RHT News

Annual Meeting 2012

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 Museum's activities and finances in 2011.

• Saw over 6,900 visitors to its exhibits and events
• Launched of its popular History Lecture series
• Inaugurated Annual Reston Treasure Hunt at Founder's Day 2011
• Gathered over 8,000 visits to its web site
• Authored two articles in "Reston" magazine
• Hosted a series of music and special events
• Hosted a series of local art exhibits
• Managed the very successful 8th Annual Reston Home Tour
• Grew membership to nearly 700
• Grew mailing list to over 2,400
• Secured more grants and donations

Ms Mastran and past President Lynn Lilienthal presented tokens of appreciation to departing board members Carol Nahorniak and Marion Myers.

They also welcomed four new boards members: 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.

Docent Holiday Party

Bob Simon speaks to Museum board member Mike Miller and some of its many docents.

Reston Museum docents were treated to a catered holiday party hosted by Museum board member Lynn Lillenthal. The Museum relies on over 20 volunteers to staff its open hours.
Click to join them.

Reston Architect Remembered

Early Reston architect, William Conklin, was featured in the Winter 2011 issue of RA's "Reston" magazine.

Reston Museum directors, Shelley Mastran and Cheryl Terio-Simon have written an engaging article about one of the lead partners in the firm selected by Robert Simon, that produced the award-winning Master Plan of Reston and supervised the early construction of Lake Anne Village.

read more...

RCC-Lake Anne Expands

Reston Museum welcomes a renovated and expanded Reston Community Center at Lake Anne. RCC Executive Director, Leila Gordan, along with Reston founder, Robert Simon, Senator Janet Howell, Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chair, Sharon Bulova, Lake Anne Condo Assn President, Richard Thompson, and RCC Board of Governors cut the ribbon to open the space a a brief ceremony on Sunday, October 15, 2011.

Planning Magazine

Reston is a feature article in the Aug/Sep issue of "Planning" magazine, a publication of the American Planning Association. Author John Clark describes how the famous new town is still evolving in his article, "Reston Revisited". read more...

History Lecture

Thursday - September 8, 2011

Over 80 hardy folks braved the rains and flooding at Lake Anne and gathered at Kalypso restaurant to hear of the early days of Reston and the history of Wiehle. 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.

Audrey Haugan presented a slide show featuring some rare old family photos shared with her by Dr. Wiehle's grandchildren. The accent was on a fast-paced visual overview of this fascinating period, with some anecdotes interwoven throughout that reveal a personal side of the delightful Wiehle family. Members of the Wiehle family were in attendance.

Program was supported in part by the Reston Community Center.

Best of 2011

Reston Museum was named as 2011 Best "Under the Radar Museum" by Northern Virgina Magazine. ...read more

Founder's Day 2011

Saturday, April 9 - 8th Annual Founder’s Day!
Community Celebration of Reston’s 47th
& Bob Simon’s 97th Birthday

An eight piece brass choir performed a fanfare from the Lake Anne rooftops and Reston's own song stylist, Beverly Cosham offer her own musical tribute. Master of Ceremonies, Chuck Veatch introduced our local elected officials - all of whom spoke glowingly of Simon's legacy and vision. Chuck also noted the many new commemorative bricks that had been installed to honor local residents.

Over seventy families entered the 1st Annual Reston Founder's Day Treasure Hunt - a two hour adventure discovering Reston's places and history. There was lots of fun for everyone on the plaza at Lake Anne Village Center, and cake by MallowDrama!

Supported by in part by the
Reston Community Center

Museum Supporters

The Reston Historic Trust and its Reston Museum and Shop offers a range of sponsorship opportunities. Please consider how your business or group can be a key partner in funding RHT programs and exhibits. ...sponsor levels

Current corporate donors to the Reston Historic Trust and its Museum - thank you!

• Strategic Partner level
• Reston Community Center
• Gold Sponsor level
• Fairfax County
• Contributor level
• Comstock Partners
• Reston Mini Storage
• Reston Triathlon
• Friends level
• Prospective Inc
• Lake Anne Florist

Your company can join our growing list of corporate supporters; donate online now, or contact us to discuss your options.

Simon hosts Korean delegation

Reston has been recently visited by a Chinese delegation studing Reston's stream restoration project, and a group of urban planners and developers from Brazil gathering tips for a city construction project outside the capital of Brasilia.

On February 25, two dozen South Korean academics, professional planners and provincial government leaders arrived to study Reston's quality of life and institutions. They were shown Lake Anne and the Reston Museum by town founder, Robert E. Simon. ...read more

Museum wins Best of Reston 2010

The Reston Historic Trust and its Reston Museum is honored to be named as one of the "Best of Reston 2010". Award presentation was made at the annual event gala, hosted by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce to benefit Reston Interfaith on April 15. ...read more

Japanese Planners Visit

Japanese city planners visted on Saturday, Mar 13, 2010 to get an inside look at one of city planning's best living examples. Volunteer docent, Loren Bruce, presented a history of Reston's planning and visitors also heard from Reston's founder, Bob Simon.

Reston Pioneers

The celebration of the 45th Anniversary of Reston Pioneers' Arrival was a standing-room-only success! Over 35 folks gathered at the Museum on Sunday, January 17, 2010 to share stories of the 1964-65 first residents. Guests of honor were the Rogers family, who occupied the first townhouse at Lake Anne. ...read more

Bob Simon in Virginia Living

Reston's founder, Robert E. Simon, and his home town creation were featured recently in "Virgina Living" magazine. ...read more

Museum Makeover

After a gala reception the previous night, the Reston Museum re-opened to the public on Friday, 18 Sep 12-5 PM.

Exhibit and store spaces have been re-configured and new displays of Reston history have just been installed. Check out the eight months of construction progress and the recent articles in Northern Virginia Magazine, Fairfax Times, and Reston Connection.

The Saturday morning children's art workshops continue at the Reston Art Gallery & Studios (ground floor of Heron House).

Check the RHT Events page for details of continuing programs and upcoming events.

Our newly renovated space is now available for rent. Check out the 'Rental Space'; item on the Storefront Museum page for details and application.