Dear Branch Friends and Supporters, This month we are beginning to study an area of design that’s new for The Branch! Our A City Personified: City Historical Maps includes historic Richmond maps from 1910 to 1960 through which we can begin to explore urban planning and city design. These beautiful maps help us understand how cities are designed and change. In addition, we’ve extended the Monumental Youth exhibition through June, to give a voice to young people tackling city design ideas in thoughtful and exciting ways. Richmond high school students have addressed a pressing design challenge confronting our community and many others – how can we make public spaces, designed a century or more ago, relevant and accessible today?  And you still have time to get a ticket and celebrate great design in Virginia at our April 27 th Brunch at The Branch, where we will honor the 2019 Virginia By Design Award winners. These awards recognize the best efforts of designers or visionaries in Virginia who, by profession or avocation, have made creating, preserving and enhancing design in Virginia a notable endeavor which elevates the power of design for the public good.  These awards give us all an opportunity to publicly acknowledge those who have made our Commonwealth and many of our cities better through the transformative power of their designs.  Purchase Tickets Here! Come join us on our ongoing journey through the world of design and architecture!

Penelope C. Fletcher Executive Director

Branch Family Reunion and Quadricentennial We are in the midst of our Centennial year! The Branch House was designed by famed architect John Russell Pope and built by John Kerr Branch and Beulah Gould Branch in 1919. This year is packed with commemorative events for that occasion. We are also excited to be working with the Branch family on another momentous occasion – a Quadricentennial and Reunion ! 2019 is the 400-year anniversary of the arrival of the first member of the Branch family in Virginia. Christopher Branch arrived in Jamestown in 1619. That event is etched in stone on the parapet wall on the back of the House.  The Branches will be commemorating this arrival with a family reunion. The descendants of Christopher and Mary Branch are numerous, and we are helping them get the word out about the reunion. If you are a Branch, please take a moment to look at their website and learn about the quadricentennial. If you know a Branch or someone you think may be related, please share this link with them.    Visit the Branch Reunion website here!

A City Personified: City Historical Maps through June 24, 2019 in the Great Hall

Cities are designed, but their ultimate plan can evolve outside of a planned design.  We will begin an exploration of urban planning and city design through historic Richmond city maps that illustrate how cities are designed and grow. Pulling from the archives of the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Review, historical maps will be displayed, showcasing how our city has grown and changed through the decades. From its burning at the end of the Civil War, to turn-of-the-century annexation, to the highway system in the 1950s, to 21 st century modernization for the new millennium, the city has continued to change year after year.

60 Years of Italian Design July 12th - September 15th in the Main Galleries

Sixty Years of Italian Design 1940-2000 brings iconic contemporary Italian pieces to The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design. The exhibition is curated by Maurice Beane, one of the region’s most prominent artists, dealers and collectors, and will showcase works from Beane’s private collection amassed over 40 years. Beane is nationally known for his deep knowledge and experience in the field of design.  Public Opening Friday, July 12th, 2019

This exhibit, Monumental Youth , has been so popular that it has been extended through June 24th. Make sure to stop by and vote for your favorite design!

Centennial Lecture Series We are excited to have new speakers for our Centennial series. There are limited tickets available for both remaining lectures.

Susan Piedmont-Palladino,  Director of Virginia Tech’s Washington/Alexandria Architecture Center Drawing toward the World:Otto Eggers and the National Gallery of Art Thursday, April 25th at 6:30pm Eggers was an important part of the John Russell Pope team that designed The Branch House. Learn more about Eggers and the work he went on to accomplish after The Branch House. Tickets are $20 per person; REGISTER HERE! Susan J. Rawles, Ph.D. ,  VMFA  Decadent Digs: Gilded Age Bedrooms, 1880-1920 Thursday, May 30th at 6:30pm Immediately following this lecture, you will have an opportunity to see The Branch's recently restored Adam-style bedroom, one of Richmond's truly beautiful rooms! Tickets are $20 per person; REGISTER HERE!

The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design (804) 655-6055 [email protected] www.branchmuseum.org Tuesday - Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 1pm - 5pm Admission $5 per person; FREE for members