The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum announced today that its newest special exhibit, “Sons of Staunton: The Statler Brothers” at Woodrow Wilson’s Birthplace opens Friday, March 22, and runs through October.
Just as Staunton is the birthplace of the 28th President of the United States, it is also the birthplace of the award winning Country Music Hall of Fame members The Statler Brothers. The exhibit will include items such as costumes, shoes (designed by bass singer Harold Reid who holds the patent for them), instruments (including the guitar used in filming of Smokey and the Bandit II), audio system components, street signs, drafts of the Statler Brothers Shows, concert paraphernalia, handwritten manuscripts, and props from the Statler Brothers on the Nashville Network.
The Statler Brothers, are one of 7 musical acts that are in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In addition to their music, their weekly television show won numerous awards. Through all their success, they have remained rooted in their hometown of Staunton Virginia. Two Statler Brothers album covers were photographed at the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Manse and the other with Woodrow Wilson’s Pierce Arrow Limousine. In 1974 the Statler Brothers were named lifetime honorary members of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation as they “set an example of faith in democracy for the world”.
Robin von Seldeneck, President and CEO said, “We are excited to present this exhibit on our hometown heroes. It is a privilege to honor the Statler Brothers through this exhibit and we encourage the local community to come visit.”
The exhibit will coincide with the Annual Fourth of July festivities that first started with the Statler Brothers and also the busy summer season at the WWPL. The temporary exhibit gallery is on the first floor of the Woodrow Wilson Museum
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum is open 360 days a year for guests from around the world to tour the President’s Birthplace, the Woodrow Wilson Museum, including the President’s 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine, and the Library and Archives. The Presidential Library sponsors educational programming for thousands of school children each year and hosts teachers’ institutes, and a variety of other educational programs. The Presidential Library has a large collection of Wilson and Wilson-era documents, many of which can be accessed on the on-line digital archive
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum is located at 20 N. Coalter Street in Staunton and includes Wilson’s birthplace, a museum, gardens, and a library and archive. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Saturday, and 12 – 5 p.m. on Sundays. The WWPL’s archival collections are accessible through its e-Library or by appointment. For additional information, call 540-885-0897 or visit www.woodrowwilson.org.
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Chris Graham
