Museum breaks ground for $18M wing, campus expansion

ABINGDON, Va. – Work is beginning on an $18 million expansion and makeover aimed at bringing national awareness to the William King Museum of Art.

On Tuesday, museum and elected officials formally broke ground on a new wing to house the Worrell collection of animal art – about 170 paintings and sculptures – considered among the most significant of its kind in the U.S.

Back in April 2022 the museum announced the Worrell Museum in Charlottesville agreed to move the collection to Abingdon and fund the new wing onto the rear of the former William King High School building.

Besides adding a “world class” gallery for the collection — which was acquired by Abingdon native and former Bristol Herald Courier owner Gene Worrell and his wife Anne — plans include a Virginia gallery dedicated to showcasing regional artwork, a new accessible entrance, café, museum store, additional art storage and a new loading dock, organizers said.

Museum Director Betsy White called it the largest, “most transformative gift” in the museum’s history.

Outside, visitors can expect to encounter a revised entrance, additional parking, a terrace featuring a dozen large animal sculptures from the Worrell collection and other amenities. Completion is expected by the end of 2025, Director Betsy White said.

“For the past two years we have been in the design process of both the new wing and the museum and with a landscape architect that designed the surrounding campus,” White said, saying visitors can expect a “bit of disarray” for the foreseeable future.

“This particular collection includes artwork by the who’s who of animal art and there are only four or five collections like this in the world. That is why this is going to be a destination,” White said. “The closest one in content, that I can think of, is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. [The National Museum of Wildlife Art] It has a very similar collection, and it has transformed the tourism base in Jackson – at least as much as skiing.”

The hope, White says, is these transforms the 20-acre campus into a community park that all can enjoy.

The collection’s focus on wildlife complements the museum’s mission to cultivate environmental respect through artistic expression, White said.

The state provided $750,000 to assist with the project.

“Our new budget provides significant investment across the board in our region and this is a worthy project of all,” Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Abingdon said. “I believe this expansion of the museum and grounds will become the Central Park of Abingdon and yet another jewel for all of Southwest Virginia to enjoy.”

BurWil Construction is the project contractor.

Gene Worrell acquired much of the animal artwork later in life, at a time when he couldn’t be outside as much as he wanted, granddaughter Shannon Worrell said, adding viewing the art “takes us to places we can’t normally go.”

She hopes the collection will inspire more conservation awareness and advocacy and bring people from near and far.

“They both loved these mountains and they loved being outside – horseback riding, hiking, hunting, fishing. The fact people are traveling here to do that and its aiding the economy in a really positive way would make them proud,” Worrell said after the ceremony.

“The relationship between the wildlife art and the natural assets of Southwest Virginia are a perfect pair,” Worrell said. “The fact the museum is educating so many children and adults and they’re going to combine that with environmental education is super positive and right up my grandparents’ alley.”

dmcgee@bristolnews.com — Twitter: @DMcGeeBHC