UPCOMING EVENTS

Guided Tours

The Reston Museum offers live tours on a regular basis. The guided tours, for children and adults, will review the early plans for Reston dating back to the early 1960s and outline the revolutionary concepts that impacted the planning and development of communities in America. The presentations will also include a walking tour of Washington Plaza at the historic Lake Anne Village Center to illustrate the principles behind the creation of plazas, townhouses in the suburbs, public art, diversity of housing choices, protection of open space, and walkable communities with residential units, business and retail all located in one place.

For more information and to schedule a tour, call Reston Museum at: 703-709-7700.

Nature Walk

Saturday, June 22, 2013
10:00 AM - Noon

For Adults - Meet at the Sunrise Valley Wetlands - 12700 Sunrise Valley Drive Drive. Park on the left (west) side of the office building. Sunrise Valley Wetlands is an aquatic jewel on the border of Reston and Herndon. This natural area is home to birds of prey, waterfowl, aquatic reptiles and amphibians, and a dazzling array of insects including butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the wetlands with a naturalist from the Walker Nature Center, and get an up-close look at the amazing diversity of life.

Reservations are required by June 19.
Call 703-709-7700 or email RestonMuseum@gmail.com to sign up.

Co-sponsored by Walker Nature Center and Reston Association.

History Lecture

Thursday, June 27, 2013
7:00 - 9:00 PM

Join us at the Reston Community Center - Lake Anne for:
Civil War at Hunters Woods, Fairfax County troop movements around Hunter Mill Road. Much has been written about the Battle of Gettysburg and Lee’s Retreat, but little has been written about the arduous journey taken by tens of thousands of men, wagons and horses of the Union’s Army of the Potomac as it marched across Northern Virginia on its way to this historic battle.

History Lecture

Thursday, Sep 19, 2013
7:00 - 9:00 PM

Join us at the Reston Community Center - Lake Anne for:
Early Gulf years (1967-1976) - the Bob Ryan and Bill Magness era.

Multi-Cultural Festival

Saturday - September 21, 2013
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Reston's annual Multi-Cultural Festival at Lake Anne. The Reston Museum will again present a special program - Map Your Cultural Heritage - for the afternoon, led by Tom Finn.

The Reston Multiculural Festival is a celebration of the diversity and community spirit of Reston. This annual event brings together the people of Reston to celebrate our medley of cultures and their riches. Hundreds came and shared with family, friends the music, entertainment, dress, food, and cultural treasures from all over the world. The Reston Multicultural Festival is hosted by the Reston Community Center and Reston Association, with partners from a variety of Reston-based organizations and businesses.

Photos courtesy of Bill Norton

Nature Walk

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Join us to walk the Buttermilk Creek Nature Trail. Reservations are required. Co-sponsored by Walker Nature Center and Reston Association.

Annual Home Tour

Saturday, October 19, 2013
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

RHT's 12th Annual Reston Home Tour will showcase six private homes in the New Town of Reston, and we anticipate yet another sell-out of this annual 'must-do' October event. Different homes are selected each year, all featuring amazing and interesting design in decor and architecture. All ticket proceeds benefit Reston Museum, operated by Reston Historic Trust, which has presented the tour since 2002.

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History Lecture

Thursday, Oct 19, 2013
7:00 - 9:00 PM

Join us at the Reston Community Center - Lake Anne for:
Martha Penino and Reston (1967-1978)

History Lecture

Thursday, Nov 21, 2013
7:00 - 9:00 PM

Join us at the Reston Community Center - Lake Anne for:
Gulf and Mobil years (1976-1978)

Founder's Day - 2014

Saturday, April 5, 2014
11th Annual Founder’s Day!
Bob turns 100 and Reston celebrates 50!

RECENT PAST EVENTS

History Lecture

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Early Reston Architecture, Modernism - A look at Lake Anne, Hickory Cluster and Waterview Cluster with panelists Harold Linton, Barbara Naef, Richard Speier, Cheryl Terio-Simon, and Ralph Youngren.

Museum members enjoyed an exclusive reception prior to the program, meeting architect Bill Conklin and Robert E. Simon, and seeing James Rossant on video.

