RICHMOND, Va. — The Valentine Museum hosted a special open house Saturday in honor of Bill Martin, the beloved executive director who dedicated more than three decades to preserving Richmond’s history.
Martin, who died after being hit by a driver in December, leaves behind a legacy that transformed The Valentine into a community cornerstone since he joined the museum in 1994.
“He really turned The Valentine into a community resource. Everything that we do is with a goal to be of use to the region,” Meg Hughes, the museum’s acting director, said.
Friends and colleagues gathered to remember Martin’s passion for Richmond’s history, particularly his ability to find significance in seemingly ordinary artifacts. One example was his decision to preserve a barber’s chair that belonged to John Washington’s grandfather…