1741 Sounding Board Restoration
The only living witness to Patrick Henry’s speech.
St. John’s sounding board is one of the last original architectural features in the church, dating to 1741 when St. John’s was built. It hangs above the elevated pulpit and was in place when Patrick Henry delivered his “Liberty or Death” speech in 1775. With the help of generous donors and conservator Carey Howlett, the sounding board has been restored to its original appearance. The analysis took months and the findings are as amazing as the beautifully restored piece itself.
Restoration : Conservator F. Cary Howlett Link to the Conservation Story, Cary, the photos, and the videos
