“So, this place used to be a prison?”

Upon arriving at the Workhouse Arts Center, the first thing visitors often notice is the unique architectural style of the various buildings, a relic of our site’s long and fascinating history. If you are interesting in learning more about the story of the Workhouse, a visit to the Prison Museum is certainly worth a trip!

            The knowledgeable and friendly docents who staff the museum are happy to relate any and all of the many stories the Workhouse tells. Learn about the “Night of Terror” endured by a group of suffragist women in the early twentieth century, or perhaps about the Nike missile site employed by the US government nearby during the Cold War. It has been said that the story of the Workhouse is the story of the twentieth century, and this is certainly true! From World Wars to Civil Rights to urbanization and mechanization, nearly every notable event of the era is represented in some way through the history of the Workhouse.

Eleanor Lally, who has been a volunteer docent since the museum’s opening, feels strongly about the importance of educating young women about the struggles of the suffragists imprisoned at Lorton and other facilities. “I’d like to be able to get more students involved and get this information into the schools,” she says. “I want to emphasize the hard-earned right to vote that many women take for granted nowadays.” It is the museum’s mission to educate the public about this and other historical events in connection to the Workhouse.

               Those who have lived in the Lorton area long enough will remember the Workhouse as what it used to be- a functioning prison! Many local residents have donated photos and memorabilia, or given oral histories to add to the collection of information about the facility’s past. These objects make for engaging and thought-provoking exhibits, and can be seen in the newly expanded Workhouse Prison Museum in building 9. Museum hours are Wednesday-Friday 12:00 PM-3:00 PM and Saturday-Sunday 12:00 PM-4:00 PM. And check our calendar of events for more information on the upcoming Women’s Equality Day anniversary celebration on Sunday, August 25, presented in conjunction with the Turning Point Suffrage Memorial.

THIS WEEK AT THE WORKHOUSE

• 3rd Annual Workhouse Clay National 2013, July 31-September 8, McGuireWoods Gallery.
• Inner Librare, August 24-October 6, Vulcan Gallery.
• Free Hula on the Quad, August 24 at 8am on the Workhouse Quad.
• FAME: The Musical, August 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 at 7:30pm & August 25 at 3pm, W-3 Theatre.
• Workhouse Farmers Market, Thursday 3-7pm, Workhouse Quad.
• Winnie the Pooh, Saturday at 1pm, W-3 Theatre.
• Mount Vernon Nights, Saturday at 7pm, Workhouse Quad.
• Women’s Equality Day, August 25 at 12:30pm, Workhouse Prison Museum.  
• August Exhibitions in all seven studio buildings, Vulcan Gallery.

Stop by and visit us! 

The Workhouse is open Wednesday – Saturday from 11am – 7pm and Sundays from 12 – 5pm.  The Workhouse Prison Museum is open Wednesday – Friday from 12 – 3pm and Saturday – Sunday from 12 – 4pm.  Visit www.WorkhouseArts.org for more information, to purchase tickets or to register for classes.