The work to convert a former bank and a retail shop into an expansion of the Fredericksburg Area Museum is nearly complete. The McKann Center will open Dec. 6. FILE/PETER CIHELKA/THE FREE LANCE-STAR Visit the Photo Place

Museum addition to openDec. 6 ON THE NET

Fredericksburg regional museum announces opening date for new downtown facility

Date published: 7/27/2008

By CLINT SCHEMMER

Now it can be told.

The day that many area motorists, merchants and townsfolk have been waiting for is Saturday, Dec. 6.

That's when the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center's new Catherine W. Jones McKann Center will open its doors to the public for the first time.

In making the announcement yesterday, museum President Edwin W. Watson noted that the grand-opening date falls nearly on the 20th anniversary of the institution's opening in the old Town Hall/Market House.

Watson and his staff have been looking forward to this latest occasion since they started raising money for the expansion in early 2004.

"The museum wishes to thank the community for its support and patience during the expansion project," said Christina Esposito, director of development and external affairs. "We see our grand-opening weekend as an opportunity to express that gratitude and introduce the community to this wonderful new resource for education, entertainment and community engagement."

After a ribbon-cutting ceremony that Saturday morning, the museum will welcome visitors to both buildings--free of charge--throughout the weekend.

Grand-opening events will include special programming on Saturday in the McKann Center and free, family-friendly activities in its Learning Center on Sunday.

The Friday evening before the opening, the museum will host a preview party to thank people who contributed to the project's success and to its Banking on History capital campaign.

The fundraising effort, overseen by local businessman Charles G. McDaniel, has brought in about $11 million toward its $12 million goal--and is in "its final million-dollar stretch," Esposito said.

a special exhibit

The McKann Center will meld two structures--a historic bank building at William and Princess Anne streets and an adjacent retail store--to provide 19,500 square feet for new exhibits, the Learning Center, a new museum shop and staff offices. The complex renovations began in July 2006.

In recent weeks, museum officials had to postpone the center's planned November opening when a contractor needed more time to install exhibits. Installation will begin in late September and run through November, Esposito said.

Buildings and exhibits aren't the only things the Fredericksburg Area Museum is sprucing up. Its Web site, famcc.org, was recently relaunched after a top-to-bottom redesign by Neathawk Dubuque & Packett, a Richmond firm.

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Date published: 7/27/2008