Museum of the Confederacy

[MoFed]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

I'm glad Wilson's Creek was able to take advantage of that situation, and I hope to revisit those artifacts some fine day.

The plan is to build a new wing onto the exisiting visitor's center. Hopefully it will allow them to display more of the collection. Like MoC, these is a lot more stuff in the basement. Their goal is to have the new wing finished by either the Civil War Sesquicentennial or the NPS Centennial. Wilson's Creek is fortunate to have a very strong Foundation with influential supporters.

Charles D. Hoskins

[FDTaylor]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

Third Site of MOC to be Housed at Fort Monroe

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VA_CONFEDERATE_MUSEUM_VAOL-?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=STATE

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The Museum of the Confederacy has chosen Fort Monroe as the third location to move the world's largest collection of Civil War artifacts.

Museum president and CEO Waite Rawls announced last night that the historic Army base in Hampton will become the third site in a museum system. Fort Monroe will showcase the museum's Confederate Naval exhibit.

The museum's other sites are the Appomattox Court House National Park and the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center near Fredericksburg.

The new museum system will replace the single institution that has stood in downtown Richmond since 1976. The museum headquarters will remain in Richmond at a yet undetermined site.

The White House of the Confederacy also will stay put.

The military is leaving Fort Monroe in 2011 and turning it over to state and local authorities.

The Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority board is expected to give final approval within a year.

--

Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.inrich.com

[FDTaylor]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

Richmond Times-Dispatch Article on MOC Move

http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-09-21-0268.html

By JANET CAGGIANO
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Museum of Confederacy to split

Fort Monroe is the final piece of the puzzle in the Museum of the Confederacy's plan for the future.

Waite Rawls, the museum's president and CEO, announced last night that plans call for the historic Army base in Hampton to be renovated by 2012. It would become the third site in a museum system, which will replace the single institution that has stood at 12th and East Clay streets in downtown Richmond since 1976.

"We are psyched," Rawls said. "This rounds the system out. We will cover most of Virginia."

The other sites, announced this month, are the Appomattox Court House National Park and the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center near Fredericksburg.

The museum headquarters, including the library and research center, collections storage, administration and a small exhibit space, will remain in Richmond at a yet undetermined site.

The White House of the Confederacy, the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, also will stay put.

Fort Monroe, at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula, was built between 1819 and 1834. The six-sided stone fort, named in honor of President James Monroe, is the last of its kind in the United States.

It has been home to the Training and Doctrine Command since 1973. But in 2011, the command, which recruits, trains and educates the Army's soldiers, will move to Fort Eustis. After it departs, Army officials will continue to work with museum staff on the project.

The Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority board is expected to give final approval within a year.

"We are moving forward," said Conover Hunt, the authority's interim executive director. "We are very excited about the potential of such a partnership." During the Civil War, Fort Monroe served as the home of the Union Army of the James. Several land operations against Confederate forces were mounted from the site.

It is there that Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler decided that escaping slaves reaching Union lines would not be returned to bondage. After the war, Davis was a prisoner at Fort Monroe for two years.

The Army already runs a museum there, the Casemate Museum, which focuses on the history of Fort Monroe. It attracts about 50,000 people a year.

That's not an impressive number, Rawls said. But access can be difficult because the fort is an active military site. Once the command moves, there won't be such high security.

"There is tremendous raw potential here," Rawls said. "It can become a major attraction because of the history and the way it lays out."

The campus includes other buildings, including offices that once served as barracks. Robert E. Lee stayed in one of them in 1831. "Not only was Fort Monroe important during the Civil War, but before as well," Rawls said. "We are pretty excited about all the sites."

The museum system plan calls for an 8,000-square-foot museum at each site, Rawls said, with about 5,000 square feet of exhibit space. The project will cost about $17 million. Rawls is hoping that a capital campaign, as well as local, state and federal funding, will cover the costs.

Fort Monroe will be the last structure completed, Rawls said. Chancellorsville and Appomattox are expected to open in 2011, the beginning of the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.

Each site will exhibit artifacts relevant to that area. For example, Fort Monroe will showcase the museum's Confederate Naval exhibit.

