NCMC Events From Around the State… January 19, 2010

1). Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Mint Museum of Craft + Design will close to the public on February 7, 2010 to prepare to move its collections to the new Mint Museum Uptown. Opening in October 2010, the Mint Museum Uptown will house the Mint Museum of Craft + Design collections, as well as significant collections of American Art, Contemporary Art and a selection of European Art in a new five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility located in the heart of Charlotte’s business district. The Mint Museum of Craft + Design Shop will remain open for several more months, with a firm closing date to be announced later this spring.

2). High Point Museum The third annual Kickoff to Kindergarten: Parent Days will be held January 25 at the High Point Museum and February 22 at the Greensboro Children’s Museum. The free, drop-in resource fair will be open from 11 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm at both locations. Representatives from Guilford County Schools will be available to answer questions regarding school-choice, pre-K options, transportation, school health & nutrition, after-school options, and kindergarten curriculums. Also on hand will be representatives from local libraries, Family & Health Services, Reading Connections, and other important community resources that support the important transition into kindergarten.

3). Orange County Historical Museum On January 31st at 3pm at the Central Orange Senior Center at Meadowlands in Hillsborough, the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County and the Central Orange Senior Center will host Stores and Stories: How Businesses in Hillsborough Have Changed. Participants will talk about businesses in Hillsborough from 1940-1975. Visitors are encouraged to bring along photos of downtown businesses during this era to share.

4). Mount Airy Museum The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History will present a 3-day event titled White Liquor and Dirt Tracks: the Origins of NASCAR on Friday Jan. 22, Saturday Jan. 23 and Sunday Jan. 24. Featured events will be a vintage race car show, racing memorabilia and souvenir vendors, autograph sessions with drivers past and present, a panel discussion on early racing plus a downtown cruise-in. Also racing author Sharon McCrumb will speak about her NASCAR series of books, two screenings of the film "Thunder Road" will be held,a concert by Nashville recording artist Matt Dylan plus a new temporary racing exhibit will open at the Museum.

5). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents Tryon Palace Free Day: Building New Bern on Saturday, February 6, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Harold H. Bate Foundation in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Come enjoy all that Tryon Palace has to offer free of charge! Tour our lovely gardens and the first floors of our historic buildings. Join in on hands-on crafts, games, and activities for the whole family.