From Dr. Rob Havers

Dear Friends

It is a great pleasure to write this letter to you for our annual report. I am thoroughly enjoying my tenure at the helm of this great institution and am pleased to report that the American Civil War Museum had a good 2021, despite many, many challenges!

Although the pandemic and its effects are still with us, the beginning of 2021 saw the Museum emerge from its enforced slumber and cautiously reopen. Gradually restrictions loosened until we were close to pre-pandemic operating levels. The challenges of the Delta variant, of course, impacted our efforts but, with the safety of our patrons and staff always being central, we adapted and saw good visitation at all three of our sites throughout the year. Our online programming proved to be extremely popular, and we have maintained good levels of participation in addition to starting the return to inperson programming.

Of course, fundamental to our ability to do anything is the support of loyal and generous supporters. As you can read in the following pages, despite all the challenges of the pandemic our constituency has continued to support our efforts to tell the story of the American Civil War as only we can. Our annual fund finished the year at $333,933 while our membership totals ended up at $121,930. In addition, strong support from the Commonwealth of Virginia meant we finished the year with a $370,545 operating surplus.

Looking ahead, we have much to be excited about. Our strategic plan, designed to take the institution to the next level of recognition at a national stage and strengthen all our existing efforts, will be completed in early 2022 and set the course and direction for the next five years. In addition, the opening of the new Robins Theater will see our fantastic new immersive film take center stage and that, in addition to our new ambitious multi-year program entitled ‘The Civil War and the Re-making of America,’ will serve to cement our reputation as the preeminent Civil War institution.

All in all, our future looks very bright indeed, and I both thank you all for your support and look forward to working with you in the years to come.

Rob Havers, President & CEO