The museum is relocating the world's largest collection of Civil War artifacts to escape the growing medical campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Visitation continues to fall, from about 92,000 in the early 1990s to 44,000 in the last budget year.

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

[Jubilo]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

Ladies and Gentlemen ,
Considering the woes of the Museum of the Confederacy and lack of interest from Virginians , the wisdom of moving the Confederate capital of Richmond from Montgomery , Alabama is now , in retrospect , is shown to be folly . Were the situation not so sad I'm sure the Alabamians would laugh at the irony of it .
all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Gary of CA]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

Since Fortress Monroe is being deactivated, Robert E. Lee's house there would be a nice place. But has anyone ever been to Fortress Monroe? The traffic down the Yorktown Peninsula is a killer! Depending on the time of day, it's bumper to bumper until you reach the turnoff.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

I just can't see putting a Confederate exhibit in a place where Jefferson Davis was imprisoned. What would the old boys think? I guess that is modern politics at it's worst.

[hendrickms24]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

I just can't see putting a Confederate exhibit in a place where Jefferson Davis was imprisoned. What would the old boys think? I guess that is modern politics at it's worst.

I really don't think the Confederate veterans would care as long as their artifacts are on display so their sacrifice will be remembered. Isn't that the most important thing?

[dave81276]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

I don't think any of this matters. In six weeks, once the Museum is out of the papers, Waite Rawls will announce another, new plan. I've just been chicken-littled to death by the Museum moves, and I won't believe anything until I see it.

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

I was at the Museum in July.

That hospital encompassing the facility, please excuse my French, has it by the balls. I was appalled after speaking with curators and learning about what was going on. A very kind woman, whose name I cannot recall, said, "[...]they would tear down the Davis mansion too, if they could." I for one believe it and it is downright disgraceful.

Preservation tactics in that area are being, and have been in recent past, terribly executed. I walked the grounds of the Davis home (what is left, that is) and shook my head the entire time, having every view hindered by glass, scaffolds, concrete, etc, etc, etc.

I will wait in anticipation about what is to happen to the Museum with the rest of you.

Pvt. Bryan O'Keefe, Esquire

[CheeseBoxRaft]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

The article says:

The other sites, announced this month, are the Appomattox Court House National Park and the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center near Fredericksburg.

This is bogus. I think the writer of the article heard the word "Appomattox" but didn't distinguish between the county, the town or the Nat'l Park.

Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Site is not, repeat - not, getting any part of the MoC. MoC is considering moving a part of its collection to Appomattox, the county or the town, but I have it on good authority (AxNHS personnel) that MoC won't be moving into the park. Where on earth would they put it? The park has nothing but historic or reconstructed buildings and most of them are being utilized for existing NPS museum displays. There is no room for a part of MoC's collection anywhere within the existing park.

I'm not certain, but I also think the writer is completely off the mark about the Chancellorsville Battle Visitor Center at F&SNMP. I don't think they will be getting MoC's private collection either. As many of you know, the C-ville VC is small - expanding the existing facility and parking lot to accomodate MoC would destroy hallowed ground on a principle battleline. That ain't gonna happen. Undoubtedly MoC is looking for a place in the Chancellorsville area, but I'm certain it won't be within the park unless they want to build something within the park, and I don't think that's going to happen at an NPS site again considering the current constroversy over the new VC at Gettysburg.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but none of what's being stated makes any sense. :baring_te

- Tom Green

[dave81276]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

Tom,

Just because Appomattox Court House is pinned to Waite Rawls' dart board doesn't mean they'll accept a full museum. At most, some artifacts will be loaned to the NPS for Appomattox, much like they already are at Appomattox, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Beauvoir, and elsewhere.

[ley74]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) has seen its membership dwindle in the past several years and has been exploring ways to generate interest. In 2006, the Executive Director of the ANA announced two new museum initiatives to disburse part of the collection from Colorado Springs to the refurbished old San Francisco Mint (The Granite Lady), the US Mint Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Also planned was the expansion of the museum at Colorado Springs.

In August the old ANA Board was voted out. The new Board commenced assessing the finances and plans of the previous Board. They also placed the ED on paid leave until things could be sorted out.

