I followed the VMHC restoration through their posted emails. Life was very disrupted for everyone over that time (mine included a forced retirement and a move across three states), but I do not recall anything that emphasized the mural restoration. In fact, when you used a picture of one, and someone else gave an attribution, I looked for them and shared their location and their current status. I’m glad you think their new interpretation will be a good opportunity for visitors to learn a more complete history of the lost cause.
I look forward to visiting the updated and expanded Virginia Museum of History & Culture. If I understand correctly, the mural restoration is a relatively small component of the $30M project.
You said: "If I understand correctly, the mural restoration is a relatively small component of the $30M project."
Absolutely. I should have made that point more clearly in the post. The VMHC does a great job interpreting the broad sweep of Virginia history, which is exactly what this renovation will continue to allow them to do.
It is still safe to assume that millions have been spent at the VMHC that will allow them to better interpret the Lost Cause and I for one believe that it is money well spent.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and giving me the opportunity to clarify my point.
I always enjoy reading Ed Rothstein's review, but I think a little clarification is in order. Restoration of the Hoffbauer murals was a three-year project begun in 2012 and supported in part by a grant from Saving America's Treasures ($375,000); the work was completed in 2015. The CEO of the VHS at the time was Paul Levengood. The recently completed $30 million renovation, led by the current CEO Jamie Bosket, involved a major renovation and reworking of all the gallery spaces in the VMHC, including the installation and interpretation in the Hoffbauer gallery of the Lee statue removed from Statuary Hall in the US Capitol. As noted by Mr. Rothstein, it is an effective installation.
I'll be interested to read your reaction to the renovated galleries.
Thanks for the comment, Barbara. You are absolutely right and I should have clarified further. The Hoffbauer murals did indeed begin in 2012, as I noted in the post, but the rest of the renovations took place more recently.
My question as to whether a museum could justify spending any amount of money restoring those murals was intended to point out the extent to which attitudes have changed re: Civil War memory since 2012.
I followed the VMHC restoration through their posted emails. Life was very disrupted for everyone over that time (mine included a forced retirement and a move across three states), but I do not recall anything that emphasized the mural restoration. In fact, when you used a picture of one, and someone else gave an attribution, I looked for them and shared their location and their current status. I’m glad you think their new interpretation will be a good opportunity for visitors to learn a more complete history of the lost cause.
I look forward to visiting the updated and expanded Virginia Museum of History & Culture. If I understand correctly, the mural restoration is a relatively small component of the $30M project.
You said: "If I understand correctly, the mural restoration is a relatively small component of the $30M project."
Absolutely. I should have made that point more clearly in the post. The VMHC does a great job interpreting the broad sweep of Virginia history, which is exactly what this renovation will continue to allow them to do.
It is still safe to assume that millions have been spent at the VMHC that will allow them to better interpret the Lost Cause and I for one believe that it is money well spent.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and giving me the opportunity to clarify my point.
I always enjoy reading Ed Rothstein's review, but I think a little clarification is in order. Restoration of the Hoffbauer murals was a three-year project begun in 2012 and supported in part by a grant from Saving America's Treasures ($375,000); the work was completed in 2015. The CEO of the VHS at the time was Paul Levengood. The recently completed $30 million renovation, led by the current CEO Jamie Bosket, involved a major renovation and reworking of all the gallery spaces in the VMHC, including the installation and interpretation in the Hoffbauer gallery of the Lee statue removed from Statuary Hall in the US Capitol. As noted by Mr. Rothstein, it is an effective installation.
I'll be interested to read your reaction to the renovated galleries.
Came here to say this but you beat me to it. Thank you.
Thanks, Chris. I posted a clarification note at the top of the post.
Thanks for the comment, Barbara. You are absolutely right and I should have clarified further. The Hoffbauer murals did indeed begin in 2012, as I noted in the post, but the rest of the renovations took place more recently.
My question as to whether a museum could justify spending any amount of money restoring those murals was intended to point out the extent to which attitudes have changed re: Civil War memory since 2012.