WASHINGTON D.C. MAYOR ADRIAN M. FENTY AND MADAME TUSSAUDS WASHINGTON D.C. UNVEIL PLANS FOR NEW $2 MILLION-PLUS U.S. PRESIDENTIAL GALLERY FEATURING WAX FIGURES OF ALL 44 U.S. PRESIDENTS TO OPEN IN FALL 2010
30 First Graders from Cleveland Elementary School Participated in Announcement Ceremony Unveiling Nine New U.S. President Wax Figures, Including President Grover Cleveland.
Launch of New Presidential Gallery to Make Attraction Only Place in the World Where People Can See and Interact with All 44 U.S. Presidents.
[Washington D.C., February 16, 2010] Serving as the perfect tie-in to Presidents Week, donning construction hats amid a room decorated in red, white and blue bunting and banners, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty joined Janine DiGioacchino, General Manager of Madame Tussauds New York and Washington D.C. to announce plans for the creation of a new $2 million-plus U.S. Presidential Gallery that will house wax figures of all 44 U.S. presidents—nine of which made their debuts at the event. Scheduled to open in fall 2010, the launch of the Gallery will make Madame Tussauds D.C. the only place in the world where people can see and interact with all 44 U.S. presidents.
“This fall visitors to Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. will have the chance to step into history and interact with all of the U.S. presidents in a way unlike ever before,” said DiGioacchino. “As the only place in the world where people will be able to meet and take a picture with all 44 U.S. presidents, Madame Tussauds D.C. will provide a unique and enriching educational experience for history buffs, students and general visitors alike. We know everyone will love seeing and interacting with our new figures, and the gallery.”
At the event Mayor Fenty helped unveil artist renderings of the new gallery and spoke briefly while attendees admired the nine new wax figures of U.S. presidents that were on display: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, James Garfield, Chester Alan Arthur, Grover Cleveland and Gerald Ford. Additionally, 30 first grade students were on-hand from D.C. Public School Cleveland Elementary to “meet” the new wax figure of the U.S. president for whom their school is named, Grover Cleveland. Concluding the event, a mold cast was used to create an impression of Mayor Fenty’s hands for a plaque that will hang in the entry hallway of the Gallery once it is completed.
“Among the many museums and entertainment options in Washington, Madame Tussauds uniquely combines art, popular culture and entertainment,” said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “The presidential gallery now adds the important component of education while celebrating the unique heritage of our city.”
New figures will be unveiled throughout the year and put on display at Madame Tussauds D.C. until all 44 U.S. presidents are ready to be installed in the new Gallery this fall.
A tremendous undertaking, Madame Tussauds artists will create wax figures of 28 U.S. presidents, which will be introduced in several phases, with the first grouping unveiled at the event. Each figure takes about three to four months to complete and requires an extensive amount of work. In order to make the figures as lifelike as possible, Madame Tussauds artists have to study hundreds of photographs, and when available, hours of video footage. Of course in some cases, the artists will not have the luxury of photographs or videos, and will need to rely on historical accounts, even paintings.
The addition of the new Presidential Gallery will serve as a rich educational resource and include a curriculum focused on the history of the U.S. presidents. The new curriculum will fully complement the attraction’s existing and free comprehensive Educational Curriculum Guide, which was developed in accordance with the US Department of National Social Studies Standards and National Council for the Social Civil Rights Movement Studies Standards. The guide was designed to empower educators with the tools they need to deliver exciting lessons in areas such as history, political science, social studies and media – before and after visiting the attraction.
Additionally, in celebration of Presidents Week Madame Tussauds D.C. will offer free admission to any visitor who has the same first or last name as United States Presidents George Washington or Abraham Lincoln (valid photo ID required) from February 14 – February 20, 2010.
About Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.
Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is a fully interactive, full-sensory experience, where visitors are able to touch, see and hear major historical events and celebrities in a way unlike any other Washington D.C. attraction. Recent additions to the attraction include superstars Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Penelope Cruz and Tyra Banks; as well as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The attraction is located within walking distance of the National Mall and the White House. The entrance is on the corner of 10th and F Streets, NW. The attraction is metro-accessible by the Red, Blue, and Orange lines at Metro Center or the Yellow, Green, and Red lines at Gallery Place/Chinatown. Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit www.madametussaudsdc.com or call 202-942-7300.
Photo Credit: Kris Connor/Getty Images
de Rochambeau (1725-1807).
General Goerge Washington (1732-1799).
An unmentioned General. Perhaps Lafayette.
The loading of the cannon.
