Open Now at Vault Virginia
Then & Now: Charlottesville in the 1970s
Take a look at what life was like 50 years ago
History is often marked in milestones. Join ACHS in taking a look back at what the City of Charlottesville was like 50 years ago, in the 1970s.
This exhibition features 10 portraits by local artist and activist Frances Brand. These portraits are part of Brand’s “Gallery of Firsts,” a collection she created of over 150 paintings of local pioneers. The portraits on display – celebrating local figures like Charles Barbour, Eugene Williams, and Nancy O’Brien – represent an important vision for the future of the City of Charlottesville that many others held in the 1970s.
Supported by historic photographs, newspaper articles, and additional images, this exhibition explores how civic leadership, social activism, and community engagement shaped the decade.
Special Gallery Tour - Then & Now: Charlottesville in the 1970s
Fridays, June 5, June 19, July 3 & July 17 at 12:00 p.m.
$10 General Admission/Free for ACHS Members
Tour meets at the Vault Virginia first-floor gallery – entrance through the 3rd Street door offers stairs and elevator access.
Take a guided tour of the special exhibition Then & Now: Charlottesville in the 1970s with ACHS Executive Director and exhibit designer Olivia Brown.
This 60-minute gallery tour will feature portraits by Frances Brand that are central to the exhibition and will share unique stories behind the photographs, paintings, and information chosen in the exhibition’s creation. The 1970s were a period of chance in Charlottesville, marked by changing civic leadership, the construction of the Downtown Mall, and strong social activism. Make sure you take the chance to see this exhibit before it’s gone!
Come Visit and Learn More!
Exhibition Highlights
See portraits of civic leaders and social activists like Jay Worrall, Mary Ann Elwood, Grace Tinsley, and Satyendra Singh Huja.
View historic photographs of the Downtown Mall under construction, what it looked like in its early years, and momentous events like the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1976 and the first Dogwood Parade after Main Street became the Mall!
How to Find the Exhibit
Open Monday to Friday
9:00am – 5:00pm
This exhibition is located on the first floor of Vault Virginia, located at 300 E Main Street on the Downtown Mall.
Use the 3rd Street entrance (see image) to access the gallery on the first floor via stairs or elevator.
