The Virginia Museum of History & Culture hosts the Conrad M. Hall Symposium for Virginia History 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 7. The event, designed for historians and the public, will offer a full day of presentations centered on the theme of Creation/Creating.

Attendees will hear from over 40 experts across 16 panels, covering diverse topics including Virginia’s contributions to World War I, African American spirituals, podcasting, the Rosenwald Schools and the history of Virginia’s highway marker program.

The symposium will feature a keynote lecture by award-winning historian Elizabeth R. Varon, who will discuss “Remaking Southern Identity in Reconstruction-Era Virginia: The Strange Careers of Elizabeth Van Lew, Joseph T. Wilson, and James Longstreet.”

Varon, the associate director of UVA’s John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History, is known for her books “Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, A Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy” and “Armies of Deliverance: A New History of the Civil War.” Her latest book, “Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South,” received the inaugural American Battlefield Trust Prize for History in 2024.

The event also will include tailored museum experiences and a reception for guests to connect and reflect on the day’s discussions.

“Creation is the driving force behind any great society, and Virginia is no exception,” said James Herrera-Brookes, VMHC’s Melanie Trent De Schutter library director. “This year’s theme invites us to explore the creative spirits, innovators, and visionaries who have left an indelible mark on Virginia’s history through imagination, innovation, and collaboration.”

Tickets to the event include museum admission, the keynote lecture, all panel discussions and the evening reception. Pre-registration is required. For a full list of speakers and events, or to purchase tickets, visit VirginiaHistory.org/Symposium.