A Virginia Visit: Winston Churchill & Dwight Eisenhower January 13, 2008

Williamsburg Regional Library will host a first-ever exhibit of 22 photographs documenting the historic visit of Winston Churchill and General Dwight Eisenhower to Virginia. The exhibit runs from January 5 to March 24 in the Williamsburg Library Gallery, 515 Scotland Street. An opening reception and lecture will take place in the Williamsburg Library Theatre on Sunday, January 13 at 2 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at (757) 259-4070 or visit www.wrl.org/programs.

On Friday, March 8, 1946, Churchill, the wartime Prime Minister of Great Britain, and Eisenhower, former Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force, made a 19-hour visit to Richmond and Williamsburg that was documented by Richmond photographer Frank Dementi. The visit came just three days after Churchills Iron Curtain speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, which marked the onset of the Cold War. Churchill, accompanied by his wife, Clementine, and General Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, began the day with a speech before the General Assembly in Richmond followed by a train trip to Williamsburg. There they visited the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg, including drinks and tea at the Raleigh Tavern and a dinner at the Williamsburg Inn. The photographs in the exhibit document both the public and private side of the visit.

Brian and Wayne Dementi, the sons of the photographer, organized the exhibit. The January 13 reception and lecture will feature Dr. Brian Dementi and local historian and former Daily Press editor Will Molineux offering memories of the Williamsburg portion of this historic visit.

Selected copies of the photographs displayed will be available for purchase at Prince George Art and Frame, 1303 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of programs.