The Lorton Prison Museum featuring the Lucy Burns Gallery at the Workhouse Arts Center is proud to present the third season of Learning at Lunch, a series illuminating aspects of the former prison’s 91-year history. Each month, we invite an expert to tackle a topic related to our complicated past. After a brief 30-minute talk, presenters answer audience questions, and all attendees are invited to visit the museum following the program. Table seating provided and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch; snacks and beverages available for purchase in the W16 Visitor Center.

The Community and the Closure 

Beyond the fences of the Lorton Correctional Complex, the prison's presence was felt by the community in many ways—from the regular presence of searchlights and sirens to the broader issues that rippled through the neighborhoods. This talk will explore the deep and often trying relationship between the prison and its neighbors. Museum docents and long-time residents Neal McBride and Joe Ammann will share their personal accounts and news highlights from this challenging period, providing a unique perspective on the long, drawn-out process of the prison's closure.

Free, no registration required

Next up in the series: November 14 — OAR: Rebuilding Lives and Communities with OAR E.D. Derwin Overton