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National Sporting Library & Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | National Sporting Library |
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| Established | March 29, 1954 |
| Location | 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg, VA 20117 |
| Type | Art museum |
| Collection size | 20,000 books (as of 2018) 1,100 works of art (as of 2018) |
| Visitors | 13,500 |
| Founder | George L. Ohrstrom, Sr., Alexander Mackay-Smith, Fletcher Harper, Lester Karow |
The National Sporting Library & Museum (or NSLM) is a special place in Middleburg, Virginia, USA. It's both a research library and an art museum. It focuses on sports like horse riding, foxhunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Contents
History of the NSLM
How the Library Started
The National Sporting Library began in 1954. It was founded by George L. Ohrstrom, Sr. and his friends, including Fletcher Harper, Lester Karow, and Alexander Mackay-Smith. They wanted to create a place where people could easily find books and information about horse and field sports. Before this, it was hard to find such materials in other libraries.
The first president of the library was Fletcher Harper. He was well-known in the horse world. The library started in a building called the Duffy House in Middleburg. They even designed a cool logo with a fox mask, a horseshoe, a rifle, and a fishing rod.
Moving to New Homes
As the library grew, it needed more space for its many books. So, in 1969, it moved to Vine Hill, a building built in 1804. This new spot even had a special fire-proof vault underground to keep rare books safe. The library stayed at Vine Hill for 30 years.
By 1999, the library had grown even more, with 16,000 books and over 100 art prints. It needed a bigger home again! A new building was built, designed to look like an old English carriage house. Many people helped fund this new building, including Paul Mellon, who gave a lot of money and even a weather vane for the roof. The new library opened its doors in September 1999.
Becoming a Museum Too
In 2009, the National Sporting Library changed its name to the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM). This was because they decided to add an art museum! They expanded the old Vine Hill building to create 13,000 square feet of art gallery space. The new museum opened in October 2011 with its first art show, called Afield in America: 400 Years of Animal & Sporting Art.
What You Can Find There
The Library Collection
The NSLM's library has a huge collection of over 20,000 books, magazines, old documents, and other items. Some of these items date all the way back to the 16th century! The oldest and most special books are kept safe in a room called the F. Ambrose Clark Rare Book Room.
In 1995, a man named John H. Daniels gave the library 5,000 rare books. This amazing gift included the library's oldest printed book, which was made in 1523. This gift was a big reason why the library needed to move to its current, larger building.
Art Exhibitions
The NSLM often hosts special art shows. Here are some of the past exhibitions:
Afield in America: 400 Years of Animal & Sporting Art
This was the very first art show when the museum opened in 2011. It was based on a book about animal and sporting artists in America. The show featured works by famous artists like John James Audubon and Edward Troye. Over 4,000 people came to see this exhibition!
Munnings: Out in the Open
From April to September 2013, the museum showed 68 outdoor paintings by a famous artist named Sir Alfred Munnings. These artworks came from many different places, including other museums. Visitors could also see Munnings' letters and drawings in the library.
The Horse in Ancient Greek Art
This exhibition was a partnership with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It explored how horses and equestrian sports were shown in ancient Greek pottery from about 800 BCE to 300 BCE. The show featured more than 70 ancient artworks from museums across the United States. It was a very popular show and even won an award!