#HomeHistory

“Winter’s Glow” by Bradley Stevens depicts the essence of the most wonderful time of the year. This sunrise scene of a pond in Great Falls, Virginia was the perfect addition to the Art Experience at the Executive Mansion for the holiday season. A Virginia native, Stevens has forged a reputation as one of America’s leading realist painters and solidified his place in #homehistory when he was asked to paint Governor Mark Warner’s official portrait.

The First Lady and Governor were grateful for the opportunity to welcome Bradley to the Executive Mansion during this month’s reception celebrating the dynamic and impactful Art Experience at the Executive Mansion.

On this December 13th — Virginia Day of the Horse — we celebrate the economic and cultural importance of horses throughout Virginia’s #homehistory. Contributing through agriculture, racing, steeplechase, hunting, recreation and so much more, horse are woven into the fabric of life in our Commonwealth and make the world more interesting.

“Paint Pony Girls” by Richmond artist Jean Grunewald pays homage to the beautiful relationship between humans and horses, one that is celebrated through several pieces of art at the Executive Mansion. There are still two more tour opportunities this holiday season! Plan your visit today: executivemansion.virginia.gov.

The first snow of the season is dusting the Executive Mansion grounds, just like in G. Watson James Jr.’s “Snow Visits Capitol Square!”

This wintery scene is on loan from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and joins 75 other works celebrating the Commonwealth’s role in the making of our nation’s #homehistory. The Mansion is closed today due to the weather, but the Art Experience’s current exhibition, “America: Made in Virginia,” is available to view online at executivemansion.virginia.gov.

This Native American Heritage Month, The Executive Mansion spotlights the #homehistory of Virginia’s Indian tribes and the artists that tell their stories. Inspired by his grandmother and uncle, Ethan Brown of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe has been living on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation near King William, Virginia for over 15 years. Brown has been creating gourd art since he was 18 years old. His work celebrates traditional Pamunkey culture while using contemporary techniques.

In light of Veterans and Military Families Month, we reflect on stories of service, sacrifice, and the strength of our nation’s military #homehistory. Henry Kidd is a Colonial Heights native and nationally recognized historical artist whose work preserves these powerful narratives.

Raised near the Petersburg battlefields, Kidd developed a lifelong passion for military history and later served in the U.S. Army Reserves. His deep knowledge and experience as a reenactor informs artwork featured in institutions such as West Point, the Virginia Historical Society, and of course, the Executive Mansion. Through his paintings, lectures, and writing, Kidd honors generations of Americans who served.

The featured painting is part of a series dedicated to the nearly one and a half million service members who have died for our freedoms, as well as all veterans and active-duty personnel. Depicting service members returning to their families, it underscores the sacrifices made both on and beyond the battlefield. Kidd’s use of stretchers as canvases transforms symbols of tragedy into enduring tributes of remembrance and gratitude.

This Native American Heritage Month, The Executive Mansion spotlights the #homehistory of Virginia’s Indian tribes and the artists that tell their stories. Christine Custalow (Rippling Water), descendant from both Rappahannock and Mattaponi peoples, lives and works on the Mattaponi reservation. A tribal elder and matriarch, she learned pottery making from her mother and continues to create with the same traditional methods, telling the stories of her ancestors and community.

Recognized on November 11 and known in the United States as Veterans Day, Armistice Day recognizes the truce between the Allies of World War I and Germany in France. The armistice was extended several times until the signage of the Treaty of Versailles the following year, marking a formal agreement for peace and ending the first World War.

The moments that defined #homehistory are on display at the Executive Mansion through the Art Experience’s fourth and final iteration, “America: Made in Virginia.” Click here to explore the exhibition online or plan your visit to see pieces like “Armistice Day 1918” by Charles Hoffbauer, on loan from the Valentine Museum.

Virginia is home to 16 million acres of forested land which provide raw, sustainable, and renewable materials to the state. Recognized from October 19-25, Forest Products Week in the Commonwealth of Virginia calls on all Virginians to celebrate our forests and the renewable resources they provide as an essential part of our state’s economy and culture.

Whitetop Mountain, depicted in this painting by Bill Deel of Clintwood, Virginia, is deeply connected to Virginia’s #homehistory of utilizing forest products. Known as “Meadow Mountain” in colonial times, it has a longstanding tradition of crafting musical instruments from native woods like red spruce found on this beloved peak. Learn more at executivemansion.virginia.gov.

On this day in #homehistory 244 years ago, British officers delivered a surrender document to American and French forces, ending the Revolutionary War.

Painted by Henry Kidd, “Road to Yorktown” depicts Generals Washington and Rochambeau leading their armies to the battle that would determine America’s independence. As a lifelong resident of Colonial Heights, Kidd grew up near the battlefields of Petersburg and developed a deep passion for military history.

