Miller & Rhoads Wagon Restoration
RICHMOND — The Valentine Richmond History Center is pleased to partner with the Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown to bring the museum’s Miller & Rhoads delivery wagon back into public view after many years in storage. Designed to replicate a circa 1900 wagon, the piece was commissioned for the store’s 75th anniversary in 1960 and now returns to the site of the former department store for public display. Before it goes on view, the wagon requires extensive maintenance, which will take place in the hallway of the Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown beginning August 1, 2011, with plans to unveil the newly restored wagon on August 19, 2011.
History Center To Restore And Display Mid-Century Miller & Rhoads Wagon At The Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown
RICHMOND — The Valentine Richmond History Center is pleased to partner with the Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown to bring the museum’s Miller & Rhoads delivery wagon back into public view after many years in storage. Designed to replicate a circa 1900 wagon, the piece was commissioned for the store’s 75th anniversary in 1960 and now returns to the site of the former department store for public display.
Before it goes on view, the wagon requires extensive maintenance, which will take place in the hallway of the Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown beginning August 1, 2011, with plans to unveil the newly restored wagon on August 19, 2011.
The media are invited to observe the wagon as it arrives at the Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown on Monday, August 1, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. The wagon will arrive in two pieces and will remain so during restoration. Please RSVP for this event to Lesley Bruno, lbruno@richmondhistorycenter.com.
Conservator Russell Bernabo will oversee a thorough cleaning and stabilization of the vehicle, with in-fill painting occurring as needed on the undercarriage and wheels. The public is invited to visit the hotel and observe this process. Once the wagon is restored, it will be on view in the ground floor window of the Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown, at the corner of 6th and E. Grace streets.
For 105 years, Miller & Rhoads was one of downtown Richmond’s anchor department stores, occupying an entire square block at 501 E. Broad Street. Now a hotel and residential complex, the building continues to contribute to the city’s 21st century story.
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The Valentine Richmond History Center engages, educates and challenges a diverse audience by collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond’s history. Located in the heart of historic downtown Richmond, the History Center encourages residents and visitors to explore and learn about the Richmond region through exhibitions, research, tours and programs.
The historic Miller & Rhoads restoration was developed by HRI Properties of New Orleans and ECI Investment Advisors of Richmond.
The Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown, located on the corner of East Broad and Fifth streets, offers 250 rooms, including 15 suites. The hotel forms one part of the restoration of the entire historic Miller & Rhoads building that also includes 133 apartments and 20,000 square feet of retail space.
Based in New Orleans, HRI Properties (HRI) is a full-service real estate development company and a national leader in the adaptive reuse of historic structures. HRI’s mission is revitalizing cities by creating diverse, vibrant, sustainable communities. For more information, see www.hriproperties.com.
HRI Lodging owns and operates hotel properties in New Orleans, LA; Shreveport, LA; Jackson, MS and Richmond. HRI hotels include restoration of the D.H. Holmes department store in New Orleans and the King Edward Hotel in Jackson in addition to Miller & Rhoads in Richmond. More information about HRI Lodging is available at www.HRILodging.com.
ECI Investment Advisors, Inc. (ECI) is a privately held commercial real estate company providing municipalities, financial institutions, REITs and private investors with a wide array of investment, development and advisory services.
