Pamplin Park announcement

[Kathy the history sleuth]

I saw this announcement regarding Pamplin Park on Facebook
Does anyone know anything about this? I loved visiting Pamplin Park.








Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier will be open by appointment only beginning on February 12, 2024 with the exception of special events, and groups of 10 or more are invited to schedule tours, educational programs or facility rentals seven days a week. This closure to walk-ins will impact some special events and includes the cancellation of the 30th Anniversary Gala which was to be held on February 23, 2024.
Those who wish to book groups of 10 or more, educational programs or inquire and book facility rentals can call (804) 861-2408 or email [email protected]. More information is also available for groups on the park's website at www.pamplinpark.org.
The new restricted hours of operation is part of an overall reorganization of the park. A comprehensive plan has been designed to transform and bolster Pamplin Historical Park to address rising operational costs, while emerging to preserve this Historical Landmark and to continue as a leading educational and historical destination in the nation.
While Pamplin Historical Park is undergoing this transformation, we invite individuals to attend the park's special events and symposium. Current Pamplin Historical Park members and Dinwiddie County Residents only can continue to enjoy walking the park's trails by checking-in and parking at 6619 Duncan Rd., Petersburg, VA 23803 between 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday.
For more information, to book an educational program or facility rental and to view a full list of special events, visit www.pamplinpark.org or watch for postings on the park's social media channels.

 

[Dan Kohli]

That is a major bummer, I was hoping to go there sometime in the future.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

That is a major bummer, I was hoping to go there sometime in the future.

I did you there a couple years ago. It's a large complex and there was hardly anyone there.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Maybe the National or State Parks would want to buy or take it over. It sits on the ground where the breakthough happened and has alot of historic buildings.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

This closure to walk-ins will impact some special events and includes the cancellation of the 30th Anniversary Gala which was to be held on February 23, 2024.

If you're in financial trouble canceling your annual fundraising gala only two weeks out is a surprise. Some heads are probably going to roll in management.

They seemed busy, albeit mostly with fieldtrips, when I went there in 2012 to interview for an internship. They might not have really recovered from the pandemic.

I'd like to think NPS wouldn't hesitate to acquire the site and add it to Petersburg National Battlefield, if the nonprofit running Pamplin were to fold.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

If you're in financial trouble canceling your annual fundraising gala only two weeks out is a surprise. Some heads are probably going to roll in management.

They seemed busy, albeit mostly with fieldtrips, when I went there in 2012 to interview for an internship. They might not have really recovered from the pandemic.

I'd like to think NPS wouldn't hesitate to acquire the site and add it to Petersburg National Battlefield, if the nonprofit running Pamplin were to fold.

I hope so. It's not far from that site. When I was there in 2021 on a beautiful spring day it was empty. It was a weekday. It's a huge complex with a theater, a museum and meeting rooms, historic buildings and a walking trails through the earthworks. It is a great museum. Maybe they didn't have alot of interest in the gala. Maybe they should have had ghost tours (lol) Maybe the area schools were not coming out there. They have separate education buildings. This is very sad to hear.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

The Antebellum South - Pamplin Historical Park

Life in the Antebellum South and the Impact of the Civil War on Civilians The American South, the fifteen states that permitted slavery in the decades before the Civil War,... Read more »

pamplinpark.org

Here's a link to their website so you can see how large it is if you have not been there.

 

[jackt62]

I did you there a couple years ago. It's a large complex and there was hardly anyone there.

I was there in 2015 and I also noted the absence of many visitors. That being said, the Pamplin complex is probably one of the most fascinating CW historical exhibition sites I have been too. It contains museum type exhibits, battle simulations, weapons demonstrations, and maintains walking trails of the Petersburg breakthrough in April 1865. Definitely worth a visit, even if it is now being done by appointment only.

 

[Rebforever]

Took my Grandsons there and had lunch when it first opened. Don't remember the date. Somewhere around 20 years ago. I was there by myself later on for a sandwich food business was gone.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

I was there in 2015 and I also noted the absence of many visitors. That being said, the Pamplin complex is probably one of the most fascinating CW historical exhibition sites I have been too. It contains museum type exhibits, battle simulations, weapons demonstrations, and maintains walking trails of the Petersburg breakthrough in April 1865. Definitely worth a visit, even if it is now being done by appointment only.

Yes, I would support them by making an appointment if you are in the area.

 

[Jamieva]

That's a shame. I went there with my daughter's 4th grade class about 10 years ago. The museum is great but like others commented, I didn't see anyone there besides the school groups. I have been meaning to go walk the breakthrough trail which ends at the park, will get to that this spring.

