MUSEUM PROGRAMS

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.

Call for Photos

Now - Dec 2013

We are looking for home movies and videos related to the Bob Simon years in Reston, 1961-1967. In particular, we are looking for movies of such community gatherings as festivals, openings, meetings, and protests—particularly Bob’s farewell to the community in 1967.

We are also looking for footage of such early community institutions as Common Ground, Lake Anne Hall, businesses on Lake Anne, and volunteer groups.

Finally, we are looking for quality photos of Bob Simon, Bill Conklin, Chuck Veatch, Fran Steinbauer, Glenn Saunders, Jim Rossant, Jane Wilhelm, Carol Lubin, Jim Cleveland, Jim Todd, Bill Magness, and Bob Ryan.

These videos and photos may be used in the 50/25 Reston Film being made by Storycatcher Productions, LLC, for the celebration in 2014 of Reston’s 50th, Town Center’s 25th, and Bob Simon’s 100th birthdays. All materials will be returned to you.

Please bring your videos and photos to the Reston Museum.   ...read more in Reston Patch

Founder's Day

Each April

The Museum hosts an annual community celebration to recognise the birthday of Reston and its founder - Robert E. Simon.

Join us on April 13, 2012 for the 10th Annual Founder's Day - a full day of activities to celebrate Reston's 49th and Bob Simon's 99th birthdays.

Save the date April 5, 2014 for the 11th Annual Founder's Day - a full day of activities to kick-off weeks of celebration to commererate Reston's 50th and Bob Simon's 100th birthdays.

History Lecture Series

The 4th Thursday of each month will feature the popular history lecture series on Reston related material. All lectures are held at 7:00 PM at the Reston Community Center-Lake Anne.

The December 8 lecture drew an audience of over 100 to hear about the local Battle of Dranesville. ...read more
Frank Watrous was the lucky raffle winner for the beautiful and popular book, "The Nature of Reston".

The January 19 lecture attracted a standing-room-only audience to hear about the colonial history of Northern Virginia. ...read more

The February 23 lecture again attracted a standing-room-only audience to learn of the present W&OD Trail and its long railroad history. ...read more

The March 22 lecture told the story of Dr. Max Wiehle and his town, the predecessor the Bowman farm and then Reston. ...read more

The April 19 lecture featured the family tree and New York history of Robert E. Simon. ...read more

The May 24 lecture featured the early planning and land purchase of Reston (part 1 of 4). ...read more

The Jun 28 lecture featured the early planning and land purchase of Reston (part 2 of 4). ...read more

The Jul 26 lecture concerned the 2nd Battle of Manassas and Battle of Ox Hill (Civil War Sesquicentennial Celebration). ...read more

The Nov 29 presentation highlighted the Early Days of Reston (part 3)- Public Realations and Marketing. ...read more

The Jan 24 presentation highlighted Building Community (part 1 of 3), Jane Wilhelm - Civic Organizations and Culture ...read more

Upcoming Lectures
(all at Reston Community Center - Lake Anne)
...download season flyer

2013

• Feb 28 - Building Community (part 2), Diversity, Openness and Inclusiveness
• Mar 28 - Building Community (part 3), Vernon Walker - Nature and Environment
• Apr 25 - Robert E. Simon at 99 - Bob remembers 1963-1967
• May 23 - Early Reston Architecture - Modernism, a look at Lake Annes, Hickory and Waterview Clusters
• Jun 27 - Civil War troop movements at Hunter Mill Road

Children's Art Workshops

Every Saturday, 10 am – Noon at The Reston Art Gallery

Pat Macintyre’s ever popular Saturday morning art workshops for children are now at Reston Art Gallery & Studios on the plaza level of Heron House. As usual, the workshops are free; just bring enthusiasm!

Walking Tours

Monthly at The Reston Museum

The Museum host monthly walks led by skilled volunteers to explore Reston's natural and architectural settings.

Boys and Girls Scouting

On going

The Museum is proud to offer programs for local scout groups to earn their badges in local history. A nominal fee of $5 per person is requested to cover program materials.

LHMS Oral History

1996-2009

Langston Hughes Middle School students have collected and recorded personal oral histories of prominent Reston residents for more than a decade. The Museum catalogs and stores these fascinating audio, video and transcribed stories.

LHMS Environmental Field Trip Day

Annual

As part of their annual Reston environment field trip day, the Museum teaches an upbeat seminar to over 350 Langston Hughes Middle School students, presenting fun facts on Reston's development as as a New Town.