Food: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000 is a new exhibit to be opened at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on the Washington DC mall in August 2012. The exhibit will have a section devoted to wine for the table which will highlight technological changes in American viticulture and winemaking during this 50-year period. Though the exhibit will cover wine production around the nation – the proximity of Virginia wineries to the exhibit in DC will allow Virginia wineries special access to interest in wine generated by this exhibit. The museum curator (Paula Johnson) and her designers are interested in “artifacts” that may be loaned or donated to the Smithsonian to benefit this exhibit; think: old equipment, pictures, historical letters, hand pruners, videos – things that are appealing to view and tell a story about the change that our industry saw between 1950 and 2000 without taking up a huge amount of space. Get in touch with Tony Wolf vitis@vt.edu or Tremain Hatch thatch@vt.edu with potential ideas.
