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Treasures of Northern Neck on new DVD
Newly released DVD covers museums and historic attractions in Northern Neck
Date published: 8/23/2007
AS DVDs go, it packs a lot into just 34 minutes.
One second, you're learning about the homes and history of Robert E. Lee or George Washington in Westmoreland County.
The next, you see pictures, paintings or film footage of steamboats hauling freight, menhaden boats encircling fish or rough-hewn fishermen pulling oysters from cold and rocking waters with long patent tongs.
You'll also find restored country stores, classrooms, windmills, mansions from Colonial days, thriving seaport communities and even a working tavern, dating back 100 years or much more.
They all show up on a new DVD, "The Museums of Virginia's Northern Neck," released this week by the Northern Neck Tourism Council and the 19 museums described on the richly produced piece.
It's intended to give viewers an introductory glimpse of the varied museums and historic attractions in the water-bound region, including museums and more in Northumberland, Lancaster, Westmoreland, Richmond and King George counties.
Patty Long, executive director of the council, said the DVD will be sold to the public and used as a marketing, teaching and tourism tool.
"We also hope that people in the region will buy it as a gift for family members here or elsewhere," said Long. "It will be on sale at all of the museums and sites and in gift shops and other stores throughout the Northern Neck."
The $12.95 DVD is produced by longtime video producer and Northern Neck resident Mark Huffman.
I've been getting acquainted with these 19 very different museums and historic attractions for years, and have yet to plumb all they have to offer.
Loosely aligned to market themselves to tourists and visitors, the entities range from the museum at the A.T. Johnson High School just outside Montross to the Steamboat Era Museum in Irvington.
Historic figures highlighted by the museums are central to our country's history, be they George Washington, Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lightfoot Lee, Mary Ball or Alexander Graham Bell, who for a time called Colonial Beach home.
Museums at Historic Christ Church, Tappahannock, Kilmarnock, King George, Kinsale, Colonial Beach, Warsaw and Montross are largely focused on the history of their communities and the notables who once called those spots home.
I especially enjoy museums at Morattico and Reedville, because they highlight the lives of those who worked the waters there.
"This was really a fun project," said Long, noting that Huffman volunteered his time and efforts, charging only a nominal fee to cover production costs. Kilmarnock businessman Shawn Donahue paid that cost.
Long said folks at the various museums and attractions were asked to come up with the words and descriptions used in the DVD, and also were asked to find vintage pictures and film to use.
"In some cases, they found things they didn't know were there before," said Long.
Long said the council is so pleased with the DVD, another is in the works, on the Northern Neck's Wine Trail, and there's been interest in creating others on churches, century farms and even B&Bs.
"We really hope that this DVD and some of the others, will be used by schools and other groups," said Long. "It shares a lot of the region's history."
Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com
For info on the DVDs or the museums, go to north ernneck.org, e-mail nntc@northernneck.org or call 804/333-1919 or 800/393-6180. For info on the DVDs or the museums, go to north ernneck.org, e-mail nntc@northernneck.org or call 804/333-1919 or 800/393-6180. |
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Date published: 8/23/2007
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