ncmuseums

An occasional list of exhibits, programs, and events at North Carolina museums. Sponsored by the North Carolina Museums Council.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

NCMC Events From Around the State… July 29, 2013



1). Bellamy Mansion presents “Jazz at the Mansion” on Thursday, August 1st at 6:30 p.m.  Enjoy a summer evening outside full of jazz music brought to you by El Jaye Johnson with The Port City All-Stars. Bring your blankets or chairs and relax on the lawn to the sounds of America's classic songs played by the outstanding Wilmington artists.
Beer and wine sold. Tickets available at gate - $12 General admission, $10 Members, $5 Students (with ID). Questions? Please call 910.251.3700. Don't miss our last concert in the Jazz at the Mansion series:  August 29th - The Al Neese Project.

2). Do You Need Help With the Care and Handling of Family Papers?
The State Archives of North Carolina and the State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) will create tutorials for the general public about the care and handling of family papers. These tutorials will be available on our YouTube channel. By completing this brief questionnaire, you will help us shape the content of these tutorials. Please take a few moments to complete this questionnaire by August 12, 2013. Thanks for your participation.

3). High Point Museum invites you to National Night Out at the High Point Museum on Tuesday, August 6th from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Enjoy fun and refreshments as we promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnership at this free evening event. Justin Johnson will perform and other activities include historic games and an antique fire truck. All ages welcome. Drop-in. FREE.

4). North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort will take you out to the banks for horses, hiking and history! Come find out what makes Shackleford Banks such a unique barrier island, from the early settlers and whaling villages to tales of Blackbeard the pirate and wild horses that roam the sandy beaches. Associate Curator Benjamin Wunderly will guide participants on a hike in this designated wilderness area managed by the National Park Service. Tuesday August 6, pre-registration is required, (252) 728-7318.

5). SECCA, The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, invites you to Community Day on Saturday, August 10th, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00p.m.  Part of the NC Department of Cultural Resources’ 2nd Saturday programs, this day is for families to explore photography and painting through art activities and gallery discoveries. Join us for cartoons, performances and summertime treats. This event is free and open to the public.

6). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher invites you to attend their Surf Fishing Workshop on Tuesdays, August 6, 13, 20, and 27th at 8:00 a.m.  This 3-hour workshop includes one hour of classroom discussion, then surf fishing on the beach nearby. All equipment and bait provided. Program is rain or shine, with extra activities added in event of bad weather (e.g., throwing a cast net). Ages 10 and up. Fee: $15 per participant. Aquarium admission is not included. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

7). Battleship North Carolina invites you to their 2nd Saturday programs on August 10th and to learn how different ships named NORTH CAROLINA had an important role from the Civil War to World War II.  Battleship 101 will takes place from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. helps visitors engage with ship volunteers stationed throughout the ship as they create dialogue on specific subjects relative to daily shipboard life including gunnery, radar, sickbay, galley and engineering areas.  A unique opportunity to talk one on one of what life was like aboard a World War II Battleship in the time of combat.  The Legacy Series: Blue and Gray NORTH CAROLINAS will take place from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Carolina Living History Guild members will set up displays that highlight the history of the USS North Carolina and the CSS North Carolina during the American Civil War. Displays will include steam engineering, ironclad ship construction, navigation, small arms of the US and CS navies, and the “arts of the sailor.” Visitors will be able to view reproductions of period small arms and working models of steam engines, as well as many other items. Guild members will discuss with visitors the vast differences between the 1824 ship-of-the-line and the newly constructed Confederate ironclad gunboat, and how these differences highlighted the change in naval and military technology in the 1860s. Both programs are free with Battleship admission.

8). CSS Neuse State Historic Site and Governor Caswell Memorial will host a birthday celebration for Governor Caswell on August 10th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Help celebrate the birth of North Carolina’s first state governor and Revolutionary War hero.  Come learn about his exceptional life and legacy.  Enjoy cake, ice cream, games, crafts and costumed interpreters. Free and open to the public.

9). Asheville Art Museum celebrates the artists and students of Black Mountain College in Lasting Gifts which opened on Saturday, July 27th and will have its opening reception on Friday, August 2nd from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Free with membership or regular Museum admission. Lasting Gifts will remain on view through Sunday, January 19, 2014.

