Museum of the Confederacy

[KLCoombs]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

I was on the same trip to the MOC as Em (AGSAS meeting). I thought the Naval exhibit was pretty good and I enjoyed seeing the other exhibits. Even though I'd seen them 3 years earlier, it was nice to revisit and re-examine artifacts in light of research done in the intervening period.

This whole issue has a lot less to do with political correctness than it does with purely commercial issues of property values and VCU's expanding it's medical facilities. With the new construction at the end of the block, the museum looks truly drawfed and one fully understands why the MOC feels they need to move to a different location. It's just a matter of moving from one modern building to another. They could sell the present building to VCU and develop elsewhere. I'm just grateful they got off the insane idea of trying to move the White House.

I really think they need to find a new location within Greater Richmond, or the White House will end up stranded. If they have a Richmond location, they could run shuttle buses with tours to the White House, but if they go outside of Richmond, visitorship to the White House will just wither on the vine, I fear.

They ought to explore getting a site adjacent to Tredegar, so that you'd have a CW museum cluster in one place, not too far away from the White House site.

[FDTaylor]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

The latest on the on-going discussion at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond:

Civil War museum may leave capital
Richmond's Museum of Confederacy studies a move to Lexington
BY JANET CAGGIANO
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Museum of the Confederacy officials are considering moving the world's largest collection of Civil War artifacts to Lexington.

"I don't know if the conversations will go anywhere," said Waite Rawls, the museum's president and CEO, who visited Lexington this month. "But they have started."

Lexington, about 140 miles west of downtown Richmond in Rockbridge County, could be a good fit for the museum's collection of Confederate artifacts, manuscripts and photographs. Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are buried there, it is home to Washington and Lee University, and the town takes pride in its Civil War history.

"The mission of the museum is consistent with the historic attractions and educational institutions already in our community," said Lexington Mayor John Knapp in a joint statement with Harvey Hottinger, chairman of the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors.

The museum at 12th and East Clay streets has been struggling for survival beside Virginia Commonwealth University's sprawling medical campus for years. Annual visitation has dropped from 92,000 to about 51,500 since the early 1990s. Rawls announced in October that the museum will relocate its collection but that the adjacent White House of the Confederacy will remain where it has stood since 1818. A committee had looked at the feasibility of relocating the Civil War home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

"We have said all along that our preference is to be in Richmond," Rawls said. "But given Lexington's historical character . . . we said, 'Let's go up and take a look.' We are no further along than that."

During their visit, Rawls and three members of the museum's board toured a possible site, the historic Rockbridge County courthouse complex on Main Street. Lexington is set to break ground on a new courthouse in February. When the two-year project is completed, the 1897 building will be vacant.

The courthouse complex also includes the town's old jail, which dates to 1841, the First American Bank building and the "lawyer's row" building. All are vacant and would require renovation work.

"We want to keep the historical integrity of the buildings," Rawls said. "The question is, can you do that and meet the needs and demands of both sides?"

It would be a big blow to Richmond if the museum should leave town, said Jack Berry, president and chief executive officer of the Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"It would be a very big loss," he said. "We'd be losing a huge asset. We hope it doesn't happen."

While talks with Lexington will continue, Rawls said, that doesn't mean the search is over.

"This is all very preliminary," he said.

Whether the collection stays in Richmond or moves outside the city, Rawls said he hopes the museum will be in its new home by 2011, the beginning of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

Contact staff writer Janet Caggiano at jcaggiano@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6157.

This story can be found at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet...=1149192815336

--------------
Fred D. Taylor
Co. G, Portsmouth Rifles
9th Virginia Infantry

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

Well, certainly no one will visit the Confederate White House if the Museum is 140 miles from the Confederate capital. Hey, let's move the Smithsonian's American History Museum to Sarasota, Florida, relocate the Capitol building to Maine, and plop the Washington Monument in Seattle. Doesn't matter right, we saved it?

[Micah Trent]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

I can see the pros and cons to it, but it would be hard to see the museum not in Richmond. I know I went there back in May and had the most difficult time trying to get to it. Moreless, trying to find a place to park, but once getting there, it was an awesome experience!

[Jubilo]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

Dear Mr. Dabney ,
The London Bridge was moved to Arizona and the Rosetta Stone to Paris ! Considering the constant political warfare in the city of Richmond , perhaps a move to a more appreciative location is not a bad idea . It does seem a pity but the Memorial Hall in New Orleans faced the same problems and has moved some of their collection to a much visited plantation so at least the artifacts can be viewed . Libbby Prison was disassembled and brought here to Chicago as was John Brown's fort from Harpers Ferry . Money and politics will determine all.
all for the old flag ,
David Corbett

[Bivouac_of_the_Dead]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

They ought to explore getting a site adjacent to Tredegar, so that you'd have a CW museum cluster in one place, not too far away from the White House site.