View “Road to Yorktown” and “Welcome Home,” another one of Kidd’s works, in person or online through the Art Experience at the Executive Mansion’s fourth iteration, America: Made in Virginia.

Richmond native Kathy Pantele has a passion for art that is accessible, timeless, and enhances people’s living spaces. Her painting, “Freedom is a Birthright,” celebrates the nation’s semiquincentennial through the perspective of our Commonwealth, centering on the bond between horse and man that has predates #homehistory itself.

“America: Made in Virginia” tells the tale of the Commonwealth’s influence in the birth of our nation. Plan your visit or view the installation virtually at executivemansion.virginia.gov.

On October 13, 1775, the United States Navy was established, beginning a 250-year legacy of bravery and courage throughout #homehistory. More than 85,000 active duty and Navy Reserve service members and over 43,000 civilian workers and their families are stationed in Virginia at locations like Naval Station Norfolk and Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

On loan from the Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, this photograph captures the launch of the USS Newport News (SSN 750) from Newport News Shipbuilding in 1986. This class of submarine forms the backbone of the United States Navy’s submarine force.

Today, we celebrate the strength and professionalism exhibited by these selfless men and women in the interest of our safety and democracy.

The Art Experience at the Executive Mansion’s current exhibit, “America: Made in Virginia,” celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of our nation’s sovereignty with over 75 works from numerous artists and institutions across the Commonwealth.

Rachel Garcia-Palmer, co-founder of the Northern Virginia Plein Air Artists, makes #homehistory as a contemporary fine artist and muralist in Reston. Her painting, “Hometown Pride,” hangs in the front hall of the Executive Mansion and depicts a street in Clifton adorned with American flags. Across the Commonwealth, these small-town displays of patriotism stir a timeless sense of home and belonging in us all.

The Commonwealth’s tradition of hunting and angling predates #homehistory itself. National Hunting and Fishing Day recognizes the importance of these activities and salutes the men and women who participate. It is these sportsmen and women who have lead conservation efforts across the Commonwealth, ensuring that future generations are able to enjoy Virginia’s natural beauty and sustain themselves on her resources.

Debra DeKeuster’s peaceful rendition of Tuckahoe Creek reminds us of the joy that can be found when we take time to connect with nature.

View this and 75+ works made by and for Virginians in person or online through the Art Experience at the Executive Mansion!

On this day in #homehistory, the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived in St. Louis in 1806 after completing a 7,000 mile journey to the Pacific Ocean and back. This airgun, on display in “America: Made in Virginia,” is believed by many historians to have been carried by Captain Meriwether Lewis on that very expedition.

Lewis feared his expedition might run out of black powder, so he carried an airgun that used compressed air instead of gunpowder. Charged to 750 PSI, it could fire about forty .31 caliber rounds before refilling. To Native Americans accustomed to smoky “thunder sticks,” Lewis’ demonstrations seemed almost magical, making the airgun one of his most effective diplomatic tools.

On loan from the Virginia Military Institute, this airgun is part of a dynamic exhibit celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation.

Known for his patriotic and religious works, Arnold Friberg was an American painter whose art inspired the nation.

Painted in 1975 to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States, “The Prayer at Valley Forge” depicts George Washington making a solitary prayer during the Continental Army’s winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. On loan from First Freedom Art, this giclee reproduction of the original hangs in the Executive Mansion among over 70 works which celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s establishment.

Just as faith guides the lives of the Governor and First Lady, generations of Americans turn to pray during moments of triumph and trial. As we reflect on our #homehistory and face the challenges of the present, we, like Washington, must lean in to the power of prayer.

On this day in #homehistory, a crowd of 30,000 people gathered at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Company to witness First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt christen “The America,” the largest passenger ship in the nation at the time.

On loan from the Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, this photograph captured the monumental occasion which was regarded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as “one of the most important events of 1939.”

The historical moments that made Virginia and our nation are at the forefront of the Art Experience at the Executive Mansion’s upcoming exhibition, open to the public and available to view virtually on Tuesday, September 9. Plan your visit here. 

Virginia’s Executive Mansion was bustling and made #homehistory last week with the installation of The Art Experience’s FOURTH exhibition, one that we are particularly proud of. Thank you to our Department of General Services (DGS), Library of Virginia (LVA), and Citizens’ Advisory Council (CAC) teams whose allegiance and efficiency are indivisible from this project! Stay tuned for more information about the new exhibit!

The Art Experience at Virginia’s Executive Mansion has made #homehistory by prioritizing Virginia artists and themes, displaying art works across a wide array of mediums.

