Opening Day Celebration

Celebrate the opening of the museum's newest special exhibit during the exhibit opening celebration on Saturday, March 24 from 10 to 4 p.m.!

• Experience the thrill of driving a race car in our racing simulator!
• Discover how designers use wind tunnels to test the aerodynamics of a car!
• Take part in other fun racing activities and games!

In addition, the family of Wendell Scott, a Danville, Virginia native who was the first black man to win a race in the Grand National/Winston Cup series, which is the equivalent of today’s Sprint Cup series, will be on hand with memorabilia.  Included will be historical artifacts, images, literature, and an authentic restored Scott 1937 Ford Sportsman racer, along with a speaker from the family telling Scott's story.

Also speaking during the event will be Jack Allen Powell, former member of the Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement and former CSO Agent with the U.S. Marshals Service.  During his career, Powell had gained extensive knowledge of the moonshining business and is considered an authority on the subject, including participating in the History Channel's documentaries Moonshining, Rum-running and Bootlegging, as well as Hillbillies, the Real Story.  He has also appeared on National Geographic's White Lightning and, more recently, Powell appeared on the Discovery Channel's hit show, Moonshiners.

TEACHERS!

Don't let your students miss-out on Student Day, Friday, March 23 for only $2/student!!  Sessions are held from 9 to 11 a.m. or noon to 2 p.m.  Give your students the opportunity to explore the exhibit  and take part in unique programming led my museum educators.  Call 276-634-4185 or email discover@vmnh.virginia.gov for more information.

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About the Exhibit

The story begins 450 million years ago

Much of what is now North America, including Virginia, was a tropical ocean during the Ordovician period of earth’s history some 450 million years ago. Life was dominated by aquatic animals that had hard bodies and shells that were rich in calcium carbonate, the same material that makes hard water. As these life forms (corals, crinoids, trilobites, shelled squid, star fish, brachiopods, etc.) died, their bodies built up on the ocean floor and over millions of years were compressed into layers of what is now limestone. Areas from southern Ohio through Kentucky into West Virginia and into western Virginia have large deposits of limestone rock.

VMNH will exhibit the animals of the Ordovician in their fossil form from rocks collected in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia. Visitors will have a chance to observe and touch the evidence of a

When you hunt for a fossil in Ordovician rocks, your mind might conjure up a scene of a tropical coral reef from 450 million years ago. Or, you might be reminded of the origins of bourbon or corn liquor. Or, you might anticipate the next NASCAR race in Martinsville, Virginia, or any other racetrack on the NASCAR circuit! All because of specific geological layers and the quality spring water that they create. Joe B. Keiper, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History

much different world when Virginia was a warm water ocean.

What is so special to our society about these limestone layers?
Limestone is harvested for rock and gravel. But the finest, iron-free spring waters eminate from limestone. In Kentucky, this water is used to distill one of the world’s most popular spirits in the form of bourbon whiskey. The “Rocks to Racing” exhibit will discuss why the water works so well for distillation as well as how distillation works.

What does this mean for the culture of western Virginia?
Virginia’s cultural heritage is one where local citizens brewed the world’s finest moonshine, starting off with iron-free spring water the seeps from hillsides. But looking closely, geologists find little to no limestone in much of the countryside. Granite is present due to ancient volcanic activity that predated the Ordovician period. So how can we also have this great spring water with which to concoct white lightning? The “Rocks to Racing” exhibit explores southwestern Virginia’s geology and describes how the water is so perfect for distillation. The exhibit will feature a variety of information and artifacts, including moonshine stills and equipment.

From bootlegging to modern-day stock car racing
While bootlegging is not an industry anymore, its impact is still felt in modern culture.  When bootleggers ran their moonshine, they modified everyday automobiles in an effort to outrun the law. On weekends, bootleggers raced their high octane vehicles. What was the outcome of this activity? NASCAR! Our exhibit will outline the connection between geology, distillation, and one of America’s most popular sports.

Sponsored by:

 

 

For information about becoming a sponsor of this one-of-a-kind exhibition, call 276-634-4161 or email garth.mills@vmnh.virginia.gov.