 

[AA484]

Doesn't sound good. This was maybe the best Civil War museum I've ever been to. I'm sure someone will step in and manage the grounds (NPS or CWT) but I'm worried about the museum.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Doesn't sound good. This was maybe the best Civil War museum I've ever been to. I'm sure someone will step in and manage the grounds (NPS or CWT) but I'm worried about the museum.

I agree. This place shouldn't disappear because the history isn't as popular with the general public right now (my opinon) Maybe it needs to downsize also. I'm not sure what to downsize because I'm not an expert on museum management. But I am an accountant and revenues and expenses need to be in a healthy state.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

According to the post, if you want to walk the trails, which are beautiful, you need to be a Pamplin Park member.

Memberships - Pamplin Historical Park

Seniors/Military/Teacher/Student/Individual: This membership level includes: Free admission for card holder into the park for 1 or 2 years depending on the membership purchased. 10% off of all in-store Civil War... Read more »

pamplinpark.org

 

[Jamieva]

So do the people that bought memberships just get stiffed out of their money? That's not a good look. They said on local news this morning you could still walk the trails.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

So do the people that bought memberships just get stiffed out of their money? That's not a good look. They said on local news this morning you could still walk the trails.

Current Pamplin Historical Park members and Dinwiddie County Residents only can continue to enjoy walking the park's trails by checking-in and parking at 6619 Duncan Rd., Petersburg, VA 23803 between 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday.

Yes, I agree if you bought a membership prior you would want to access the museum.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I think the visitation issue might be a marketing problem. Pamplin Park, which is how the park is usually referred to, doesn't sound like a Civil War site. If I didn't know better that name would suggest picnic tables and a playground, not a battlefield.

Even the official name, Pamplin Historical Park, doesn't convey any connection to the war. Pamplin was simply the founder of the organization.

When I visited Richmond and Petersburg in 2012, I skipped Pamplin because I didn't know it existed. I only interviewed for an internship in 2013 because my professor was a personal friend of A. Wilson Greene and he recommended it to me. If not for that and for being an active CWT member I probably still wouldn't know it exists.

Apparently the museum is officially called the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, and that should probably be at the forefront of their marketing. "National Museum of the Civil War Soldier at Pamplin Historical Park" is a mouthful, but it doesn't bury the lede. Or at least call it something evocative like the Petersburg Breakthrough Battlefield & Museum.

The historical society I work for struggled to attract visitors for a long time because we were named after the local river. Which if you're a tourist you've never heard of. As soon as we started using a DBA with "lighthouse" in the name visitation started going up substantially because that's something everyone immediately recognizes. Sink a big hook. Then when you get them there: surprise, history!

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

I think the visitation issue might be a marketing problem. Pamplin Park, which is how the park is usually referred to, doesn't sound like a Civil War site. If I didn't know better that name would suggest picnic tables and a playground, not a battlefield.

Even the official name, Pamplin Historical Park, doesn't convey any connection to the war. Pamplin was simply the founder of the organization.

When I visited Richmond and Petersburg in 2012, I skipped Pamplin because I didn't know it existed. I only interviewed for an internship in 2013 because my professor was a personal friend of A. Wilson Greene and he recommended it to me. If not for that and for being an active CWT member I probably still wouldn't know it exists.

Apparently the museum is officially called the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, and that should probably be at the forefront of their marketing. "National Museum of the Civil War Soldier at Pamplin Historical Park" is a mouthful, but it doesn't bury the lede. Or at least call it something evocative like the Petersburg Breakthrough Battlefield & Museum.

The historical society I work for struggled to attract visitors for a long time because we were named after the local river. Which if you're a tourist you've never heard of. As soon as we started using a DBA with "lighthouse" in the name visitation started going up substantially because that's something everyone immediately recognizes. Sink a big hook. Then when you get them there: surprise, history!

I completely agree with you. It is a very rich site. There is not alot left of the Civil War except for the National Parks. We need to cherish what there is. People are coming back to CW tourism. Books are being written, for example the Emerging CW books, among many others. I sincerely hope they find a way to keep this place going because, as I said, I've been there and it's fantastic. It is very large and it's understandable that it is expensive to run. I added it to my trip because someone on CWT told me about it. Otherwise I might not have known about it.

 

[A. Roy]

I've been in touch with people there and found them helpful, but have never visited. I have to think there's a way to keep a resource like this available to the public, even if it means a takeover by another entity.
AR

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Robert B. Pamplin Jr. - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Here is some information on Robert Pamplin. He's an interesting person.