10). North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences invites you to witness the epic story that was destined to stand as a colossus of adventure! Follow the Greek hero Jason and his team of intrepid adventurers (including Hercules) as they pursue a perilous quest for the legendary Golden Fleece, when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences shows the 1963 epic “Jason and the Argonauts” on First Friday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. Free admission.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

NCMC Events From Around the State… July 22, 2013

1). The New Winston Museum will host a "Salon Series" event on July 25, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. Carol Strokecker, director of the Center for Design Innovation, will share her vision for the Winston-Salem based CDI to be a catalyst for transformation in North Carolina's Piedmont region toward international recognition for preeminience in design and design as an engine for economic development. The event is free and open to the public.

2). NCTransportation Museum is hosting a new traveling exhibit: Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge appearing July 19 - August 31. The Queen Anne’s Revenge will present real items from the shipwreck of Blackbeard the Pirate’s ship. It will be available to all visitors with regular museum admission tickets.  July 27th Family Pirate Day – Group rates for individuals dressed like a pirate (kids and adults), a pirate costume contest, kids crafts and a treasure map with a prize..  "Avast, me hearties! All hands ahoy!"

3). Bellamy Mansion presents “Jazz at the Mansion” on Thursday, August 1st at 6:30 p.m.  Enjoy a summer evening outside full of jazz music brought to you by El Jaye Johnson with The Port City All-Stars. Bring your blankets or chairs and relax on the lawn to the sounds of America's classic songs played by the outstanding Wilmington artists. Beer and wine sold. Tickets available at gate - $12 General admission, $10 Members, $5 Students (with ID). Questions? Please call 910.251.3700. Don't miss our last concert in the Jazz at the Mansion series:  August 29th - The Al Neese Project.

4). Hands On! the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to "Mystery Festival". These science based programs will be held Tuesday - Friday, August 6-9 at 10:30-12:30 (ages 6-8) and 2:00-4:00 pm (ages 9-12).Work as a detective to solve a mystery. Collect evidence, make observations, formulate theories and figure out - Who did it? Please call 697-8333 by August 2nd to register in advance;$50 non-members/$44 members. Classes may be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment.

5). North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort invites you to their “Traditional Skiff Regatta” on August 3rd. Traditional sailing craft gather to recreate a mid-1900’s work boat regatta. Boat registration required for participation. Free. Call (252)728-2762 for more information or to register.

6). Greensboro Science Center invites you to kick off the dog days of summer with the Greensboro Science Center (GSC) and The Fresh Market at the fourth annual  Wild Watermelon Day on Saturday, August 3. Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Science Center visitors will get to sample fresh watermelon provided by The Fresh Market, take part in watermelon-themed crafts, games and family activities and watch animals devour their own tasty, sweet watermelon treats.  This event is included with regular admission.

7). High Point Museum invites you to Blacksmithing Demonstrations in the Historical Park on Saturday, August 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come watch their costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. All ages welcome.  FREE. Drop-in.

8). The Museum of the Albemarle welcomes Elizabeth City native, Chris Meekins, from the State Archives of North Carolina, who will present “The Murder of Thad Cox:  A Tale Re-told” at the Museum of the Albemarle on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 1 p.m.  Thaddeus Cox died February 9th, 1863. For 144 years the story of his death was told and retold; a cautionary tale about a bad man, who was both a traitor to his country and a coward. His story was meant to serve as an archetype of wrong behavior to the Southern community of Elizabeth City.  Thad’s crime - he was a North Carolina Union volunteer. Author Chris Meekins began researching Thad’s death. Slowly, thread by thread, the carefully crafted story of a traitor and a coward unraveled as Meekins recovered evidence which challenged the narrative. What really happened to Thaddeus Cox on February 9th, 1863?   Come listen as Meekins explains what the evidence tell us. 

9). NCMC Art Section invites you to “Mixer at the Mint:  A NCMC Art Networking Night” on Saturday, August 17th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Mint Museum UPTOWN Charlotte.  Mixer at the Mint brings North Carolina arts professionals together for one night to ignite partnerships and spark ideas that will lead to the success and sustainability of the visual arts in North Carolina. Join professionals from across North Carolina from the North Carolina Museum of Art, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Mint Museum UPTOWN and many more.  This event is free and open to NCMC Art Section members. You can join the Art Section for as little as $20. Become a member of NCMC online at http://www.ncmuseums.org/join.asp. Non-Members may attend as the guest of a member, but must make a $20 donation at the door. This event is sponsored by the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Museums Council.