Eucharia (Ukay) Jackson’s clothing line is inspired by her Nigerian heritage. Crafted from 100% Cotton Ankara fabric, “Nkechi” was on display in the Art Experience’s “Celebrating the Commonwealth” exhibition.

Rooted in cultural pride and purpose, the line supports clean water initiatives in Enugu, Nigeria, blending fashion with philanthropy to honor the kindness that once changed her life. In addition to her work in fashion and philanthropy, Ukay serves on the Citizens’ Advisory Council for Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion.

The Mansion is currently closed for tours as the Art Experience’s upcoming exhibit is being installed. Stay tuned for more information about reopening and the fourth iteration of the Art Experience!

Folk artist Queena Stovall was born in rural Amherst County, Virginia. After raising eight children, she began painting at age 62 and enrolled in a class at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. Her instructor, celebrated artist Pierre Daura, encouraged her to drop the class and pursue her unique painting style, and the rest is #homehistory.

Mr. Dinwiddie (the social security man in Stovall’s community) used to visit people in Amherst County and frequently made suggestions about scenes and people she should paint. He suggested a man with a straight razor on Saturday night, who then dressed up for church on Sunday morning, and thus the paintings “Saturday Night” and “Sunday Morning” were born.

Stovall went on to paint nearly fifty canvases depicting realistic scenes of country life in her community, her artistry serving as historical documentation of a bygone era.

In 1950, the Northern Cardinal was officially named the state bird of Virginia. The species is native to our Commonwealth and has been a part of Virginia’s #homehistory since colonial times.

Inspired by nature and his 60 pet birds, Hunt Slonem is renowned for his neo-expressionist style, particularly his series of bunnies, butterflies, and tropical birds. His painting, “Virginia Cardinals,” hangs in the ballroom at the Executive Mansion, paying homage to one of our Commonwealth’s iconic symbols.

This week is Virginia Farmers’ Market Week, celebrating the over 260 farmers’ markets across the Commonwealth that bolster local economies and connect farmers directly to consumers ready to support Virginia agribusiness.

“City Market” by Anne Adams Robertson Massie captures the excitement of a Saturday morning at a local farmers’ market, where people come not only in search of fresh, locally sourced, competitively priced groceries, but also community.

The Art Experience at the Executive Mansion has made #homehistory by creating exhibitions focused on highlighting Virginia artists, subjects, and themes. Learn more here.

Richard Stravitz’s sculpture “Anticipation” was commissioned in honor of Josh Thompson, a Virginia Beach local who, after being diagnosed with ALS, faced the challenge of reaching the beach in a wheelchair. Josh’s story inspired the creation of JT’s Grommet Island, the first fully wheelchair-accessible playground for children and adults in the town’s #homehistory.

The sculpture captures two young surfers – the older mentoring the younger – symbolizing resilience, the challenges of life, and the strength to overcome them.

Since 1949 the Virginia Highlands Festival has been celebrating the culture of Appalachia, showcasing the regions beloved #homehistory against the backdrop of beautiful Southwest Virginia. This year’s festival will run from July 25 to August 3.

On loan from the William King Museum of Art in conjunction with the Virginia Highlands Festival, this painting by Elizabeth Johns explores the profound connection between people and place, examining the way house and home impact the narrative of our lives.

Click here to learn more about Elizabeth Johns and the Art Experience at the Executive Mansion, and here to learn more about the Virginia Highlands Festival.

Virginia is for tomato lovers, and local Richmonders may argue that the best tomatoes in the world come from Hanover County.

On loan from the Taubman Museum of Art, “Mr. Martin” by Anne Bell spotlights the beauty of a tomato grown in Virginia. This versatile crop has been known throughout #homehistory to thrive in our
Commonwealth’s Coastal Plain soil, peaking in freshness from July to October.

Virginians will be celebrating tomato season this weekend at the Hanover Tomato Festival in Mechanicsville! Learn more at www.hanovercounty.gov.

In anticipation of Independence Day, we highlight the work of Mary Jane Ould. At 98 years old, Mary Jane Ould will make #homehistory as the most senior artist featured in the Art Experience at the Executive Mansion. Inspired by photos from President George W. Bush’s inaugural parade, “VMI Cadets” is a personalized rendition of the scene created for a friend whose sons marched in the event.

Ahead of the installation of the upcoming exhibit celebrating Virginia’s role in our nation’s history, Mary Jane joined family, friends and former students in Virginia’s home for a brief reunion, recognizing her impact within Virginia’s artistic community.

Stay tuned for more information on what is to come in the Art Experience’s fourth exhibition!

Bob Smith’s musical talents have graced many a great hall. A master of music, the Mansion has been honored to have Bob as a pianist for nearly three years.

