Pamplin Park

[Dunn Browne]

The following is a news story about the closing of Pamplin Park, a Civil War Museum/Center in Petersburg, VA. to the general public.


Read news story:

http://villagenewsonline.net/artman2...o_Public.shtml

[OVI]

2009 is going to be a very bad year for historic sites and museums. The deep recession is causing budget slashes and outright closings in many states. I might suggest that those of us who can, get involved with local sites and see what can be done to help survive.

Kent Dorr - Ohio Winter Quarters
"Devils Own Mess"

[Dunn Browne]

2009 is going to be a very bad year for historic sites and museums. The deep recession is causing budget slashes and outright closings in many states. I might suggest that those of us who can, get involved with local sites and see what can be done to help survive.

Kent Dorr - Ohio Winter Quarters
"Devils Own Mess"

Great idea Kent.
I would like to suggest that groups get involved in the Adopt a Position program offered at some of our National Battlefield Parks as one way to help out.

[Busterbuttonboy]

Easier yet... Bring your group to Pamplin or another site which has similar cuts, it brings good PR to the park, affords them a event with limited budget and gets people there to see the collections and spend. We as a community have power. While we dont use them or often understand them, it is a simple as having a weekend of drill at a site similarto this.
Drew Gruber

[TobiasJones]

I love Pamplin Park. It is a great place and once upon a time I worked as an Interpreter in both the Military camp and the Civilian side of things. I say this with respect, but this has been coming since before the economy turned. There has been a struggle to have the park fund itself fully, but it never got out from under the Pamplin Foundations umbrella. I understand that many positions have been lost until attendance picks up.

In regards to helping out our belove historical parks, it is certainly a great idea to volunteer, but weekends alone will not get the job done. If people are tightening their budget up, the first thing to go is entertainment/amusements. Pamplin had recently cut out its annual Civil War Weekend in June because over a few years they had seen too much of a decline in attendance (reenactors were volunteer). Not to mention that unless there is a fairly significant amount of advertising people won't know about the "special" weekend where there are reenactors doing living history.

All in all, it is just a tough time, but like Ben Stein said the other day on CNN, if you want to help the economy, go out and buy something. IMHO the same things goes for our museums, if you like and want to help the museums, go visit them and donate money. We can't expect others to do it in our place.

Evan O'Dell

[dedogtent]

The 2nd Delaware did the Civil War weekend in June of 2007 and had a great time and it seemed to be well attended. We didn't put it back on our schedule last June basically because of fuel costs as Petersburg is quite a way for us, are you saying they didn't have it?

We also have been in the Adopt A Position for many years at Gettysburg. We go up twice a year to clean up around our State, Regimental and Skirmish Position monuments. But I agree we need to do more to keep these treasures like Pamplin Park open for all to see and enjoy.

[TobiasJones]

The 2nd Delaware did the Civil War weekend in June of 2007 and had a great time and it seemed to be well attended. We didn't put it back on our schedule last June basically because of fuel costs as Petersburg is quite a way for us, are you saying they didn't have it?

I attended as a reenactor for '07 and '08. It was held in '08 but from what I have heard, will not be held in '09 for lack of attendance. Also, I agree with you that '07 was well attended and '08 did not seem to be as bustling but appeared to have a fair amount of visitors, however, I don't think management is seeing the numbers they would like for such a big weekend in effort and resources for the park. Quite honestly, I hope they hear enough of a rumble from park members and the public that they decide it is something worth putting on again ('10??). On a side note, it has been a little difficult to get reenactors to volunteer that weekend due to other events before or after. It really is a fun weekend.

Evan O'Dell