By DAN TELVOCK
Imagine combining the world's largest Civil War collection with two of the war's major battlefields.
Museum of the Confederacy President Waite Rawls and Spotsylvania County officials already have.
The museum in Richmond plans to announce today that it wants Spotsylvania to become a partner in a system of museums statewide to relocate some of its artifacts. Spotsylvania is home to all or part of four Civil War battlefields--Chancellorsville, Court House, Wilderness and Fredericksburg.
"I think the idea of bringing artifacts to the battlefields is a wonderful concept," said Civil War Preservation Trust President Jim Lighthizer. "Spotsylvania is ground zero for the American Civil War. More happened in that county than anywhere in the country."
Richmond's museum officials have been searching for a new home since October. Dwarfed by Virginia Commonwealth University hospital, the museum has seen its business drop by half since 1991--to about 45,000 visitors in 2006.
Relocating artifacts, Rawls said, would take the collection to the visitor, "rather than trying to get the visitor to come to us."
Spotsylvania and Appomattox counties are named as the top locations to begin the system of museums. Rawls hopes to open new sites by 2011, the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War.
But his plan is contingent on financing and local approval.
The Richmond museum will remain open for at least five years. After that, its future is uncertain, Rawls said.
There are no plans to change the operation of the museum-owned White House of the Confederacy next door, he said.
The Museum of the Confederacy's collections include uniforms, battle flags and soldiers' personal possessions. Rawls said one of the items he'd like to re- locate to Spotsylvania is the famous 1869 painting "The Last Meeting" of Gens. Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson at Chancellorsville.
"If there is any iconic image of the Confederacy, it's that painting," he said.
The Mullins Farm off State Route 3 is the site of fighting on the first day of the Battle of Chancellorsville. Several sources close to the discussions said supervisors are eyeing this site to house the artifacts.
More than 200 acres of the 800-acre Mullins farm are preserved for its historic value. Toll Brothers agreed to sell 74 acres to the Civil War Preservation Trust for $1 million as part of a rezoning deal with supervisors. The land is west of 140 acres that CWPT purchased from Tricord last year for $3 million.
Russ Smith, superintendent of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County National Military Park, said the museum plan still needs a lot of work. Ideally, he'd like to move the Chancellorsville visitors center because it's on land where Jackson was mortally wounded.
"If we could combine a visitors center with the museum in some way, I think that would be good for everybody," he said.
Supervisor Chris Yakabouski said county staff is developing a master plan for the land on the Mullins Farm that Tricord donated to the county.
"We welcome any and all proposals," he said.
Rawls said he hopes to hold town-hall-style meetings in Spotsylvania in the next six weeks to gauge public interest in the plan.
Some supervisors were slow to embrace the idea this week.
"I am concerned that we could possibly be giving away property in the county that is very valuable," Supervisor Emmitt Marshall said. "I have concerns that there could be people in the community who wouldn't support it."
Supervisor Gary Jackson noted that the county already has museums in the Courthouse area and near Massaponax off Interstate 95. And the U.S. National Slavery Museum is planned in Celebrate Virginia in Fredericksburg.
"If they want to come here and open a museum then they are free to do that, but I expect they are going to want some help from the county," Jackson said. "I'm nervous about what they are going to want."
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438THE ARTIFACTS The Museum of the Confederacy has the largest collection of Civil War artifacts in the world. Some that have direct ties to Spotsylvania County include: The 1869 painting of Gens. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and Robert E. Lee. "The Last Meeting" depicts the two Confederate legends devising strategy for A map Jackson and a staff officer created to thwart federalists from crossing the Rappahannock River. The map has two bullet holes. The staff officer was killed and Jackson was mortally wounded. The museum also has Jackson's blood-stained uniform. A handkerchief used Jackson's sword. Two bullets fired at Spotsylvania Court House, near the Mule Shoe, that hit head on and melded together. A letter from a soldier "This all can be within several hundred yards of where it happened," said Waite Rawls, the museum's president. |
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"The museum system is an interesting idea that many major museums have adopted," said Charles F. Bryan, president and CEO of the Virginia Historical Society. "All have been concerned that the Museum might leave Virginia, which would be a great loss to the commonwealth. The system will keep the collection in Virginia, which allows the sharing of the Museum of the Confederacy's resources with many historical organizations while also playing an important role in the Richmond community."
"The idea of combining artifacts with battlefields will bring new life to both," said Civil War Preservation Trust's President Jim Lighthizer. "It will provide visitors a glimpse into the stories of the war, which is the most defining conflict in American history. It's the perfect marriage." |