Saturday April 10, 2021
Join the Reston Historic Trust & Museum for Founder’s Day April 10, 2021 by engaging in numerous virtual activities celebrating Reston’s founding. In 1965, Lake Anne Plaza held their grand opening with a “Salute to the Arts.” During the pandemic, we invite the community to enjoy a tribute to Reston’s founding commitment to the arts, beauty and leisure as an important part of daily life, one that can also connect us virtually.
We celebrate Bob Simon’s vision for Reston. One of Reston’s founding principles is “That beauty – structural and natural – is a necessity of the good life and should be fostered.” Enjoying all of Reston’s engaging open space is something we can all do during the pandemic in a socially distanced way.
On Founder’s Day visit Reston Historic Trust & Museum’s YouTube Founder’s Day playlist https://www.youtube.com/user/RestonMuseum/playlists to learn about Reston’s public art from Reston’s VIPs, including: Reston Historic Trust & Museum Board member Chuck Veatch, Reston Association President Julie Bitzer, Public Art Reston Board Chair Maggie Parker, Fairfax County School board member Melanie Meren, Reston Community Center Board Chair Beverly Cosham, Delegate Ken Plum, Senator Janet Howell, Hunters Woods District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, and Fairfax County Chairman Jeffrey McKay. There, you can also learn about the restoration of the Wooden Horse by Reston artist Marco Rando, listen to a reading in English and Spanish of the soon to be published Reston Baby Board Book and enjoy performances by Reston’s local talent, including: Reston Chorale, South Lakes High School Theater, Foley Academy of Irish Dance, Reston Community Players, and many more.
We invite you to engage with Reston’s founding principles through the following opportunities:
- Explore Reston’s public art on Public Art Reston’s website https://publicartreston.org/ or download their public art map and other art activities to explore in person.
- Share your exploration with us! Submit a 2-3 minute video using your phone at your favorite place in Reston. We’d love to hear about a favorite memory or a description about what you love about that place. Or take a picture with the sculpture of Reston’s Founder Robert E. Simon, Jr. Untold Stories by Zachary Oxman (also known as “Bronze Bob”) at Lake Anne Plaza. Submissions can be sent to info@restonmuseum.org through April 30. A curated selection will be available on May 24, 2021.
To learn more about Reston’s historic founding visit: restonmuseum.org/foundersday or visit the Reston Museum.
Founder’s Day is presented by the Reston Historic Trust & Museum with support from Reston Community Center and co-sponsored by the Reston Association and Public Art Reston. Hosted by Lake Anne Plaza.
About the Reston Historic Trust & Museum
The Reston Historic Trust & Museum (RHT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Reston’s past, informing the present, and influencing the future of Reston. RHT is located at Lake Anne Plaza and is open Monday through Friday. We are free of charge and conduct educational and public programming, exhibitions, and public events including the Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta, Reston Home Tour, and Founder’s Day. RHT also preserves a collection of archival material and artifacts related to the history of Reston. Programs of the Reston Historic Trust & Museum are supported in part by Reston Community Center.