Young Professionals Meetup

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Young professional met for drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and the chance to chat with Reston founder Bob Simon. The group meets monthly for social fun and supports Reston Association, Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Interfaith community projects. ...read more

Nature Walk

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Featured in Finding Wildflowers in the Washington-Baltimore Area, the Soapstone Wildflower Trail is one of Reston’s hidden treasures. Go on a native plant hike along the south side trails to this hot spot for spring ephemerals such as trillium, bluebells and jack-in-the-pulpit. Learn some wildflower folklore as well as some of the factors contributing to the decline of these species.

Founder's Day - 2013

Saturday, April 13, 2013
10th Annual Founder’s Day!
Community Celebration of Reston’s 49th &
Bob Simon’s 99th Birthday

Lake Anne Village Center
FREE Family Fun

The 3rd Annual Amazing Reston Founder's Day Treasure Hunt - a two hour adventure discovering 10 of Reston's unique places and history. There will be prizes for all finishers and a drawing for an exciting grand prize.

Lots of fun for everyone on the plaza at Lake Anne Village Center, and cake! Musical entertainment, remarks by elected local officials and dedication of the newly installed commerative bricks on the plaza.

• 12:00 PM - Welcome (Chuck Veatch, Master of Cenrmonies)
• 12:05 PM - VIP Remarks
• 12:15 PM - Announcements
• Founder's Day 2014
• Video Contest
• 12:25 PM - Entertainment
• 12:15 PM - Announcements
• Beverly Cosham - "God Bless America"
• SLHS Arts Dept - excerpts from "Xanadu"
• Reston Chorale-Bobby Pins
• 12:50 PM - Remarks - Reston Museum
• 12:55 PM - Cupcakes & "Happy Birthday"
• 1:30 PM - Scavenger Hunt begins
• 3:30 PM - Hunt ends - Prizes & medals awarded

History Lecture

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Members joined us at the Reston Community Center - Lake Anne for: Building Community (part 3), Vernon Walker - Nature and the Environment.
They heard from presenters Katie Shaw and Claudia Thompson-Dehl about Reston's first professional naturalist (for whom the Nature Center is named) and Reston's recent environmental initiatives.

Nature Walk

Saturday, March 23, 2013

A full audience of 30 joined a Walker Nature Center naturalist and some golf course neighbors to learn about the natural resources and experiences that this valuable open space provides. Look for a variety of birds, including Purple Martins, and visit old field and pond habitats. Reservations are required. Co-sponsored by Walker Nature Center and Reston Association.

Book Signing

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Author David A. Guillaudeu talked about his new book, "Images of Rail - Washington & Old Dominion Railroad". This book with a forward by Paul McCray contains hundreds of W&OD photos from 1863-1966 to document this fascinating part of our local history. David A. Guillaudeu has taken photographs of the railroad, interviewed former employees, and collected old photographs and scale drawings for over 40 years. Paul E. McCray served as the park manager of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park. Today, he is the unofficial Washington & Old Dominion Railroad historian and gives talks to local groups.

ISBN-13: 9780738597928; Publisher: Arcadia Publishing SC; Publication date: 2/18/2013; Pages: 128

History Lecture

Thursday, February 28, 2013

A large and appreciative audience gathered at the Reston Community Center - Lake Anne for:
Building Community (part 2 of 3), Diversity, Openness and Inclusiveness

Presenters Tom Ahart, Carol Ann Bradley, Doris Briggs, Laura Thomas, and Vern Wingert discussed what attracted minorities to Reston, the Civil Rights movement in Virginia, and the challenge of fair housing in Reston in the midst of segregated Virginia suburbs.

Musical Soiree

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Back for an encore performance to help celebrate Black History Month, Reston's three leading divas: Beverly Cosham and Menda Ahart, accompanied by Felicia Crawley performed a long set of popular jazz and blues songs.

Beverly Cosham has performed her cabaret act at nightspots from Los Angles to New York via San Antonio, TX and New Haven, CT, as well as Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, the National Theater, the Omni Shoreham, the Henley Park Hotel, the World Bank, the Lyceum, and the Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. . Beverly Cosham was recently recognized as one of the "Best of Reston".

