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IATC 100th ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION – JUNE 20-23, 2024
Celebrating the Past & Igniting the Torch of Tomorrow |
Tours
We are excited to offer amazing and exclusive tours for the Centennial convention. Tours will occur on both Friday and Saturday to allow for more flexibility of choice. When you register for the convention, Torch members will be asked to rank your tour preferences from 1 (top choice) to 4. You must rank all four tour options. The convention committee will schedule tours across the two days. If a tour is oversubscribed, assignments will be prioritized by the date of completed registration.
Please note that tours are available for registered Torch members only. Guests can attend if space is available and registrants with guests will be contacted by email before the convention with an update on this possibility.
Please note that tours are available for registered Torch members only. Guests can attend if space is available and registrants with guests will be contacted by email before the convention with an update on this possibility.
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City of Richmond Tour
Duration: 3 Hours Website: visitrichmondva.com See Richmond’s important historical sites and architectural gems. A special visit to St. John’s Church, the oldest standing church, and the place where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” will be included.
After this tour leaves the Omni, it will pass or briefly stop at the following places of interest: the White House of the Confederacy, the remaining one block of antebellum housing downtown, Old City Hall, Theatre Row, James River and Canal Works, Church Hill including St. John’s Church (where we will stop and visit), Jefferson’s Capitol Building, Carytown (shopping mecca), views of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (free admission always), the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, the Fan District, and others, before returning to the Omni. This tour will be narrated by Ray Kaufmann, co-owner of Tour Guys, Richmond’s storytellers since 2014. |
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Black History & Valentine Museums
Duration: 3 Hours Websites: blackhistorymuseum.org & thevalentine.org 400 years of history from various vantage points will be explored during this immersive experience. Expert docents will lead our tours through both museums.
The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia was founded in 1981 and is now located in the Leigh Street Armory building, which was completely restored to modern standards in 2016. The BHM’s mission is to preserve the histories and stories of African Americans who inspire. To that end, the BHM preserves and displays a permanent historical collection and a series of contemporary exhibits. A docent from the BHM will accompany our Torch registrants on a tour of the Museum. |
The Valentine Museum is named for its founder and initial benefactor, Mann S. Valentine, Jr., who made his fortune with the creation and production of Valentine’s Meat Juice, a health tonic made from pure beef juice. The VM opened in 1898 and, over the last 125 years, evolved from a general art and history museum to one that focuses on the life and history of Richmond, Virginia by collecting, preserving, and interpreting Richmond’s materials. With its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs it reflects the broad issues and diverse communities of Richmond and its history. The Valentine offers major changing exhibitions that focus on Richmond’s urban and social history, costumes, decorative arts, and architecture. A docent from the Valentine will accompany our Torch registrants on a tour of the Museum.
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Virginia Museums of Fine Arts And History & Culture
Duration: 3 Hours Websites: vmfa.museum and virginiahistory.org Explore collections from all over the world within two esteemed institutions.
Join us in visiting these two exceptional museums. The VMFA is a public art museum which was established in 1936 and is owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The museum is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States. The Wall Street Journal stated that VMFA is now a "two-day museum." |
The museum’s collection includes more than 40,000 works of art from around the world. It has the largest collection of Faberge and Russian decorative arts with over 200 objects by or attributed to the Faberge firm. The highlight of this exhibit are the five imperial Easter eggs that Faberge created for the last two tsars of Russia.
You may stay all three hours at the VMFA or, using a ticket we will provide, also visit the VMHC which is just a few doors away. Founded in 1831, the VMHC is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society (the state’s official historical society). With over 9 million items and 25,000 square feet of exhibition gallery space, the VMHC serves as a major repository, research, and teaching center for Virginia history. It is the only museum with all of Virginia's history under one roof—all centuries, regions, and topics.
You may stay all three hours at the VMFA or, using a ticket we will provide, also visit the VMHC which is just a few doors away. Founded in 1831, the VMHC is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society (the state’s official historical society). With over 9 million items and 25,000 square feet of exhibition gallery space, the VMHC serves as a major repository, research, and teaching center for Virginia history. It is the only museum with all of Virginia's history under one roof—all centuries, regions, and topics.
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State Capitol
Duration: 2 Hours Website: virginiageneralassembly.gov This curated tour will provide insight into the history and architecture of this classical Roman temple structure.
The Virginia State Capitol has a rich history and is well worth visiting. It houses the oldest elected legislative body in North America, the Virginia General Assembly, which was first established in 1619. |
The Capitol was designed by Thomas Jefferson (3rd president) and Charles Louis Cleisseau in France, based on the Roman temple in Nimes, France. Construction began in 1785 and was completed in 1788.
The Capitol Rotunda displays the life-size Houdon statue of George Washington and seven busts of the other Virginia-born presidents and Marquis de Lafayette, the Frenchman who fought for America during the American Revolution. The exceptional tour guides will share their incredible knowledge about the history of the building during your visit.
While visiting the Capitol, you should venture out and see the grounds of the Capitol Square that was designed as a formal park in 1818 by French architect and landscape gardener Maximilian Godefroy and later updated by John Notman of Scotland. He added meandering walkways, native trees and shrubs and fountains in the Square.
The Capitol Rotunda displays the life-size Houdon statue of George Washington and seven busts of the other Virginia-born presidents and Marquis de Lafayette, the Frenchman who fought for America during the American Revolution. The exceptional tour guides will share their incredible knowledge about the history of the building during your visit.
While visiting the Capitol, you should venture out and see the grounds of the Capitol Square that was designed as a formal park in 1818 by French architect and landscape gardener Maximilian Godefroy and later updated by John Notman of Scotland. He added meandering walkways, native trees and shrubs and fountains in the Square.