On a beautiful October evening, over 400 distinguished and elegantly dressed guests gathered to help The National Sporting Library officially open their new Sporting Museum in Middleburg, Virginia. The tent was splendid and dinner was delicious but nothing could rival the truly spectacular show, "Afield in America: 400 Years of Animal and Sporting Art," that debuted the new museum.

Curated by F. Turner Reuter, the exhibit features over 150 paintings and sculptures on loan from museums and private collectors across the country. Reuter met with guests and spoke about several of the fabulous pieces that grace the rooms of the beautifully renovated and expanded 1804 Vine Hill Mansion.

In the exhibition, the works of Bierstadt, Audobon, Remington, Homer and Troye join those of lesser-known artists to illustrate how American animal and sporting artists developed a unique American Style. The luxuriously illustrated catalogue explores this in greater depth with scholarly essays. Guests were thrilled by the magnitude of what the NSLM has achieved by creating the new museum. As they strolled past the boxwood gardens to dinner in a three-story tent on the crest of the grounds, they found themselves in a magical environment Silk draped the ceiling and walls and immense reproductions from the Library's rare book collection were framed and hung on all the walls.

"No celebration in either New York or Paris could rival this," a glamorous guest remarked.

Jacqueline B. Mars, vice chairman of the NSLM board, and Anjela Guarriello served as gala co-chairs.

Both Executive Director Rick Stoutamyer, and Chairman of the Board Manuel H. Johnson agreed that creating an environment that preserves historic works of art and reflects the character of country life that it seeks to protect has been an extraordinary mission.

"This is a logical extension of the Library which was founded in 1954 by George L. Ohrstrom, Sr., and Alexander Mackay-Smith," explained Stoutamyer. "It's quite an accomplishment," added Johnson. "A wonderful team of individuals has helped us make this possible. We owe a sincere debt of gratitude to every one of them."