In September the new Board placed all museum expansion on hold, after some funds had been raised in solicitations to the membership. The Board acknowledged that they had no idea how the money could be raised. Apparently, the press on cancelling the expansion caught the eye of the US Mint and the folks running the Granite Lady. Neither facility had received acceptable proposals from the ANA and nothing, I repeat, nothing had been inked.

Interestingly, the ANA Museum in Colorado Springs lost its accreditation from the American Association of Museums (AAM), a number of years ago. ANA Board members surmise that it would be virtually impossible to raise tens of millions of dollars without AAM certification. The former ANA Board admitted that they had attempted to gain this accreditation yet the AAM had no record of application.

Thank goodness the ANA in a membership not-for-profit. As a result, your dues give you the right to one vote for those asking for you hard earned cash. As Will Rogers might say: "Then you can vote the rascals out!"

Similarities aside, much of the same due diligence should be performed here before writing checks.

Have sights been secured?

Have federal/state/local approval been secured, where necessary?

Is there a practical plan to raise the money?

Is the museum accredited by the AAM?

What will happen if the Capital Fund Raising fails?

[Dignann]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

Touch of Gray

Let's make a deal with the Museum of the Confederacy

Editorial

Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg, Va.]
December 3, 2007

THE CIVIL WAR may be American history's most important event: It defined our form of government (federal supremacy) and set our cultural course (Northern commercialism). Yet one crucial component of the war--the Confederacy--is in danger of going down the memory hole, leaving in its place a caricature sketched by passionate know-nothings.

A select few guardians are called by historical circumstance or mission to preserve the whole truth about the short-lived Southern nation, and, happily, two of them--the region's battlefields and the Museum of the Confederacy--may soon join forces.

Beset by visitor-deterring urban development, the Richmond-based museum hopes to split into a five-part "system." One part, under this plan, would be near the Chancellorsville battlefield, allowing the museum to enrich the experience of visiting that site of clashing armies, and the ones at Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Court House, and the Wilderness, as well as lesser engagements. Meanwhile, the museum itself would enjoy greater visibility.

The Civil War is a vast and complex story, and this region, where Blue and Gray jousted with astounding fury, would benefit hugely from a close-by Museum of the Confederacy presence. The museum, after all, boasts not only the planet's largest collection of Confederate artifacts, but its research arm, with more than 100,000 manuscripts, can illuminate many of the war's most obscure aspects.

Museum President Waite Rawls and some of his staff were in Greater Fredericksburg last week touting their plans to Spotsylvania officials, Rotary members, and the news media. Enthusiasm seems high, but enthusiasm fades. Decisive action is called for, because the Civil War's 150th anniversary begins in 2011, which should see a surge in visitation to local battlefields.

There are few of us walking around today that the Civil War did not in some way help shape. Our vicinity, through existing facilities, the Museum of the Confederacy, the proposed National Slavery Museum, and other institutions yet unconceived, could become the world's premier classroom devoted to that nation-forging conflagration. This would be a boon to posterity, and would do us no harm, either.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/122007/12032007/337829

Eric

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

Museum of Confederacy may land at Chancellorsville it's growing
December 10, 2007 12:35 am
By DAN TELVOCK


Before he kicks off a capital campaign, Museum of the Confederacy President Waite Rawls is trying to build local support for his plan for a system of museums.

One of the three locations Rawls is eyeing for museums is the Chancellorsville Battlefield in Spotsylvania. He hopes the artifacts will bring life to the bare battlefield.

"Before elected officials want to do anything, they want to know that there is public support for it," said the Richmond museum president.

In September, Rawls announced a plan for three new museums to house part of the world's largest Civil War collection. Appomattox Court House National Park and Fort Monroe in Hampton are the other proposed sites. The White House of the Confederacy will remain in Richmond, along with the headquarters.

Since the announcement, Spotsylvania County officials have been mum.

But Rawls has moved forward. He said he's fishing for feedback.

He has held meetings with local museum members--there are about 3,800 members worldwide and 37 in this region--the Rappahannock Rotary Club and the director of the Civil War Life Museum in the Massaponax area.

