The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is announcing six new sites in early 2017 for its traveling exhibit, “Robert C. Byrd: Senator, Statesman, West Virginian.”
“This new year is the 100th anniversary of Senator Byrd’s birth and the best time ever to reflect on the incredible career of one of West Virginia’s greatest citizens. We want our traveling exhibit to be a catalyst to encourage all West Virginians to find ways to reflect on and learn about what Senator Byrd meant, and still means, to West Virginia and the nation,” said Dr. Ray Smock, director of the Byrd Center, and former historian of the U.S. House of Representatives. “We are delighted that our information-rich mobile exhibit will bring together people of all ages in Wheeling, Fairmont, Elkins, Williamson, Huntington, and Bridgeport during the opening five months of 2017.”
- Jan 23 – Feb. 17: Pierpont Community & Technical College, North Central WV Advanced Technology Center, I-79 Technology Park, 500 Galliher Drive, Fairmont;
- Jan. 24 – Feb. 16: Wheeling Jesuit University, WJU Art Gallery in Kirby Hall, 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling;
- Feb. 17. – March 17: Randolph County Community Arts Center, 2 Park Street, Elkins;
- Mar. 6 – Apr. 9: First National Bank of Williamson, 68 East Second Avenue, Williamson;
- Apr. 10 – May 15: Marshall University, John Deaver Drinko Library, 1 John Marshall Drive, Huntington;
- Apr. 11 – May 15: United Hospital Center, 327 Medical Park Drive, Bridgeport.
The exhibit tells the story of Sen. Byrd’s origins in the coal fields, his service to the state and the nation, and his lasting legacy as the West Virginian of the 20th Century. The Centennial of Senator Byrd’s birth is Nov. 20, 2017, and the traveling exhibit will be at the Culture Center in Charleston, where a grand celebration is being planned.
To date, the exhibit has been hosted in Shepherdstown, Parkersburg, Beckley, Bluefield, Lewisburg and Morgantown.
