And the curtain goes up...

The Weinberg Center's curtain goes up...at the Frederick Visitor Center at least.  We're not sure when our friends at Frederick's Weinberg Center for the Arts will be able to raise their curtain again, but while the Frederick Visitor Center has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we've been able to replace the giant photo mural that depicts the interior of the former Tivoli Theatre.  The original vinyl was showing its age, and the Weinberg had been repainted in the intervening years.  When we reopen in the not too distant future, be sure to check it out.  All part of our goal to keep our exhibits looking good as we near the tenth anniversary at 151 S. East Street.  Thanks to Bricking Graphics & Coatings for installing the mural produced for us by Exhibit Concepts onto a new substrate prepared by Triple Crown Construction.  Thanks also to Harriet Wise who took both the original photo a decade ago and this beautiful new image!

Frederick Visitor Center presented at conference in Cleveland.

The ribbon is cut!

On Saturday morning April 2, 2011, a ribbon cutting ceremony marked the Grand Opening of the new Frederick Visitor Center at 151 S. East St. in Frederick.  After remarks by Frederick Mayor Randy McClement, County Commissioner Paul Smith and Senator David Brinkley, Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Ric Adams presented additional proclamations offering congratulations on the event, such as the one shown above from MD Governor Martin O'Malley that Adams (right) presents to Tourism Council Executive Director John Fieseler.  Tourism Board members, staff and supporters then cut the ribbon and the center opened for visitors 7 days/week from 9am to 5:30pm.

Bell dedicated and rung

The Frederick County History Bell was dedicated and rung for the first time in its permanent home in front of the Visitor Center as part of the Grand Opening of the facility.  Mrs. Frances Randall rang it first, representing the Randall family whose generosity provided for the casting of the bell exactly five years earlier to mark the return of the annual Bell & History Days museum season opening in Frederick County.  Many others than took turns ringing the bell for a total of three minutes.

A Turn of the Wheel premieres

The multi-screen award-winning orientation video A Turn of the Wheels featuring sites and scenes in Frederick County has begun showing in the theater of the new Frederick Visitor Center.  The film shows continuously during Visitor Center hours of 9am to 5:30pm seven days a week.  The film narration is captioned on one of the screens, and there are also assisted listening devices available.

Lights! Final touches for exhibits

Philip Brady of Jackson Brady Design Group (exhibit designers) and Jed Bettelon of Exhibit Concepts Inc. (exhibit fabricators) aim and focus the lighting on the completed elements of the beautiful exhibit installation.  An amazing amount of work in the week since the tractor trailer full of exhibit components arrived at the site.

Offices move in

The offices of the Tourism Council of Frederrick County, Inc. have now moved into the new Frederick Visitor Center building.  Administrative staff worked through the weekend, such as Operations Director Patsy Ensminger seen loading up boxes at 19 E. Church St. where the organization has been based for 35 years, and unpacking at new offices at 151 S. East St. in advance of the Visitor Center move there.Thanks to We Help U Move for getting us there!