Artist's rendering of the newly restored Nimitz Ballroom, by Jean DuBose
Details:
The reopening of the Admiral Nimitz Museum takes place this weekend. A black-tie ball will be held Saturday evening, Feb. 24. On Sunday, there will be music and dignitaries throughout the day as the public gets its first look at the renovations. For information, call 997-4379.
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Nimitz Ballroom:
Return to Elegance
by Phil Houseal
Feb 21, 2007
The first time I walked into the Ballroom at the Nimitz Hotel back in the 1980s, I could hear echoes of the resplendent days when towns held balls, and people gathered simply to experience elegance.
It was easy to imagine a spirited combo, with baton-wielding conductor smiling down on couples in gown and tux swirling across polished wood under chandelier light. The ballroom also saw its share of plays, banquets, light opera, and pop concerts.
This weekend, that era of elegance returns to this venerable structure that embodies the history and heritage of Fredericksburg, with the re-opening of the Nimitz ballroom.
Helen McDonald, Director of Programs, led me on a tour a few weeks ago. Instead of dancers, sawdust swirled. But through the haze, the potential was evident.
"This ballroom is going to be restored to its 19th-century ambience," McDonald said. The goal is not historical exactness, but for the changes to be "reminiscent of the era."
One dramatic change was removing the dropped pressed-tin ceiling that had been installed in a 1920s renovation, returning to the original arched ceiling height. According to McDonald, this restored the scale of the original room.
There are also functional improvements. The newly christened Nimitz Event Center will boast meeting rooms and an Education Center on the second floor. The rooms will be wired for the latest audio-visual equipment, including video and computer capabilities. An updated mezzanine will serve as a place for quiet dinners, intimate business meetings, or prime seats for ballroom events.
"It’s going to be a wonderful spot for a wedding or reception," she said. "We plan to make it available to rent for conferences, and it will be great for small business meetings."
The three-year, $3 million renovation extends beyond the ballroom. The main floor gallery that formerly held museum exhibits will be reworked to tell the story of the Nimitz family and the history of the hotel.
Adjacent to the ballroom on the main floor, a new commercial catering kitchen has been installed. It will be able to serve two functions at once: an indoor event, and, on the other side, activities on the 60 x 60 patio covered by tent.
That is a long way from when it was used to bake cookies on a wood stove.
"When the hotel was on the Tour of Homes, the old wood stove still in the kitchen," McDonald recalled. "We made molasses cookies from an old Nimitz family recipe."
Outside, a remodeled courtyard is going to open to the public. People will be able to walk through on their way to the George Bush Gallery. The garden will offer seating areas, planted with flowers popular in that day.
"When you walk through here, you are going to be able to see the entire courtyard, featuring a view of the beautiful ship's screw which is so sculptural in its fountain base," McDonald said. "This will be a wonderful area to be used for plaque dedications, reunion groups, and individual families. It’s just going to be fabulous."
One area will have a reproduction of a 19th-century gazebo that will do duty as a bandstand, wedding altar, and interpretive center.
The site has come a long way from its functional start in the 1850s as the Last Chance Saloon, with a livery, bar, and a row of rooms for weary and thirsty travelers.
"The ballroom going to be restored to 19th its century ambience, as a very high quality, extremely attractive venue," said RADM C.D. Grojean, USN (Ret.), head of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. "The idea is to give you the feeling that this ballroom represents the social center of Fredericksburg that existed in the 19th century. It will be a great addition to the community."
This weekend, the Nimitz ballroom will once again hear the echoes of live music and animated conversation.
This time, the echoes will be real.