The Blowing Rock Historical Society is working closely with BRAHM to determine exactly how to represent and celebrate the village’s historic legacy within the new Museum. The joint History Committee has been meeting for a number of months to determine how best to portray the town’s rich and storied history. Among the areas to be considered are the welcome/orientation video, an historical timeline of Blowing Rock and history-related exhibits and displays which will offer new and stimulating information to the Museum’s guests.
On April 3 and 4, the History Committee visited the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) in Winchester, VA, a three-year old museum which also offers art and history as its focus. Sue Glenn, chairing the committee, was joined by other committee members Jerry and Janice Burns, Joann Mitchell, Doug Pegram, Tom Santay, Don Saunders and Ginny Stevens to meet with Jenny Esler, the MSV executive director, and to review the extensive exhibits as a means of gathering ideas for Blowing Rock’s new Museum.
The group was duly impressed with the 50,000 square foot structure and the noteworthy collection of fine art, decorative arts and historic artifacts which the MSV proudly displays in its public galleries. Also of particular interest were the stirring introductory film and the interactive tri-lons featuring families that settled the Valley during the 1700s. The imposing Reception Hall and the climate-controlled Collections Storage room were also areas of great attention from the group, as well as the Museum Gift Shop which created discussion and generated ideas for BRAHM’s future building. Ms. Esler then treated the entire group to a comprehensive “behind the scenes” tour of the building, answering questions and offering comments to discourage omissions or mistakes in the new Blowing Rock Art and History Museum.
Following the tour, the group re-assembled in the MSV Tea Room to enjoy a thorough de-briefing and stimulating wish-list conversation! All of the participants agreed that while there is much work to be done, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley was certainly an inspirational benchmark for the planned BRAHM.