On the surface the Tredegar site would seem to be a logical place to relocate, but that area already has two Civil War attractions; the National Park Service's Civil War Visitor Center and The American Civil War Center At Historic Tredegar. With space limited between the river and the bluffs there really is nothing else that could fit into that location. And it's not that great of a site. Parking is limited and costs $$$$ and when other non-historic river activities are taking place no parking can be had whatsoever.

[John McPherson]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

I remember visiting the MoC while on vacation back in 2002. Being from the Seattle area, I don't get to Virginia often (three times; 2001, 2002 & 2006). My wife and I had a heck of time finding the museum after our visit to the Virginia Capitol building, even though we were close by. I was shocked by how the hospital complex had completely engulfed the Davis white house and rendered it no more than what appeared a row house from the nearby intersection. I kept expecting the stand alone house from the old photos!

Once we had figured out the parking situation and marched our way from the parking garage to the museum entrance (in the back of the Davis house), we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. At the time I was there, PGT Beauregard's coat and kepi were on display in a free-standing case. I was thrilled! I also enjoyed seeing the actual coats, boots, and effects of so many of the folks that I had read about. I was disappointed that I could not get a 360-degree view of these items; I would prefer such a view for every item on display.

In 2003, I visited Confederate Memorial Hall in New Orleans and the Old Courthouse Museum in Vicksburg. I preferred their focus on the common soldier's kit over that of the Confederate aristocracy displayed at MoC. It is the common soldier that bore the brunt of combat during the ACW and I'd like to see more of the common soldier's life depicted in these museums. The M0C is currently located in a terrible location for tourists and it also needs a more modern direction in its mounting of exhibits and shows.

Despite the current funding issues facing the new Gettysburg NB Visitors Center, I am curious as to how this new facility (slated to open in 2009) will impact the design and operations of other Civil War-focused museums throughout the country. Between the new Lincoln Museum in Springfield and the new GNP Visitors Center, other museums such as the MoC are going to have to take note.

A Lexington location sounds like a great context, but it is a bit out of the way for the casual tourist and school group. I would hope that some property would be available in Richmond proper for a new museum. My drive through Richmond, outside of the historic section, indicated an awful lot of empty storefronts and available space. Of course, what about Petersburg? There is plenty of empty space near the historic downtown and the locals are very interested in revitalizing their downtown. They already have the Siege Museum (nice people, fun things to look at), Peterburg NBP, and Pamplin Park nearby. Petersburg would make sense to me.

John McPherson
aka., Capt. Lewis Cass Hunt
Co. C, 4th Inf'y
Fort Steilacoom, Washington Territory
1858-61

[Dignann]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

Confederate museum should stay

By Ray McAllister

Richmond Times-Dispatch
January 25, 2007

The Museum of the Confederacy . . . in Lexington?

Say what you will about the Civil War. Or the Confederacy, or slavery, or "Northern Aggression," or history vs. heritage.

Argue it endlessly.

But Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy.

The museum -- the history shouldn't be moved.

"Richmond is a natural for it," agreed James I. "Bud" Robertson Jr., Civil War historian at Virginia Tech.

"But if you haven't got a home, then you have to go looking."

Robertson, executive director of Tech's Virginia Center for Civil War Studies and likely the state's pre-eminent scholar on the war, was as surprised as most people yesterday.

The Times-Dispatch reported Tuesday that the museum, figuratively squeezed by budget deficits and literally squeezed by Virginia Commonwealth University's expanding medical center, is considering moving to Lexington.

"While I personally would like to see it stay in Richmond, the capital, Lexington has a certain amount of appeal," Robertson said of the tiny city 138 miles west of Richmond. "Lexington is a city full of history and a city that really nurtures history."

It is right by Interstate 81, he noted, has the burial sites of Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and is the home of Washington and Lee University.

Waite Rawls, the museum's president and CEO, visited Lexington this month. Talks are preliminary, but the museum could be housed in an 1897 courthouse that will be vacant in two years.

Blame the ever-expanding VCU empire, which is taking over downtown Richmond with the dispatch of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. The museum and the next-door White House of the Confederacy are now virtually on an island.

Blame, too, the museum's plummeting annual attendance, from 92,000 a year in the early 1990s to 51,500 now.

Blame a mounting budget deficit that stands at $35,000.

A museum review concluded that the White House of the Confederacy would not be moved, but the museum's collections have to be.

Splitting the two will hurt tourism, Robertson agreed yesterday.

Scholars will visit the museum no matter where it is, though, he said. "It's important to keep the collections together. The museum's manuscripts, they're priceless."

The museum houses 15,000 objects of military and everyday life, along with 6,000 original photographs. There are 625 cubic feet of manuscripts, 1,500 prints, 400 maps, 400 Confederate imprints and 10,000 books and bound periodicals.

Robertson said that marketing might help draw more people.

But location is the issue now. Discussions with the new American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar in Richmond led to nothing.

"I don't know where else the collections can go in Richmond," Robertson said. "No one seems to have stepped forward."

By contrast, he said, "Lexington is very strongly attuned to its past. It would welcome the museum without any ifs, ands or buts."

The implication seems to be that Richmond has a lot of ifs, ands and buts.

