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.
Some supervisors had concerns about what financial impact the museum could have on local taxpayers. Rawls had said he would seek local, state and federal funding.
By locating at the city's historic courthouse, capital costs would drop significantly, because the building already exists.
Supervisor Gary Jackson said he figured the sluggish economy shut down plans for the museum because he had not heard from Rawls.
"The last I heard was he was shopping all over the place, so I guess I am kind of not surprised," he said.
Others with knowledge of the proposal have said Rawls was running into problems finding a firm location for a museum at the Chancellorsville Battlefield.
Russ Smith, superintendent of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County National Military Park, said he told museum officials that he hoped the museum would not be built on the Mullins Farm tract on State Route 3 where heavy fighting took place at Chancellorsville. The Civil War Preservation Trust bought the farm in 2006.
The Chancellorsville Battlefield area appeals to museum officials because it is the scene of the last meeting between generals Jackson and Lee, Smith said.
"They like the idea of being close to the last meeting site," he said.
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com
| WHY A SYSTEM OF MUSEUMS?
The nearby Virginia 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. |