Menda Ahart has been singing all of her life in church choirs, college choirs, community choirs, and as soloist with bands. She auditioned with MoTown in Detroit but did not want to drop out of college. These days Menda's love of singing sacred hymns, gospel, classical, popular, jazz and blues is channeled through at her church choir and Mosaic Harmony, an interfaith-faith, multicultural choir which draws on the heritage of African-American inspirational music

VA Polar Dip - Lake Anne

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Hundreds joined the fun and giving crowd for this annual event. A long line of swimmers, in all modes of dress, braved a quick dip in the 30 degree water. The Museum was on hand to cheer them on and offer free membership for those who needed one of oue new sweatshirts...read more

History Lecture

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Reston Community Center - Lake Anne for:
Building Community (part 1 of 3), Jane Wilhelm - Civic Organizations and Culture

One of the most important items that Robert E. Simon, Jr., fostered when he founded Reston was a sense of community. The goal was to establish a place where everyone mattered, had a sense of belonging, and was able to serve. With that in mind, in 1964 he hired Jane Wilhelm to head up the effort to create the infrastructure of community. On January 24th, the Reston Historic Trust (Reston Museum) will continue its "History of Reston" series focusing on the efforts of Jane Wilhelm, Embry Rucker, Priscilla Ames and others who helped establish a sense of place, not just a place to live. The focus of the talk and panel discussion will cover everything from schools, churches, elderly housing, the arts, the founding of the community center, library, day care, and the spirit of volunteerism.

Presenters: A panel of local residents from the 1960’s including Lynn Lilienthal, Mike Horwatt, Tom Kamstra, Peter McCandless, and Susan Norwich, along with Loren Bruce. Loren has a Masters in Urban & Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, was an urban planner with Fairfax County, and is currently in charge of special projects at the Museum.

Annual Meeting

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Over 30 members joined us for the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Reston Historic Trust (owner and operator of the Reston Museum).  President Shelley Mastran reviewed the past year's activities and finances. See RHT News for a fuller summary of the Museum's accomplishments in 2012.

Museum members enjoyed light refreshments while electing new board members Ann Youngren and Kurt Rose.

Holiday Art Sale

Nov 13 - Jan 16

Come in and browse unique works from noted Reston artists on sale, just in time for the holidays! Our holiday shop has jewelry, fiber art, ceramics, paintings, cards, ornaments and lots more - all made by local artists. All items are reasonably priced and would be great to fill in those gift squares for special friends.
...see more

Holiday Celebration & Walk

Saturday, December 8, 2012
4:30 - 6:30 PM

Following the Annual "Jingle at the Lake" Santa Claus visit to Lake Anne Plaza, join us 4:30 PM, at the Museum for "Holiday Recollections from Around the World", a discussion sharing winter holiday traditions from Reston's diverse population.

At 5 PM, Grab your flashlights and lace up sturdy walking shoes to join the Annual Holiday Lights Walk around Lake Anne, followed by an international sing-along at the Reston Museum. Warm up with hot drinks and cookies.

Holiday Artist Reception

Friday, December 7
5:30 - 7:30 PM

Over 50 shoppers joined us at the museum for light refreshments and to view the special holiday gifts items for sale and meet the local artists.

History Lecture

Thursday, November 29, 2012
7:00 - 8:30 PM

Another full house at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne and hear about the early days of Reston (part 3) - Public Relations: promoting Reston and the unique vision of Robert E. Simon Jr.

Presenters Peter McCandless and Chuck Veatch and other Reston marketing pioneers talked about:

• How the Master Plan became world famous
• How contemporary ideas fit with traditional suburban styles
• How Reston met its marketing challenges

Art Exhibit

Sep 15 - Nov 11

View this special IPAR (Initiative for Public Art Reston) exhibit - "Reston: The Art of Community". The exhibit includes a short documentary film about Reston’s public art directed by Rebekah Wingert-Jabi. Photos and information about the artists contributing to the collection are depicted in a chronological series of panels. A catalogue describing the pieces is available at the Museum for a $5.00 donation. Paintings, posters, maps and other Reston memorabilia can be purchased throughout the exhibit.

...download IPAR map

Partners and Sponsors of the exhibit are Initiative for Public Art-Reston (IPAR), Reston Historic Trust, Reston Community Center, Friends of Lake Anne, Steve and Pat Macintyre, Comstock, Cleveland Coaching Group - Karen and Jim Cleveland, and Charles A. Veatch Family.

