Photos by Eric Brady | The Roanoke Times

Jane Cromer, a member of the Art Museum of Western Virginia, signs the steel beam that will complete the museum's framework.

Topping Out Ceremony

Art Museum of Western Virginia

• Art museum site between Salem and Norfolk avenues in downtown Roanoke.
• 10 a.m. today
• Free

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• About the art museum

Antonio Monzon of Superior Steel guides one of the last steel structural beams into position on the Art Museum of Western Virginia, where it will be bolted into place.

Some wrote their names in a hasty scrawl. Others did it with a flourish.

At least one signature was upside down.

It was the day before the last major steel beam goes up on the new Art Museum of Western Virginia -- and not only construction workers, but also museum members and volunteers were taking advantage of the chance to attach their names to Roanoke history.

The 30-foot roof beam will be installed, names and all, at the back of the museum during a special ceremony between 10 and 11 a.m. today. The public is invited.

The ceremony is known as a "topping out," meaning the steelwork has reached its maximum height, according to a museum release.

In the weeks and months to come, the curving steel framework will be covered by a stainless steel roof, zinc sides and a soaring entryway of glass.

For the moment, however, the new art museum is a skeleton of I-beams.

It is traditional for construction workers to sign the last beam in a building project, and project superintendent Mike Sellers was one of the first to sign this one. Local dignitaries, campaign donors and the museum's board of trustees will get their shot today.

But art museum officials pressed for their volunteers and museum members to be included in the ritual, said membership director Lisa Thomas -- who with Maria St. Clair, director of volunteers, sat beneath a tent Wednesday afternoon, dispensing signing pens. The museum has about 1,250 member families, who pay annual dues, and about 150 to 160 active volunteers.

"They are the reason we are building this new building," Thomas said.

By 4 o'clock, more than 160 people had come to sign their names.

Why?

"Just to be a part of history," explained Andrea Einhaus of Roanoke, who wrote her name on the beam inside the outline of a heart. "It's a chance to be part of Roanoke."

Einhaus was accompanied by her aunt, Beverly Schlegel, who also signed. "This is fabulous," Schlegel said of the new museum. "Roanoke is a pretty young city. But it's a city with a past and a future."

Other signers included Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham, whose elaborate signature on top of the beam looked like calligraphy; numerous local artists; Shellie Crowder of Wertz's Restaurant; Sandy Wilkinson of the Little Dipper (twice); Katie Camper of Old Southwest; The Roanoke Times Publisher Debbie Meade; and lawyer Tucker Lemon (the one who signed his name upside down).

Sellers said the steelworkers would probably sign the beam later. By late afternoon, there was still plenty of space remaining on the enormous beam.

Perhaps the youngest signer was Eden Giannini, 4, who signed for herself and for her 1-year-old sister, Ava. Eden, daughter of museum employee Frank Giannini, didn't have much to say about the new museum when asked -- but she watched wide-eyed as a crane lifted another big beam of steel way, way up into the sky.

Some contributed not only their names, but also snatches of encouragement or advice. "To the future," wrote one supporter. And there was this cautionary ditty, which was signed "Joe Mott":

"Fools' names

Like fools' faces

Are always found

In public places."

The names on the beam will eventually be covered up as work on the museum progresses, Sellers said.