History Hot off the Presses

Free Bus Escorts Riders from Picasso to the Civil War… and Back!

Experience Once-In-A-Lifetime Exhibits and Events in the Richmond Region on Board a New Free Bus Service

Richmond, Va. (February 24) – The Richmond Region is excited to announce a new way for visitors to experience the area’s history, arts and culture, and shopping and dining. To the Bottom and Back (2BNB), the free nighttime bus service that goes back and forth between the Shockoe Bottom and Carytown neighborhoods, has launched a new route called To the Museums and Back (2MNB). Coinciding with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ (VMFA) blockbuster Picasso exhibition, the bus begins service at the VMFA and takes riders to other Richmond highlights such as the Virginia State Capitol, the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, the Virginia Historical Society and the Maggie Walker House, as well as hotels and shopping and dining establishments. To the Museums and Back is running Saturdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. now through May 15.

Visitors will not want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris. The exhibit includes 176 works from Picasso’s personal collection – art that he kept for himself with the purpose of shaping his own legacy. Richmond is the only city on the East Coast to host the exhibit, one of three cities in the U.S. and one of seven in the entire world. Sectioned into 11 gallery spaces and arranged chronologically, guests have the opportunity to explore the evolution one of the most famous artists of all time. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of special hotel packages and restaurant and retail deals in honor of the Picasso exhibit. Details at: www.VisitRichmondVa.com/Picasso.

After enjoying the Picasso exhibit, guests to the area can take another step back in time and commemorate the 150th anniversaries of the Civil War and Emancipation. Throughout 2011, the Virginia Historical Society is hosting An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia. The special exhibit engages visitors in the experiences of a representative group of individuals and situations to promote an understanding of the wartime experiences of Virginians, and those who served in Virginia, during the American Civil War. The 3,000 square foot gallery exhibition features more than 200 objects and 17 state-of-the-art audiovisual programs. It encourages visitors to consider how a single event, separated by 150 years can influence and address the questions of today: what was gained, what was lost, what was undecided, and what was left for us to resolve?

To the Museums and Back is also excited to escort visitors on the Second Annual Civil War & Emancipation Day: the 150th Anniversaries taking place Saturday, April 16. From 10a.m.-5 p.m., visitors are invited to join in this free citywide event that will bring history to life throughout Richmond. Special programs, free Canal Boat rides, historic interpreters, special exhibits and guided tours will help visitors explore the various aspects of the Civil War and Emancipation.

To the Museums and Back riders can track real-time bus location online or on most any smart phone through 2BNB GPS bus tracking. Signs mark the stops along the route. Two buses will run a 50-minute loop stopping approximately every half hour every Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. When the museum service ends, visitors may take advantage of the 2BNB service that runs 6 p.m.-3 a.m. Details at: www.2bnb.org.

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The Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (RMCVB), the official destination marketing and tourism organization for the Richmond Region, is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Region to meeting planners, tour operators and leisure travelers. RMCVB operates three Visitor Centers located at the Greater Richmond Convention Center downtown, the Richmond International Airport and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Hanover County.

More than 5.7 million people visit the Richmond Region annually, contributing more than $1.8 billion to the local economy. Tourism generates more than 26,000 jobs in the Richmond Region. For more information, visit www.VisitRichmondVA.com.