A member of the Army for 32 ½ years, Bob began his passion for the piano as the premier pianist for the Army and later co-founded and led the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, later becoming the Sergeant Major of the United States Army Chorale. During this time, he was also a pianist at the White House for Presidents Nixon through Clinton.

Bob’s dedication to his craft will continue to be celebrated in our #homehistory.

Recognized in June, Dairy Month in the Commonwealth celebrates the udder-ly important role dairy cows and dairy farmers play in Virginia’s agricultural #homehistory. As the official state beverage of the Commonwealth since 1982, milk and dairy products are Virginia’s fifth-leading agricultural commodity.

Artist Greg Osterhaus captures the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, specializing in legend-dairy cow portraits like “Mango and Cream Delight” which hangs in the Ladies’ Parlor.

To learn more about Greg’s work and the Art Experience, click here.

Virginia artist Helen King Hattorf successfully captures the essence of summer days through waves and rays. Her work, “The Beach,” is currently displayed in the Ballroom at the Executive Mansion.

Specializing in abstract oils and watercolors, Hattorf was dedicated to sharing her love of art and ceramics to students, making #homehistory as an educator for 15 years at Richmond’s Thomas Jefferson High School.

This Juneteenth, Virginia’s Executive Mansion and Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) commemorates the #homehistory of members of the enslaved Valentine and Jackson families who were brought to Richmond with the household of Governor David Campbell from 1837 to 1840.

The families are memorialized through excerpts of letters written back and forth to family members in Abingdon. Now displayed on brass plaques in the ‘Valentine-Jackson Garden,’ this correspondence is a poignant reminder of sacrifice and contribution.

This sacred space on the Executive Mansion grounds was open to visitors during Historic Garden Week and is available to view as part of our public tours. Click here to learn more about the Valentine and Jackson families.

In honor of Father’s Day, we pay tribute to the ‘Father of Our Country’ and Virginian, George Washington.
 
Commander in Chief of the continental army during the American Revolution and later the first president in our nation’s #homehistory, Washington dedicated his life to service.
 
Boasting many notable figures, London’s Trafalgar Square boasts a life-sized bronze of George Washington. Given to Great Britain and Ireland by the Governor of the Commonwealth, the statue pays homage to the “Special Relationship” between the United States and United Kingdom. 

The Governor and First Lady look forward to joining the nonprofit, Friends of the Washington Statue in London next week for a rededication ceremony — honoring Washington’s legacy and celebrating the efforts taken to preserve it.

Today we recognize International Day of Play, celebrating the vitality of play and recreation in the development of a child’s brain, creativity, imagination and self-confidence.

Featured in the Art Experience, John C. Carper’s painting captures the joy that play brings into our lives and highlights one of Richmond’s favorite places to play throughout the city’s #homehistory: Byrd Park Lake.

Learn more about the Art Experience here.

Under the leadership of Guru Sudha Krishnamurthy, the Thapasya School of Dance shares the #homehistory of Southern India with Virginians. Dancers of all ages perform Bharatanatyam — an ancient classical dance form that combines expressive storytelling with technical footwork and intricate movements. 
 
Featured at the Governor and First Lady’s event celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, dancers showcased an elegant representation of India’s rich artistic heritage. A very special thank you to Sudha and the young women of Thapasya for sharing your beautiful traditions with us! 

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Grace Caldwell spent her early years as the daughter of missionaries. In 2008, she moved to the United States to attend Lynchburg’s Liberty University and has been making #homehistory with art of serenity and natural landscapes. 
 
On display at the Executive Mansion in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Grace’s painting “Weathered” pays homage to the quiet presence of a timeworn Virginia barn. The First Lady and Governor were honored to meet Grace and her husband at the recent AAPI reception. 

Observed in May, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebrates our Commonwealth’s diverse ethnic and social tapestry. The Art Experience at the Executive Mansion includes contributions from the AAPI community – like “State Theater” from Rajendra KC who is making #homehistory through his artistry. 
 
Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, Rajendra spent 35 years in the capital city before moving to Falls Church, Virginia where he educates the next generation of artists teaching painting classes at Falls Church Art, Inc. 

Today we celebrate 418 years of unwavering service by the Virginia National Guard, a legacy of courage that spans throughout #homehistory from the American Revolution to missions across the globe today and reminds us that defending freedom starts right here in our communities. 
 
To honor this milestone, Jessica Mullins’ powerful drawing “Citizen Soldier” is on display at the Executive Mansion, capturing the heart of what makes the Guard so extraordinary: everyday citizens who stand ready to serve at a moment’s notice. 
 
Heartfelt gratitude to the heroes among us and to the families and communities who stand behind them.