"What you want to do is build up public support, not for our original proposition, but for a consensus where everybody is saying, 'Yes, that is the best idea,'" he said.

This base of supporters has influence over elected leaders, whom Rawls will eventually go to when he launches a capital campaign. A museum spokeswoman said Rawls plans to meet with state leaders in February.

Rotary President Russell Willis said members enjoyed Rawls' presentation.

"There was obviously some enthusiasm about the idea, but nobody actually came out and said we support it," he said. "It was an interesting topic, and people are interested in seeing something like that come here because this is such a strong Civil War area."

But not everyone is keen on the idea.

Civil War Life Museum Executive Director Terry Thomann and foundation chairman Thomas Cleland met with Rawls in Richmond recently. Thomann is a contributing member to the Museum of the Confederacy.

"We kind of expected a short meeting," Thomann said. "It was two and a half hours. We had an extensive discussion."

Thomann's museum near the Spotsylvania County visitor center will relocate to Spotsylvania Courthouse Village, which W.J. Vakos is building. A foundation was created in September to raise $12 million to operate a 27,000-square-foot museum.

Thomann invited Rawls to share space with him, but Rawls declined because he believes multiple Civil War destinations will bring more tourists to the area. They will also stay longer if there are multiple stops.

"Whether one person always goes to all of them or not is not the issue," Rawls said. "The issue is how do you convince more people to come to the Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania area?"

Thomann said the Museum of the Confederacy is one-dimensional and will appeal to a small group of people. He also believes the museum will run into trouble because of the stigma of the Confederacy relating to slavery.

"It is kind of a neat idea to bring some of these artifacts to the area where they played a role," he said. "It is also tragic that the Museum of the Confederacy is in the state it is in to have to split its collection up like this."

Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com


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WHY MOVE? The simple answer is growth. The adjacent Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center dwarfs the museum, and attendance has dropped nearly in half. The White House of the Confederacy, the administration headquarters, research center and library will remain in Richmond. COST AND SIZE Museum of the Confederacy President Waite Rawls' plans call for 8,000-square-foot buildings with about 5,000 square feet for exhibits. Each site is estimated to cost $5 million, and he hopes to open these museums by 2011 during the sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War. Rawls said he will seek local, state and federal support for the project.




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Copyright 2007 The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company.

Online at: http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2...2102007/337881

[Canebrake Rifle Guards]

Re: Museum of the Confederacy

Tom,

Just because Appomattox Court House is pinned to Waite Rawls' dart board doesn't mean they'll accept a full museum. At most, some artifacts will be loaned to the NPS for Appomattox, much like they already are at Appomattox, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Beauvoir, and elsewhere.

Actually Appomattox (the town) is very keen on getting this museum. Appomattox Court House (the NPS park) is just along for the ride.

The Director of Tourism for Appomattox used to work here in Lynchburg with the Lynchburg Tourism program. I've worked closely with her for the several years, we communicate regularly.

She courted the MOC for over a year to put together the public & private contacts and partnerships, etc. to try to make this happen (its not a done deal). There may be coming into existence a battlefield park preserving the Battle of Appomattox Station grounds (thanks to the efforts of Chris Caulkins).

A few weeks ago I attended a meeting Waite held in Appomattox with the regional tourism & governmental officials of Appomattox, Lynchburg, Bedford, Prince Edward County and other surrounding regions and I'm fairly certain of this point.

These museums the MOC wants to place throughout the state are stand alone operations built on donated or purchased property, in close proximity to their NPS counterparts. (excluding the Fort Monroe site). Nothing has been said, suggested, or implied that the NPS sites would display MOC artifacts. These are stand alone museums owned & operated by the MOC.

They have a proposed floor plan for these museums which we looked at and they are meant to be stand alone sites and not satellites. I wish I could recall the square footage attributed to them, but I can find out. The estimated cost is about $5 million per museum.

I don't wish to speak for the MOC, but am only passing along what I was told, along with the City Managers & state representatives of Central Virginia.

All of this is still contingent on pulling together the public & private resources to establish a new museum in Appomattox. Personally & professionally I hope it happens, it would only help our tourism/preservation efforts here in Lynchburg (20 miles away).

Greg Starbuck