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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.

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

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