The Fort Monroe Authority has hired Robin Edward Reed to become the director for the Casemate Museum. Mr. Reed has a long and distinguished career in managing historical sites and museums, most recently serving as the president of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation in Bedford, Virginia.
Mr. Reed began work at the Casemate on July 15th. He will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, which includes programming, the development of exhibits and marketing. The Casemate, which opened in 1951, houses the jail cell where Jefferson Davis was incarcerated after his capture during the Civil War. It also features many other artifacts and exhibits related to that period in American history, including items related to General Benjamin Butler’s Contraband Decision, which many say precipitated the end of slavery.
“I am quite excited about this opportunity,” Mr. Reed said. “Fort Monroe played a significant role in American history and the Casemate Museum is critical to helping to convey that significance to the public. I look forward to working with the staff to make this treasure even more attractive not only to visitors to the area, but to the residents of Hampton Roads.”
Mr. Reed is the right choice to lead the Casemate because of his vast experience, said Glenn Oder, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Authority. “The museum plays a vital role in Fort Monroe’s brand recognition and it brings thousands of people to the Fort every year, a number we are hoping to grow in the future.”
Mr. Reed also previously served as a senior director in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, where he oversaw the Department of Public History. He also was a project director for the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History. Prior to that, he held several positions with the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, including the executive director’s post for nine years.
