Join us on Saturday, April 23rd from 9am-noon as we work to clear away debris from January’s winter storm. Clean-up will include clearing small trees, limbs, and other debris from around the archaeological site and along roads and paths. Other clean-up and maintenance of the grounds may also be needed as we prepare for the […]
PRESS RELEASE- Historic Germanna Initiates Removal and Restoration of Iconic Weathervane
Historic Germanna Initiates Removal and Restoration of Iconic Weathervane
Locust Grove, VA - October 18, 2023 – Historic Germanna, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing Virginia's rich history, is embarking on an exciting journey to preserve a symbol of the past that has graced our visitor center for decades. On October 19th, 2023, the iconic copper ship weathervane adorning the Brawdus Martin Historic Germanna Visitor Center, was carefully removed from its post where it was set in 2000.
The decision to remove this cherished weathervane stems from the recognition of a pressing issue: a persistent leak in the roof caused by the continuous turning of the weathervane. The Visitor Center's architect, Doug Harnsberger, a Germanna descendant who generously donated the weathervane in 2000, made the insightful recommendation to safeguard the roof from further water infiltration by removing the cause. Harnsberger oversaw the copper ship’s removal and the temporary capping of the roof to prevent further water infiltration. W.A. Lynch Roofing removed the ship. The Charlotteville-based company has previously worked on Monticello, Highland, UVA’s Rotunda, and the Virginia Capitol.
Additionally, Mr. Harnsberger emphasized that “the fragile nature of the weathervane itself, needs delicate conservation work to ensure its preservation for future generations.” The weathervane was meticulously crafted after a 17th-century barque, a three-masted vessel that may have been similar to the ship that brought the 1714 and 1717 German colonists to Virginia. Harnsberger further stated, “This intricate metal object has become a treasured emblem of the historic journey of the German colonists to Virginia.”
Historic Germanna is taking this opportunity to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for the weathervane and explore options for its future display inside of the Visitor Center. Historic Germanna is committed to preserving the essence of this historic symbol by identifying an appropriate new location for it to be displayed to the public and the generations of Germanna descendants that cherish this icon of their family’s journey from Germany to Virginia. Careful consideration is being given to ensure that the weathervane continues to tell the story of Germanna's rich history.
With the leak in the roof now effectively sealed, Historic Germanna is actively exploring alternatives to top the Visitor Center with something that is both symbolic of the organization's mission and representative of the region's heritage. The weathervane's removal marks a significant step towards ensuring that Germanna's history remains accessible and intact for generations to come.
The public is invited to stay tuned for updates on this exciting preservation project.
Virtual Event: Travel and Leisure in a Germanic Town: Visiting Moravian Bethlehem
On Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 7:00 pm (ET), Evening with Germanna presents a virtual lecture by Christopher Malone, Curator of the American Swedish Historical Museum. Celebrate the first days of spring by joining us for a journey back in time to explore the material culture of Bethlehem, an 18th century Germanic Town. The Moravian […]
Virtual Event: An Evening with Michael Twitty on African-Virginian Foodways – Feb. 17
On Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 7:00 pm (ET), Evening with Germanna presents a virtual lecture by Michael W. Twitty. Join James Beard Award-winning culinary historian and historic interpreter Michael W. Twitty for a presentation on the West and Central African roots of early Virginia foodways and how one goes about collecting the evidence and […]
2021 Veterans Day Luminary Tribute
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Veterans Day luminary tribute event, especially to our volunteers to who came from Warrenton, Culpeper and Locust Grove to help us fill bags, place them around the visitor center, and light them (see our Facebook page for photos). Wonderful evening to honor veterans! Here is the […]
WATCH: Online Lecture by Renowned Historian Edward Ayers on the Migrations of the American South
On November 4, 2021, Evening with Germanna presented an online lecture by well-known historian Edward Ayers who narrated the evolution of southern history from the founding of the nation to the present day by focusing on the settling, unsettling, and resettling of the South. Including indigenous, white, black, and immigrant people in the story, Ayers […]
Honoring Veterans: A Luminary Tribute
Join the Germanna Foundation on Thursday, November 11 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm as we honor all veterans by illuminating the grounds of the Fort Germanna Visitor Center with luminaries. At 6:30 pm we will hold a ceremony in which we ring the bell in Germanna’s Memorial Garden in honor of all the veterans. This […]
Professional Storytelling at “Salubria After Dark” Event October 22 and 23
Come experience historic 1757 Salubria manor as never before as the Germanna Foundation hosts “Salubria After Dark,” a special evening of professional storytelling on the grounds of Salubria, Culpeper County’s oldest brick house. While the stories are NOT about Salubria, you’re in for a spook-tacular event with several professional storytellers! This event will be held […]
WATCH: Evening With Germanna: Spotswood’s “Knights of the Golden Horseshoe” Expedition in 1716
Over 300 years ago in September 1716, Virginia’s Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood organized a famous trek over the Blue Ridge mountains that came to be known as the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe expedition. The trek began and ended at the colonial frontier fort that Spotswood established in 1714: Fort Germanna, where a colony of […]
Germanna Fall Gathering Planned
UPDATE: Registration is closed as we’ve reached maximum capacity for this event. After two years of virtual Summer Conference Reunions, Germanna is cautiously optimistic that an in-person Fall Mini-Reunion is feasible. The secure registration form is below. Hebron Lutheran Church has graciously agreed to host us for the event and the planned schedule offers time […]
Germanna Trades Weekend Aug 21 & 22
The Germanna Foundation will host a trades weekend on the grounds of the Fort Germanna Visitor Center the weekend of August 21 and 22, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event is rain or shine. Live demonstrations including surveying, timber framing, foodway demonstrations, a blacksmith, a cooper, a bread oven and more will take […]
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