For Immediate Release: Saturday, April 7, 2001
Morven Park's Winmill Carriage Collection Opens for 2001 Season
The Winmill Carriage Collection at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia opened its doors for the 2001 season on April 7. Donated to Morven Park in 1967 by Viola Townsend Winmill, the carriage collection is one of the finest private collections of horse drawn vehicles in the United States. Many of the carriages have been refurbished and some new vehicles have been placed on display. New interpretive signage has been installed to explain both the significance of the individual carriages and their importance to their time. Later this year, Morven Park will unveil two new interactive exhibits in the Coach House.
During a guided tour, guests visit three galleries. The first gallery of carriages features those vehicles that Viola Winmill drove for many years to local events such as the Gold Cup races, the Upperville Horse Show and in President Eisenhower's Inaugural Parade. The second gallery shows the contract between "city" vehicles such as hansom cabs and broughams and "country vehicles" such as carts and breaks. The last gallery houses the "specialty" vehicles, including the Studebaker water tanks used to sprinkle the public streets to lay down the dust and a steam pumper used to respond to the fire alarm.
With a renewed interest in carriage driving both locally and nationally, the Collection is looking forward to a summer of increased attendance. New this year, visitors may bypass the main parking area and proceed directly to the Carriage Collection.
Hours: 1pm - 4pm, Thursday through Monday. Tours on the hour.
Tickets (also admits to guided tour of Mansion and the Museum of Hounds and Hunting):
$7 adults, $6 seniors, $1 children.
Groups must schedule tours in advance.
Photographs are available for your use. Please call me at 703-777-2890 to request images.
For More Information Contact:
Pamela Woolley 703-777-2890
Morven Park International Equestrian Center
Paul Draisey 540/687-3772
KBK Communications, Inc.