Photo courtesy of Pishu P. Hirani

Fun, Beauty, Fantasy: Reston's Public Art from Rebekah Wingert-Jabi on Vimeo.

Nature Walk

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Over 70 walkers met at the Reston Nature House on a gorgeous autumn day for a HIKE TO ANCIENT ROCKY OUTCROPS. Gary Nobles of USGS and Dr. Robert Ridky, National Education Coordinator of the USGS, will tell the story of these ancient rocks and lead a 2-1/2 mile walk along Twin Branches and Lake Audubon trails to see the rocky outcrops.

Art Panel Discussion

Thursday, October 25, 2012

A special program on Reston’s public art history and Reston Museum’s current exhibition, Reston: The Art of Community, opened with a screening of Rebekah Wingert-Jabi’s short documentary film Fun, Beauty, Fantasy: Reston’s Public Art.

A panel discussion followed the film focusing on the inventory of public art in Reston and the development of the exhibition. Panelists will include Anne Delaney, Executive Director of the Initiative for Public Art-Reston (IPAR); Lynn Lilienthal, immediate past Chair of the Reston Historic Trust; Rebekah Wingert-Jabi, filmmaker; Mary Konsoulis, curator of the exhibition; and Jeanne Krohn, exhibit designer.

Art Walk

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Walkers met at the Museum to view the exhibit and a short documentary film about the history of public art in Reston. The walking tour, led by Reston Founder Robert E. Simon, Jr. and IPAR Executive Director Anne Delaney, began with the outdoor sculptures on Washington Plaza. It continued to The Underpass designed by Gonzalo Fonseca and to the Art Mural painted by Marco Rando and students from Lake Anne Elementary School, then on to view the ceramic mural by Olin Russum on Moorings Drive, the 9/11 memorial at Browns Chapel Park and the sculpture by John Parker at Lake Newport Pool.

Photos courtesy of Pishu P. Hirani

Home Tour 2012

Saturday - October 13, 2012

RHT's 11th Annual Reston Home Tour - "Living on the Edge" showcased six private homes in the New Town of Reston, for yet another sell-out of this annual 'must-do' October event. Different homes are selected each year, all featuring amazing and interesting design in decor and architecture. All ticket proceeds benefit Reston Museum, operated by Reston Historic Trust, which has presented the tour since 2002. See what you missed!

Reston's 11th Annual Home Tour enjoyed great weather and great success. Thank you, Bonnie, Margaret, Donna, the generous home owners, and all the fantastic volunteers--you gave us a wonderful, inspiring day in Reston, again! And congratulations to the Home Tour raffle winners: Vivian Coss won the image at Nature's Best Magazine and Nic Querolo won the construction crane climb at the Weihle Metro station.

Read more in the Reston Connection

Video summary of 2011 Tour

Jazz Festival

Saturday - October 6, 2012
2:00 - 8:00 PM

Come warm up in the Museum after all the cool jazz of the 6th Annual Lake Anne Jazz Festival.
...read more

Nature/Art Walk

Saturday, September 29, 2012

History Lecture

Tuesday - September 25, 2012

The history lecture on early Reston architecture (orginally scheduled for Sep 27) has had to be postponed until Spring 2013. Stay tuned for details.

Multi-Cultural Festival

Saturday - September 22, 2012

Reston's annual Multi-Cultural Festival at Lake Anne. The Reston Museum again presented a special program - Map Your Cultural Heritage - for the afternoon, led by Tom Finn.

The Reston Multiculural Festival is a celebration of the diversity and community spirit of Reston. This annual event brings together the people of Reston to celebrate our medley of cultures and their riches. Hundreds came and shared with family, friends the music, entertainment, dress, food, and cultural treasures from all over the world. The Reston Multicultural Festival is hosted by the Reston Community Center and Reston Association, with partners from a variety of Reston-based organizations and businesses.

Photos courtesy of Bill Norton

Art Exhibit & Reception

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Join us for a catered reception to celebrate the opening of the IPAR (Initiative for Public Art Reston) exhibit at the Museum. This "Reston: The Art of Community" exhibit runs through November 11.

Come early (4:00 PM) at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne to view and discuss a new short documentary on public art in Reston.

