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Fredericksburg, Virginia, January 10, 2023 - The Library of Virginia, one of the oldest state libraries and archives in the nation, will mark its bicentennial in 2023 with a free exhibition--200 Years, 200 Stories--running Jan. 24-Oct. 28, 2023. The exhibition and multimedia experience celebrate 200 Virginians whose fascinating narratives are housed in the Library’s collections and together reflect the stories of Virginia.
“We’ve been fortunate to play such an important role in preserving Virginia’s history and culture for two centuries,” said Librarian of Virginia Sandra Treadway, Ph.D. “This exhibition provides a great opportunity to educate the public about the significance of our collections and engage them in exploring the past while reflecting on how it connects to the present and our next century.”
200 Years, 200 Stories profiles Virginians of all stripes: heroes and villains, the famous and infamous, the powerful and the powerless. Stories feature Virginians such as Ethel Bailey Furman, one of the first Black female architects in Virginia; David Martin, founder of the Martin Agency and creator of the famed tagline “Virginia is for Lovers”; Chinese immigrant Ow Chuck Sam, who became a naturalized citizen and served in the armed forces during World War II; and many more.
The exhibition is one of several key events and initiatives planned to celebrate the Library’s bicentennial in 2023. Look for the full 200th anniversary event schedule in the coming weeks on the Library’s calendar at lva.virginia.gov/eventscalendar or the website at lva.virginia.gov.
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