptions about our past. We may even have to modify the angle at which we approach our history.

If we are open to the conversations, we can make the connections!

Are you curious about our progress? Join us for a Hard Hat Happy Hour happening every Wednesday 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 38 “Radio, circa 1930”

Radio, circa 1930
Floor Model 92
Gribsby Grunlow Company
Wood, metal, glass
V.93.124.01 Read more

/

Mud!

After months of installing ductwork and wires, the walls are going up … and quickly!

 

I had always been told that mud had restorative qualities.

Take a bath in it.  Use it as a facial mask.  It always promises to refresh and rejuvenate.

I am not sure what I expected when they said that they were going to mud and drywall the galleries, but what an amazing difference!

After months of installing ductwork and wires, the walls are going up … and quickly!

This work is almost complete in the lobby, gift shop, Stettinius Community Galleries and in the Massey Gallery which will be the home for the upcoming “This is Richmond, Virginia” exhibition.

We can now clearly see what these spaces will look like when we open in October and it will definitely be a fresh face for the Valentine!

If mud can do this for the Valentine, I think I know what I am going to be doing this week.

Are you curious about our progress? Join us for a Hard Hat Happy Hour happening every Wednesday 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 37 “Victor-Victrola, 1917”

Victor-Victrola, 1917

Floor Model VVX 281516J
Victor Talking Machine Company
Mahogany, metal
V.2012.12.01 Read more

/

The Root of It All

We may not have alligators in our sewers, but we did find something living there.

 

The root of it all…

We may not have alligators in our sewers, but we did find something living there.
Excavations for a new waste water line revealed a major blockage.
(Only at the Valentine would we remove and document it!)

 

                     The Pipe                                            The bundle of tree roots that were blocking the pipe to the left.

Further digging has sadly not uncovered buried treasure, oil, or China.  Renovation plans include the replacement of these aging sewer lines and the re-landscaping of our main entrance on Clay Street.

The mystery of that odd smell in the old education center may have finally been solved!

Are you curious about our progress? Join us for a Hard Hat Happy Hour happening every Wednesday 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

/

Chill Out!

You know you have been promising yourself for months that you are going to leave work just a little early and join us for a tour of our renovation.

Only 4 more Hard Hat Happy Hours!

You know you have been promising yourself for months that you are going to leave work just a little early and join us for a tour of our renovation.

Well, it’s July!  It’s hot!  Is anyone really going to notice that you’re gone?    

Our new air conditioning is blasting and each week there is a great group of people that gather to take a peek at our progress.

For the last 36 weeks (including Christmas Day!) you have joined me through these emails and have watched our transformation.

You won’t want miss your last chances to see the mess before the real magic begins.   The renovations are in the homestretch and exhibition installation will soon follow.

In addition to chilled air, we promise cool beverages…and people.  Join us!

Please 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 36 “John Murchie, 1780’s”

John Murchie, 1780’s
John Durand
Oil on canvas
V.82.27.01 Read more

/