Public Arts Lecture

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Reston Community Center - Lake Anne

Dance artist Sharon Mansur and architect/artist Ronit Eisenbach examine the ways we perceive, shape and inhabit our world-encouraging others to do the same. The co- creators of "Out of Place" at Lake Anne Plaza in Spring 2012 invite you to join a conversation about site-specific performance/installation work resulting from their unique collaboration.

History Lecture

Thursday, July 26, 2012
7:00 - 8:30 PM

Another full house at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne and hear about the 2nd Battle of Manassas and Battle of Ox Hill (Civil War Sesquicentennial Celebration).

Civil War historians Jim Anderson and Jim Lewis covered the aftermath of the Battle of 2nd Manassas (Bull Run), the strategic significance of Hunters Mill and Ridge Road (now Reston Parkway), the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation, and many more topics with local referances.

Nature Walk

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Starting from the bus shelter in the "new" commuter parking lot (corner of Sunset Hills Rd. and Town Center Parkway) walk the W&OD trail, to the Sugarland Run Nature Trail. Check out June growth along the stream, and cross beautiful pedestrian bridges on the trail to Herndon. About a 2-1/2-mile walk, round trip.

History Lecture

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Another capacity audience at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne to hear about the early days of Reston (part 2) - the building of Lake Anne and South Reston.

Founder Robert E. Simon Jr. and Glenn Saunders, one of Mr. Simon's first Reston employees and Executive Vice-President in charge of Engineering,

Planning and Construction, along with Reston Museum staff member Loren Bruce, presented a program on the origins of Reston - the nation's first successful large-scale planned community. The presentation covered Simon's vision of a "village center", the architectural plans of Conklin & Rossant, and the challenges of building Lake Anne and its village center. Additional topics were be the importance of public art and contemporary design, and the ideas behinds Simon's desire to create a balanced community of clustered housing and mixed use.

...view slide presentation
...view panel discussion (part 1)
...view panel discussion (part 2)
...view panel discussion (part 3)

History Lecture

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Another capacity audience at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne heared about the early days of Reston (part 1) - the land purchase and initial planning.

As part of its continuing program of examining the history of the area, the Reston Historic Trust is conducting a series of four special programs on the early history of Reston. This presentation included:

• The purchase of the land that made Reston
• The selection of the planning team of Whittlesey & Conklin, along with James Rossant
• Formulation of the Planning Principles of Bob Simon
• Early designs of Lake Anne and the Village Centers
• Simon’s thinking regarding urban planning and the creation of a balanced community
• The ideas behind Simon’s desire to create an “Open Community” with a diverse mix of people
• Simon’s aspiration to protect nature and maximize open space within the context of mixed use and clustered development

...download presentation

Public Arts

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Previously postpostponed from May 6, "Out of Place" is a site-situated installation and contemporary dance performance, inspired by the sculpture, architecture and history of the unique planned community of Reston, Virginia. Dance artist Sharon Mansur and Architect Ronit Eisenbach share a commitment to inquiry through making. The performance, a duet featuring Mansur and longtime collaborator Daniel Burkholder will activate the environment through human actions and interactions. Eisenbach’s constellation of floating frames drawn across the harbor with tensile lines will harness the sun’s energy and release it at night to create a landscape of luminous hovering color in the lake.

"Out of Place" is presented by the Reston Community Center, the Initiative for Public Art-Reston, Friends of Lake Anne and the Reston Museum with support from The Greater Reston Arts Center; The National Endowment for the Arts; the Virginia Commission for the Arts; and the Arts Council of Fairfax County. The development of "Out of Place" has also been supported by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts; The University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation; School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies; Creative and Performing Arts Award Program; and the Center for Undergraduate Research.

Nature Walk

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Walkers joined us to hunt for wildflowers along the Reston Nature Center trails as part of the Spring Festival, at the Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, Va. 20191.

History Lecture

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Christina Alcorn and Loren Bruce presented the life and family of Robert E. Simon Jr. at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne.

The Presentation included:

Top - Simon & his sisters, 1922 (photo courtesy of Alexander Burke)

Nature Walk

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Walk in Sunrise Valley Wetlands Park to examine the green shoots of perennials planted last year by volunteers. The park ponds are full of water lilies and the nature trails are alive with plants and wildlife. Meet at the Museum for carpools at 1 PM.

