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!

Exhibits take shape

The crew from Exhibit Concepts makes quick work of assembling the "hub" and "spoke" exhibit elements that will showcase images, interpretive text and artifacts telling the story of Frederick County and the many things to see & do here.

Exhibits arrive

A tractor trailer of exhibits arrives with the crew from Exhibit Concepts, filling the floor space of the Visitor Centr.

Frederick County History Bell arrives

The Frederick County History Bell arrives at its permanent home, to be rung on April 2, five years to the day since it was cast as part of Bell & History Day.  Special thanks to superintendent Ron Pearcey and the crew from Mount Olivet Cemetery for storing the bell for us, and for transporting it and helping Donnie Hess and Wally Hess hang the bell for contractor Rockwell Construction.

 

Murals!

Three great murals now grace the walls of the Visitor Center, including "Transportation Heritage" (circa 1930's Point of Rocks watercolor by Richard Schlecht), "Nature & Recreation" (Cunningham Falls photo mural by Kelly Hahn Johnson, and "Arts and Entertainment" (Weinberg Center interior photo mural by Harriet Wise).  Note that the curtains of the Weinberg stage match up with the building window behind...still letting in light and appearing as curtains.

Preparing for murals

The crew from Exhibit Concepts prepares the areas where three large murals will be installed this week.

Office furniture arrives

Administrative offices for the Tourism Council of Frederick County are almost ready for occupancy.  These are in the rear wing of the new Frederick Visitor Center building.

A roof for the bell

The roof for the kiosk that will house the Frederick County History Bell is complete.  A bit of masonry work at the base, and the structure will be ready for the installation of the bell which will ring for the first time in its permanent home on April 2, 2011 at 10 am (along with bells all over the county) to signal the beginning of Frederick County Bell & History Day....the opening of the new museum season.  It also marks the Grand Opening of the new Frederick Visitor Center.

Final painting

Remaining exhibit wall areas needing paint are completed in preparation for mural installation later this month.

Compass Rose complete

The compass rose that marks the center of the exhibit area is complete. 

Bell kiosk framed up

The framing and roof structure are complete for the bell kiosk in the pedestrian plaza area near the new Visitor Center's front entrance.  The structure will house the Frederick County History Bell which was cast five years ago by the Verdin Company using the world's only travelling bell forge, at the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center workshop next door on Commerce Street, as part of Bell & History Day that year.  It will ring here exactly five years after it was cast, opening this year's Bell & History Day on April 2.

Bell kiosk

The kiosk that will house the Frederick County History Bell is now under construction in front of the building.  Posts are set and the concrete base is being poured.  The bell will be rung annually to mark the beginning of Bell & History Day - the beginning of the new museum season.  This year it will also ring in the grand opening of the new Frederick Visitor Center.

Compass Rose

The compass rose design on the concrete floor of the exhibit area is nearing completion.  Marc Wilson did a great job on this as a subcontractor to Exhibit Concepts!  The center is where the "hub" of the exhibits will stand.

Repointing

Some more repointing of the bricks continues as the weather permits.  This is cosmetic work to tie the old and repaired brickwork together better.

Coming soon!

The contractor, Rockwell Construction, is substantially complete.  They've done a wonderful job and only a short punch list remains.  Meanwhile exhibit fabrication continues offsite by Exhibit Concepts.  They'll be installing exhibits over the winter months in time for the spring opening.