Lee Chapel & Museum to reopen to the public March 30

Lee Chapel & Museum will reopen to the public March 30. Hours will be 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Mondays–Saturdays and 1-5 p.m., Sundays.

The historic building, one of the area’s leading visitor attractions, closed last December for the installation of a fire suppression system to protect the museum galleries and Lee’s Office.

New smoke detectors were added to the auditorium. Construction was supervised by W&L engineer Dave Merchan who contracted Kjellstrom and Lee to do the construction.

The design of the dual action dry pipe system was created by The Protection Engineering Group (PEG) of Chantilly, Virginia, which has designed fire suppression systems for The White House and Mount Vernon. PEG worked with Glavé & Holmes Architecture of Richmond, which specializes in work with historic structures.

Lighting throughout the museum galleries, designed by Cheryl Flota of Washington, D.C.-based Lightn’Up lighting consultants, has been updated to energy saving LED lamps.

Returning to the museum’s changing exhibit space will be the exhibit, “Lee in the Field,” curated by W&L’s museum collections coordinator, Kyra Swanson. The exhibit features items used by Robert E. Lee during the Civil War, including his military trunk and mess kit. Confederate Battle Flag #WD 356, on loan from the American Civil War Museum, also will be on display. It was one of the original flags displayed for many years near the statue, “Recumbent Lee,” in Lee Chapel. The flag was captured at Appomattox Station, Virginia, April 8, 1865, by Cpl. Thomas Anderson, 1st West Virginia Cavalry.

As part of the renovation and in conjunction with The PRD Group, Kjellstrom and Lee, and Explus Inc., space has been created for future exhibits that will feature other battle flags, particularly those connected with W&L and the Rockbridge area.

Since most of the work was done to the building’s infrastructure, visitors will not be able to discern many of the changes that have taken place. Lee Chapel & Museum will return to its dual mission of serving the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the university while inviting the public to learn about the contributions of George Washington and Robert E. Lee to higher education and W&L.