Founder's Day - 2012

Saturday, April 14, 2012
9th Annual Founder’s Day!
Community Celebration of Reston’s 48th &
Bob Simon’s 98th Birthday

12:00 - 4:00 pm
Lake Anne Village Center
FREE Family Fun

At 1:30 pm families joined the 2nd Annual Amazing Reston Founder's Day Treasure Hunt - a two hour adventure discovering 10 of Reston's unique places and history. There will be prizes for all finishers and a drawing for an exciting grand prize.

Lots of fun for everyone on the plaza at Lake Anne Village Center, and cake! Musical entertainment was provided by World View from Park View HS in Sterling and by the theater group of South Lakes HS Reston. Remarks by elected officials followed the dedication of the newly installed commerative bricks on the plaza, and lots of folks signed the public birthday card for Bob.

Many folks also became part of Reston's history: volunteering to record video oral history segments of your experiences in Reston. Selections will be used in the upcoming documentary film celebrating Reston's 50th anniversary.

Art Exhibit & Reception

Friday, March 30, 2012

Great catering from Kalypso for our reception to celebrate the opening of an exhibit of works by sculptor Carlos Beltran Baldiveizo. He begins with an idea, then lets the clay absorb the shape and aura of his sculpture. Exhibit continues through June 30.     ...read more

Exhibit & Sale

Friday, March 9, 2012

Opening day of our display and sale of memorabilia treasures from the Museum vaults. We'll be offering duplicates of our many large maps and photos of early Reston - all suitable for framing. Sale and exhibit runs through March 26. ...read more in Reston Patch

Nature Walk

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Join us for the first Explorer's Walk of Spring as we head to Reston Station to overlook construction of the new Reston Rail Station, from two unique vantage points. The station will be the last stop on METRO's Silver Line when it gets to Reston in 2013. From the new station, it's less than a mile up the W&OD trail to the site of Reston's oldest rail station, built in the 19th century.

About a 2-l/2 mile walk, round trip. Meet at the commuter lot on Wiehle and Sunset Hills at 1:15 pm or carpool from the Museum at 1:00 pm.

History Lecture

Thursday, March 22, 2012

"Dr. Max Wiehle & the Town of Wiehle" (the town before Reston) at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne.

Founder Dr. Max Wiehle was the first of three consecutive landowners whose heirs amazingly did not subdivide upon selling--paving the way for Reston founder Bob Simon to purchase one of the largest parcels of land then available near a major U.S. city.

Evidence of the town of Wiehle is still in the heart of Reston, including Dr. Wiehle’s mansion, the Wiehle Town Hall, and the Robert Wiehle house.

Presenter: Award-winning local historian Karen Washburn – author, past chair of the Fairfax County History Commission and 2nd President of the Great Falls Historical Society.
...read more in the Fairfax Times

Program supported in part by the Reston Community Center.

History Lecture

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Another SRO audience at Reston Community Center-Lake Anne to learn the "History of the Railroad".

Presentation included:
• Beginings of Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire RR
• RR line during the Civil War
• Developers Thornton, Wiehle and Bowman
• Progress and failure of W&OD

Presenters were historians Paul McCray and Ron Beavers. Paul was the former manager of the W&OD Railroad Regional Park. Ron is an expert of Civil War era railroads. Both have given tours and spoken extensively on the W&OD RR.

Musical Soiree

Saturday, February 11, 2012

To help celebrate Black History Month, Reston's two leading divas: Beverly Cosham and Menda Ahart performed a long set of popular jazz and blues songs accompanied by pianist Felicia Kessel-Crawley. The three received repeated applause from an SRO audience.

Beverly Cosham has performed her cabaret act at nightspots from Los Angles to New York via San Antonio, TX and New Haven, CT, as well as Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, the National Theater, the Omni Shoreham, the Henley Park Hotel, the World Bank, the Lyceum, and the Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. . Beverly Cosham was recently recognized as one of the "Best of Reston".

