On Sat., Sept. 26, 2009, the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day presented by Smithsonian magazine.  The Society will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors.  A celebration of culture, learning, and the dissemination of knowledge, Museum Day reflects the spirit of Smithsonian magazine and emulates the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based properties.

Over 1,000 museums and cultural institutions nationwide are expected to be involved in this year’s event, the largest to date.  Participating museums in the Richmond area include the Museum of the Confederacy, the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, and the University of Richmond museums.  In 2008, close to 200,000 people attended Museum Day at one of the 900 participating museums in all fifty states plus Puerto Rico .

“For those area residents who didn’t get a chance to visit the VHS this summer when we were offering free admission, Museum Day is a great opportunity to see the museum,” said VHS President and CEO Dr. Paul A. Levengood.  “This is the first year the Society has participated in Museum Day.  We look forward to many people having an enjoyable, educational, and entertaining visit on September 26th.”

Visitors must present the Museum Day admission card to gain free entry to the VHS.  The card can be found in the September issue of Smithsonian magazine or downloaded at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.  Listings and links to participating museums’ and sponsors’ sites can also be found on the website.  One card is permitted per household, and each card provides museum access for two people.  CITGO is the supporting sponsor of Museum Day.

While at the VHS on Museum Day, visitors will enjoy exploring the portrait exhibition Heads and Tales and the art on display in The African American Image in Virginia.  Also on view is The Story of Virginia , An American Experience, a 10,000-square-foot exhibition with more than 1,000 objects covering 16,000 years of the Commonwealth’s history from prehistoric times to the present.

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For more than 178 years, the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) has been the steward of our state—and often national—history.  Headquartered in Richmond , the VHS features award-winning exhibitions that are entertaining and educational for visitors of all ages. Although designated the Official State Historical Society, the VHS is a privately funded non-profit organization that relies on contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations to sustain its operations.  Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m. (shop and museum galleries only). Admission: $5/adults, $4/seniors 55+, $3/students, free/under 18 and free/members. Admission to the galleries is free on Sundays. For group tour information, call (804) 342-9652. For more information, please call (804) 358-4901 or visit www.vahistorical.org.

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Founded in 1970 with the launch of Smithsonian magazine, Smithsonian Media—comprising Smithsonian magazine, Air & Space, goSmithsonian, Smithsonian Publishing Digital Network, Smithsonian Books,  and advertising for Smithsonian Channel—allows the intellectually curious to indulge and engage their passions for history, the arts, science, the natural world, culture, and travel.  Smithsonian Media’s flagship publication, Smithsonian magazine, has a circulation of more than two million.  The multimedia network is also affiliated with the world’s most visited museum and research complexes at the Smithsonian Institution.

For more information, visit www.smithsonian.com.

– The information above was provided by Jennifer M. Guild at the VHS.