Robertson wouldn't say that. But in a larger city like Richmond, "where you have a mix of different ethnic groups," unified support is less likely, he said.

It wouldn't surprise Robertson to see the move. "It would be a severe loss to Richmond."

Does Richmond care?

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&s=1045855935174&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192839209&path=!news!columnists

Eric

[Jubilo]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

Der Sir ,
It seems the fate of our cities in the current era to neglect ,forget or eradicate history . Atlanta and Franklin mostly ignore the incredible battles fought there and here in Chicago where I reside , the existence of Camp Douglas is virtually unknown due to ignorance ,apathy , cultural , political or ethnic indifference . I have been to Richmond many times and those who care are a miniscule portion of the population . I remember back in the Eighties when a Civil War author acquaintance of mine struggled with indiffernce to preservation in Petersburg . His quote , which I thought unkind , was " When it comes to Civil War Preservation ; most Virginians are brain-dead." A harsh indictment indeed but from someone who loved Virginia and its history .
all for the old flag,
David Corbett
P.S. "Remove not the ancient landmark ,which thy fathers have set ." Proverbs 22:28

[DougCooper]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

Lexington is brilliant. We must keep the collection together and if Richmond no longer realizes what they have, Lexington suffers no such confusion. Paradoxically, this will also make it easier to get to without the downtown constraints. Being on the historical byway is huge...and is another treasure on that road.

[Dignann]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

Personally, I would hate to see the museum move from Richmond. From my time living down there and working in a tourism-based job, it appeared to me that the city does very little to promote not just its Civil War history, but its general history as well. To simply say that "It's your history, don't you care?" is not really enough. Tourism is a business. If it is to succeed, those in local government must be shown why it is important, and in terms they understand. In other words, how many people does tourism bring into the area? How much money does tourism generate for the local economy? How does the Museum of the Confederacy benefit the city economy? I'm sure those in charge at the MOC are doing that, but with lagging visitation numbers, it's going to be tough.

The idea of moving to Lexington is not a certainty, in fact it appears that the MOC is simply looking at the concept. The fact that it is getting this much media attention suggests to me that it may be a simple case of posturing. Threaten to move out of the area and maybe the local government will do something to keep the museum there. I hope so.

Eric

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

Personally, I would hate to see the museum move from Richmond. From my time living down there and working in a tourism-based job, it appeared to me that the city does very little to promote not just its Civil War history, but its general history as well.

Threaten to move out of the area and maybe the local government will do something to keep the museum there. I hope so.

Today, I went down Cary Street to the Tredegar Iron Works and the American Civil War Center in addition to the Museum. I'm in agreement with Mr. Mink that it seems like Richmond City doesn't advertise enough for these historic sites. I mean, green signs approximately 3' x 3' just don't seem big enough to be eye-catching. My other thought was that perhaps someone will do more considering it's the 400th Anniversary of Virginia history. I dunno, some may want the Museum to move but to me after seeing that small building tremble beneath the massive VCU Medical Center construction (oh, yes, am I ever proud of our school..), I was glad to see that it was still standing steadfast. It feels like people are more caught up in the business nature of the city rather than historic nature for the most part. To me, it will always remain a cornerstone in history.

[jlewis]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

The city of Lexington voted this week to send a formal invitation to the MOC in regards to its proposal to move to the city. Living here I would love to see it come my way, but I think it really needs to stay in Richmond. Having lived in Rockbridge County the last four years the city is doing everything it can to erase its connection to the South and the Civil War. There are an incredible amount of newcomers to the area from New Jersey and other Northern States who have been very vocal about the area not displaying any flags or promoting anything confederate. A few professors at Washington & Lee have said that the MOC would be an insult to them and the city. Lexington may not be the best place.

On the other hand I go by the graves of Jackson and Lee almost everyday and it is a great time to take a minute and remember those outstanding men and all those who followed them. There are a great number of civil war tourist who come here and dozens of little battles and skirmishes that most people have never heard of. Besides Lee and Jackson there are also hundreds of Civil War veterans graves, many of them well known.

Jon Lewis

[dave81276]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

You can forget about the MoC moving to Lexington. I have it from sources on the inside that isn't happening. However, they have been considering moving to the suburbs of Richmond.

[1stMaine]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy is Moving

You can forget about the MoC moving to Lexington. I have it from sources on the inside that isn't happening. However, they have been considering moving to the suburbs of Richmond.

Dave,

FWIW, I think that that is a very short-sighted attitude from the staff. The museum is stagnating at it's durrent location. The reality is that, despite you and me and everyone else who understand's it's value, it's goona keep being a politcal football as long as it's in Richmond.

A move to Lexington has many advantages, not the least of which is new blood through new visitors, much needed positive exposure, and room to expand and grow.

Add to that how it could tie into the Shenandoah Tourism outreach, and it might well se an increase in capital.

I, too, would like to see the museum in Richmond, but it will never grow, nor will it gain the monetary and visitor base it needs as long as it remains there.

Respects,