Reston Museum Construction Status

Demolition of the Reston Museum interior began on January 23, 2009 and we re-opened our doors on September 18, 2009.

We had a great design team work on exciting new exhibits of Reston's past, present and future (see pictures below). Come visit us and see for yourself!.

Become a museum member and contribute today to Reston's future.

(as of: 2/13/09) - click for larger image

(as of: 3/20/09) - click for larger image

(as of: 4/07/09) - click for larger image

(as of: 4/18/09) - click for larger image

(as of: 5/5/09) - click for larger image

(as of: 6/3/09) - click for larger image

(as of: 6/20/09) - click for larger image

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(as of: 7/20/09) - click for larger image

(as of: 8/30/09) - click for larger image

(9/18/09) - And we're open!

New Window Design - click for larger image

New Floor Plan

In the beginning...

The Reston Museum first opened its doors on Lake Anne Plaza in November 1997 in the space that was once the library. The Museum was the physical manifestation of the Reston Historic Trust, created earlier that year.

The Reston Historic Trust has kept the Museum operating in the same space for more than 11 years. The initial idea for the Reston Museum came from Sarah Larson and Susann Gerstein, who were inspired by the recent designation of Lake Anne Plaza as a Fairfax County historic district. Larson thought that public events based on Reston’s history would attract more visitors to the Plaza. In 1996 the two women formed the Lake Anne Historic District Task Force, and with input from a number of prominent citizens, their effort began to reach beyond Lake Anne to include all of Reston’s many and diverse neighborhoods. In February 1997, Larson and Gerstein announced the formation of the Reston Historic Trust and its goal to open a museum.

When the Museum opened its door later that year, its exhibits included the famous Reston Model, formerly used in the visitors’ center. The 8-foot by 11-foot model had to be dismantled, transported, and reassembled. (The model is now being cleaned and put under a plastic cover for the Museum’s reopening.) Featured as well was a quilt in hues of brown and blue made by 100 Langston Hughes eighth graders, commemorating Reston’s 30th anniversary. The Museum also launched a series of programs, including art workshops and lectures.

Over the years the Museum’s collection of artifacts, written materials, photographs, exhibits, and art has continued to expand. We look forward to our grand reopening in Summer 2009, with exhibits that will showcase Reston’s history in new, dynamic, and interactive ways.

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Trustees and Staff
of Reston Historic Trust
-Officers-
-Officers-
Shelley Mastran, Chair; preservation planning consultant; visiting professor, graduate program, Natural Resources, Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech-Alexandria campus; former director of Rural Heritage Program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation; PhD in geography, U of Maryland; author of numerous publications
Cheryl Terio, Vice-Chair; lawyer, former President, Lake Anne Condominium
Kurt Pronske, Treasurer; Engineer; Hunter Mill District representative to CRRAG; former President, Lake Anne Condo; Vice-President, Reston Community Reinvestment Corp
Helen Dunn, Secretary; BA Art History, MA Information Science; Reston Resident and Volunteer, 32 years.
William Nicoson, Chair Emeritus; former President; lawyer; former President, Planned Community Archives; 2002 Best-of-Reston Honoree
-Directors-
Graham Farbrother, Asst Project Manager at Heery International and registered architect
Jim Cleveland, former CEO, Reston developer; former President, Greater Reston Arts Center; 1996 Best-of-Reston Honoree;
Karen Goff, editor for Reston Patch
Ellen Graves, former executive director, National Assn of Negro Business and Professional Women; exec director, Leadership America; chief of staff, Fx Supervisor Catherine Hudgins; member of Advisory Social Services Board; former member of FISH Board; member of Multi-Cultural and the MLK festival planning committees; member of Southgate Community Center Advisory Board; founder of Coat Closet; co-founder of Multicultural Festival
Margaret Gupta, President for Content Solutions of Apex CoVantage, a leader in the digitizing of archived materials. She has lived and worked in Reston for more than 15 years and has degrees in Political Science and Urban Planning.
Leigh Handerahan, history teacher at Langston Hughes MS
Bonnie Haukness, Realtor; chair, RHT House Tours 2007-2010; volunteer with NoVA Fine Arts Festival; co-chair, SLHS All Night Graduation Party
Lynn Lilienthal, Immediate Past-Chair, RHT; Reston Interfaith board member; Museum Studies Master, GW University; 1996 Best-of-Reston Honoree
Michael Miller, architect; member Technical Advisory Panel and former Chair, Lake Anne Revitalization Committee
Ed Robichaud, former USAF and Continental AL pilot; volunteer, board member and officer for many local non-profits
Paul Thomas, fomer Reston Assn board member, math curriculum developer for K12
Eve Thompson, realtor
Charles A. Veatch, developer, photographer; board member, Planned Community Archives; 1998 Best-of-Reston Honoree
Victoria Wingert, communications consultant; former Executive Director, Reston Association; 2000 Best-of-Reston Honoree; award winner American Film and Berlin International festivals
-Staff-
Loren Bruce
Susan Cawthra