Menda Ahart has been singing all of her life in church choirs, college choirs, community choirs, and as soloist with bands. She auditioned with MoTown in Detroit but did not want to drop out of college. These days Menda's love of singing sacred hymns, gospel, classical, popular, jazz and blues is channeled through at her church choir and Mosaic Harmony, an interfaith-faith, multicultural choir which draws on the heritage of African-American inspirational music

Freezin' for a Reason

Saturday, February 4, 2012

A family-fun event where over 150 people arrive decked out in crazy costumes and creative flair to Reston as they jump into bone-chilling waters of Lake Anne for the 5th Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip.

The Museum donated 15% of all its sweatshirt and blanket sales that day to Camp Sunshine.

Community Briefing

Thursday, January 26, 2012

An Update on METRO'S PROGRESS TO RESTON

METRO is on track to open the first Reston Station at Wiehle Avenue in late 2013. A SRO audience got the latest from Patty Nicoson, President of the Dulles Corridor Rail Association and Maggie Parker, Communications Director of Comstock Partners, builders of the Reston Station parking garage and surrounding office and residential development.

They employed maps, illustrations, and photos, to present to over 150 folks on the DC to Dulles Metrorail massive construction project we see underway along the Dulles Road, and adjacent to the Reston Station at Wiehle Avenue. The attentive crowd also saw and heared about plans and timetables for residential and commercial development around the new Reston Station.

History Lecture

Thursday, January 19, 2012

As part of its continuing historical programs examining the history of the area, the Reston Historic Trust conducted a special program to a SRO crowd on the colonial and early history of the land before Reston came into being.

Presentation included:
• King Charles II and the Northern Neck Proprietary grants
• How the land transferred from the Culpeper to the Fairfax family
• The role of Lord Thomas Fairfax in the creation of Fairfax County and of Great Falls Manor (Reston area)
• The land purchased by Thornton and the building of the Alexandria, Loudoun & Hampshire railroad
• What happened to Thornton property after the Civil War

Annual Meeting

Thursday, January 12, 2012
6:00 - 8:00 PM

Over 40 Museum members joined us for the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Reston Historic Trust (owner and operator of the Reston Museum).  President Shelley Mastran reviewed the past year's activities and finances. See RHT News for a fuller summary of the Museum's accomplishments in 2011.

Ms Mastran and past President Lynn Lilienthal presented tokens of appreciation to departing board members Carol Nahorniak and Marion Myers. Four new boards members were unamimously elected: Karen Goff, Paul Thomas, Leigh Handerahan and Graham Farbrother.

Museum members were treated to a preview showing of the new art exhibit of Reston Fiber Artists.

Art Exhibit & Sale

January - February

The Museum's first 2012 exhibit featuring Reston artists showed the work of five fiber artists: Lois Salazar, Luann Sievers, Anna Hayoz, Cynthia Hull and Alice Abrash.

The show demonstrated the variety and creativity of the art form as well as the superb techniques of these artists. It includes weavings, wearables, pins and tapestries as well as silk paper collages, floating silk hangings and a brilliant silk window disk.

A reception for the artists and preview show for Museum members was held in conjunction with the Reston Historic Trust's Annual Meeting on January 12.  The exhibit and sale runs through February 29.

Holiday Walk & Sing

Saturday, December 17, 2011

A hardy group met at the Museum for cold weather, hot drinks, and the Museum's annual International Holiday Sing-a-Long. They heard of holiday recollections from around the world, sharing traditions from Reston’s diverse population. A holiday Lights Walk at Lake Anne followed. After the walk they warmed up with hot drinks, cookies, an international carol sing-along and Reston-style bonhomie. Read more in the Reston Connection.

History Lecture

Thursday, December 8, 2011

An audience of over 80 came to hear about the Battle of Danesville (150th anniversary) at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne. As part of commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, Reston Historic Trust is conducting a series of tours and lectures about Civil War events that occurred in the Reston area. The Battle of Dranesville was fought on December 20, 1861.

Presentation included the strategic significance of Leesburg Turnpike (Rt. 7), history and description of the Town of Dranesville in 1861, movement of troops through present-day Reston, events that led to the clash of soldiers near the Dranesville Church of the Brethren, the leading commanders and what happened to them after the War, and what happened to Dranesville and Reston area during and after the War. Presenter John Waggoner is a local Civil War expert and member of the Church of the Brethren.