Archive for month: August, 2014

Who knew that a urinal and fresh white tile could be so exciting!

  

Who knew that a urinal and fresh white tile could be so exciting!

It is amazing how often our experience at a museum is centered around the quality of the restrooms.

We find ourselves in these remarkable historic places with their great collections, and the only thing we mention to our friends as we leave is a problem with a restroom.  I must admit that I was guilty of this crime last week after I visited a museum in Charleston, S.C.

In a very small space, our architects have focused on the details:

• The paper towel dispensers are next to the sinks.
• Large floor tile without grout will help with the appearance and easy maintenance.
• Heated floors will ensure comfort. 

For the first time, the museum will have fully accessible facilities.

I hope that we are creating restrooms that are wonderfully forgettable and that our visitors’ only memory of the Valentine will be their experience of Richmond’s stories. 

Bill Martin, Director

P.S. Join today and be part of the grand opening week celebrations (Oct 20-24). A donation of $250+ secures your spot at the special Wednesday night party.

   

I was really hoping to find a ghost, so that we can finally give that ghost tour that everyone would like us to give.

All of the contractors and staff were gone for the day, and it was just me and the empty building.

It was actually the first time that I was able to quietly walk through the new spaces without all of the distractions of the renovations.

The only sounds were those of the new air conditioning fans and the occasional creaking of a floorboard.  By the way, the new HVAC system is working very well so it was freezing inside.

Throughout my walk, I could see the subtle evidence of the thousands of people that have passed through the Valentine.

…the outline of a sink on the wall of the old darkroom… 

 
…the strange patterns of concrete, brick, and plaster… 

…the floors with their mosaics of tile, concrete, and wood… 

I could see the decades of changes in the Valentine, and I could feel the energy of those who have worked so diligently over the years to ensure the vitality of this important place in downtown.

I also realized that, as the renovations quickly moved forward, these reminders would soon disappear behind drywall and under carpet.

I was really hoping to find a ghost, so that we can finally give that ghost tour that everyone would like us to give.  Instead, I found the real spirits of this place that will find new life in our new spaces.

Bill Martin, Director

P.S. Join today and be part of the grand opening week celebrations (Oct 20-24). A donation of $250+ secures your spot at the special Wednesday night party.

  

Many Richmonders will remember the expression “meet me under the clock.”

   

After 10 long months, the special protective box that has been securing our signature Miller & Rhoads clock was removed last week.

Many Richmonders will remember the expression “meet me under the clock.”  As the focal point for our renovations, we hope that our visitors will revive this phrase.  From this central location, you will be able to see the “This is Richmond, Virginia” exhibition, the terrace and lobby, the staircase to the ground level, and through the building to the 1812 John Wickham House.

It is amazing what happens when you take all of the sides off of the box!

As you can see by this week’s photos, we have created in our galleries a big new box in which to showcase our history.

It is a perfect space to highlight our collections and for our “This is Richmond, Virginia” exhibition.

While these spaces are exciting, we must not forget that our vision for the Valentine is to do for Richmond’s history what we did this week for the clock.  (I really hate to use this overused term.)

It’s time to think about our history in new ways and to move Richmond and the Valentine outside the box!

Bill Martin, Director

P.S. Join today and be part of the grand opening week celebrations (Oct 20-24). A donation of $250+ secures your spot at the special Wednesday night party.