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CITY IN THE RUNNING
Museum of the Confederacy executive director turns attention toward Fredericksburg's old courthouse on Princess Anne Street as a possible museum site. Vision for Spotsylvania County site appears to be fading
Date published: 8/6/2008
By DAN TELVOCK
Famous Civil War artifacts like the original painting of the last meeting between generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee may find a home in Fredericksburg instead of Spotsylvania County.
Waite Rawls, executive director of the Museum of the Confederacy, announced in September his vision of a system of four museums in Virginia, including one at the Chancellorsville battlefield in Spotsylvania. He imagined showcasing artifacts with battlefields.
That vision has taken a detour out of Spotsylvania.
Rawls approached Fredericksburg officials recently about showcasing artifacts at the historic courthouse on Princess Anne Street. Economic Development and Tourism Director Kevin M. Gullette said he gave museum officials a tour of the building.
Gullette said he was told there was an impasse with the Spotsylvania proposal.
"It seems they want to have a presence in the region but they are also on a timeline for the sesquicentennial," he said.
Spotsylvania Supervisor Hap Connors said Rawls and City Councilman Matt Kelly recently informed him about the prospect in the city. But Connors said Rawls also affirmed his interest in the Chancellorsville site.
"I was surprised to hear [about the interest in the city] because we have yet to see a formal proposal," Connors said. "We are still waiting on that and our arms are wide open."
Rawls refused to discuss any conversations he has had with city officials. He said he is exploring all options for a museum in the region.
"The region offers tremendous potential to us, and we offer tremendous potential to the region," he said. "The traveler base is really good for us and our artifacts are so pertinent to the region."
Fredericksburg Mayor Tom Tomzak said museum officials approached the city. He said he was told the process with Spotsylvania County was not moving smoothly.
It is unclear why Rawls is less enthusiastic about bringing a museum to Spotsylvania County. Museum officials had said their vision was contingent on financing, estimated at $15 million for three new 15,000-square-foot visitor buildings. In May, the museum hired a fundraiser.
| WHY A SYSTEM OF MUSEUMS?
The nearby Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center dwarfs the Richmond site of the Museum of the Confederacy. Attendance at the museum has dropped by nearly 50 percent.
THE OTHER SITES
Museum officials said the White House of the Confederacy and the museum's administration headquarters, research center and library would remain in Richmond. The other proposed sites are Appomattox Court House National Park and Fort Monroe in Hampton. |
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Date published: 8/6/2008
Most recent reader comments:
headline change?
(posted by
woodie
, Aug. 6, 2008 4:28 pm)
so we went from "city in the running" to "city competing"...i guess they are trying to stir up a story for the afternoon online crowd??? Funny how they do that alo!
Lets see. Confederacy Museum. How fun, Then we can truck the family over to the Slavery Museum. What an outstanding tousist destination we have become.
What a great opportunity!!
(posted by
justlooking
, Aug. 6, 2008 9:52 am)
A confederacy museum would be a perfect fit in the City, especially in the former Historic Courthouse that City Clerk S. Mitchell refuses to move back into. This would attract more people downtown and in the area for tourism. It would also compliment our rich civil war historical sites. Lets hope it happens.
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