WHEREAS, for more than 50 years, the Loudoun Museum in Leesburg has worked to discover, preserve, interpret, and share knowledge of Loudoun County's cultural and historical resources; and

WHEREAS, established in 1969, the Loudoun Museum offers unique and engaging exhibits and programs and maintains a collection of nearly 8,000 historically significant items; and

WHEREAS, the Loudoun Museum was revitalized in 2019, welcoming new board members and new staff and opening its "Caught in the Maelstrom of Civil War: Loudoun County Divided" and "Vintage Pursuits: Cultivating a Virginia Wine Industry" exhibits; throughout the year, the museum also accommodated traveling exhibits on the arrival of the first Africans to the United States and on World War I; and

WHEREAS, the Loudoun Museum offers historic lectures in-house, at local businesses, and streaming on its social media pages; the museum has increased its outreach to members of the community through its Facebook and Instagram pages, the followers of which nearly doubled in 2019; and

WHEREAS, the Loudoun Museum organizes interactive activities with historical reenactors and pop-up activities in downtown Leesburg; the museum's most popular event, its annual Hauntings Tours in October, presents local history through costumed interpreters and has introduced the museum's other offerings to many new visitors each year; and

WHEREAS, the Loudoun Museum builds strong partnerships with other local institutions and organizations to continue providing new and unique content to benefit all residents of Loudoun County; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Loudoun Museum for more than 50 years of service to the Loudoun County community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Loudoun Museum as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for its vital work to preserve the history and heritage of Loudoun County and the Commonwealth.