A heartfelt thank you

All summer the Museum of Culpeper History celebrates its 10th anniversary of being on Main Street. Hands-on activities, special events, a light-hearted exhibit, and a cool place to soak in our local heritage – are all available at your local history museum.

The Museum’s fiscal year began on July 1 and since then we have had some amazing news; a sizeable donation of money and books from the Culpeper Historical Society, three grants that assisted with Camp Culley and several individual gifts of money, memorabilia and research data.

And that’s in less than a month!

I’m very happy to report that your museum is doing well, both in terms of money and other support. The community not only pulled together for its library, but for its museum as well.

Therefore, on behalf of the board of trustees, our members, and our staff and volunteers, I would like to say thank you!
In case you don’t hear it enough — thanks for being a great community.

Thank you for having faith in your non-profit cultural institutions, especially your museum. Thanks also to the town council and its many departments — we greatly appreciate your financial, physical, and moral support. Thanks to the county for its continued support.

The county’s Board of Supervisors couldn’t give us a financial grant this year, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t support us. We reap the benefits of association with the county all the time. So a hearty thanks to the Board for their continued encouragement and support.

Thank you to our own membership group, the Friends of the Museum. These folks give annually to the museum because they can. Thanks to you all for believing in us. Thank you too to the many members, residents and guests who attend our functions; from historic lectures to lawn parties – we continue to host events that we hope will entertain, educate and entice more and more of the public.

And who could forget the many businesses who partner with the museum, especially those that give us in-kind donations of food, libations, products, and expertise. Our local business community helps keep the museum’s doors open.

Thanks to the local historians, including Julie Bushong at the Library, Clark “Bud” Hall at the Brandy Station Foundation, Virginia Morton with the Cedar Mountain Foundation, Perry Cabot, Angus Green, Mary Jo Browning and others from the Society for the Preservation of Culpeper History, Kathy Ellis with the Germanna Foundation, and individuals like Willie and Rose Marie Martin, Zann Nelson, Donnie Johnson and George Bryson.

These are among many residents who take the time and effort to delve into local history and then share their findings with the museum. While we don’t do much of the actual research ourselves any longer, we certainly benefit from this data when we design and create our exhibitions, publications, and educational programs. Thanks to all of our historians for permitting the museum to utilize your work.

And finally, thanks to the press; media men and women who keep the museum in the forefront. We have been fortunate to stay in the news and usually in a positive way, for years now. We promise to keep making news, and to keep residents informed and entertained. A heartfelt thank you to all who make this possible and as we move forward we hope you will continue to support us.

Remember that the summer is a great time to explore your own community – from the terrific businesses in the historic district to the parks, ponds, rivers, and of course, the museums. Join the Museum for its next Libations on the Lawn Aug. 6 at 5:30 p.m. Local singer, David Gilmore, is performing. Tea, Lace and Roses is providing the food, and Frenchman’s Cellar is providing the wine, again. Please join the fun!

Lee Langston-Harrison is the executive director of the Museum of Culpeper History. Visit culpepermuseum.com or call 829-1746. The Museum of Culpeper History is open daily Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.