The LOVE letter sculpture that will decorate the Manassas Museum lawn for several months is a collaboration between the local museum system and Historic Manassas, Inc., (HMI).

Museum staff unveiled the sculpture on Wednesday. It has a railroad theme depicted by local artist and Manassas Museum Visitors Services Aide Nancy Mitchell. It has letters that spell the word 'LOVE,' which are painted blue and gray to reflect the area’s Civil War heritage. 

The word LOVE will be mounted on train flat car, with a rail and train installed on the letter “O” to represent the area’s railway heritage.  The sculpture is a way to brand the state’s tourism marketing campaign, “Virginia Is for Lovers” while also connecting visitors to Manassas' strong role in the history of the railroad and Civil War. 

The traveling sculpture has appeared at visitor’s centers and
tourist attractions across the state, according to a press release issued by the museum.

Manassas Museum staff encourage visitors to take photos in front of the sculpture or even read a love letter on the lawn, where the sculpture will remain until the end of the year.

The structure is seven feet tall and 16 feet long, and was constructed by HMI President and Manassas Historic Resources Board member Mark Olsen with the help of employee Buck Guyther. Both men donated their time and talents to get the structure up before this weekend's Railway Festival.