10). Do You Need Help With the Care and Handling of Family Papers?
The State Archives of North Carolina and the State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) will create tutorials for the general public about the care and handling of family papers. These tutorials will be available on our YouTube channel. By completing this brief questionnaire, you will help us shape the content of these tutorials. Please take a few moments to complete this questionnaire by August 12, 2013. Thanks for your participation.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

NCMC Events From Around the State… July 15, 2013

1). The Grant Training Center announces a Professional Grant Development Workshop “Proposal I for Nonprofits & Educators” on July 23 -24 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Howard University in Washington, DC. Master the techniques of writing superior and winning proposals. Space is limited, the class fills-up quickly, & registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Workshop Fee:  $455.00 (including tuition, materials, certificate of completion, and continental breakfast). Rebate of $25.00 per person is given for two or more registrants from the same organization. To register, please visit our website or call us toll free at (866)-704-7268 or (571) 257-8864.
 
2). Greensboro Historical Museum presents their newest exhibition “A Storyteller's Eye: The Work of Photojournalist Jerry Wolford”.  Award-winning photographer Jerry Wolford has been using his camera to tell stories for almost three decades, most of that time for the Greensboro News & Record. Visit this exhibit to see some of his best storytelling images, trace the changes in professional photographic equipment during his career, and find out what skills he believes are key to his success.  The exhibit will run from July 2 - September 8, 2013. Hours are Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 2 – 5 p.m. Free admission. 
 
3). Cape Fear Museum presents “Night at the Museum”. Explore life after dark in the Lower Cape Fear as you creep through Cape Fear Museum on Saturday, July 20th from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Families will venture through the Museum, investigate hands-on science activities and meet live animals. There’s something for everyone!  Admission for Night at the Museum is $6.00 per person; $3.00 for museum members. Memberships will be available on event day. Night at the Museum is sponsored by Connect A Million Minds, a Time Warner Cable initiative. For more information about science activities in your town, visit www.connectamillionminds.com.
 
4). Charlotte Nature Museum invites you to celebrate our favorite animal companions and learn about responsible pet ownership when the Museum hosts its July Creature Feature, Petapalooza, Saturday, July 20, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Whether they’re furry, feathered, scaly or slimy, your pet is a diamond in the ruff!  At Petapalooza discover the menagerie of different creatures that are commonly kept as companions and how each has different needs.
 
5). The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences would like to thank and celebrate the members of our military through its own Military Appreciation Week, July 21–27. During that week, the Museum is offering all active, reserve or retired military and their families discounted tickets to the current special exhibit (Dinosaurs in Motion), as well as discounted store merchandise and Museum memberships. The week will also feature special presentations from area scientists, including NC State University’s Tyson Wepprich, who researches a species of butterfly found only within the boundaries of Ft. Bragg Army Base, and Museum ornithologist John Gerwin, who will talk about common birds found in and around military bases of eastern North Carolina.  The Museum is open Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm; and Sunday 12–5pm. General Admission is FREE. A full schedule of Military Appreciation Week presentations and other related events will soon be available at www.naturalsciences.org.  Visitors must show Military ID to receive discounts.
 
6). Hands On! the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, presents “Lego Learn, then Build – Arcade Games” on Wednesday, July 24h from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Ages 8-12. Learn about the skill of building arcade games, then use your knowledge to be an engineer and build yourself. $16 non-members/$10 members. Limited spaces. Call to sign-up.
 
7). North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort invites you to get an update on the Queen Anne’s Revenge Project on Friday, August 2nd at 3 p.m.  Museum Nautical Archeologist David Moore will give an update on the latest work that has taken place with the recovery of artifacts from Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. Free. 
 
8). The Museum of the Albemarle hosts a History for Lunch on Wednesday, August 7th at 12:15 p.m.  Martha Williams, museum volunteer and former archeologist, will present a program about the archaeological remains left by the people who lived within the present country of Scotland. The tour begins with the Late Stone age, 14,000 years ago, extends through the Roman and Viking invasions, and ends with the archaeology of World Wars I and II.  Along the way we will visit Scotland's Outer Islands––the Hebrides, the Orkneys, and the Shetlands––as well as castles, cairns, and sites on the Scottish mainland.  Bring your lunch and join the discussion, MOA will provide the beverages.
 
9). History Mythbusting Workshop at Historic Stagville on August 10th. For those in the NCMC History Section interested in networking with fellow interpreters and discussing how to identify and avoid history myths, Historic Stagville is offering a half-day workshop featuring archivists from the Southern Historical Collection, curatorial staff from the NC Division of Historic Sites, and Mary Miley Theobald, author of the History Myths Debunked blog and "Death By Petticoat." Please call (919) 620-0120 or email jeremiah.degennaro@ncdcr.gov for more information or to register.  Space is limited.
 
10). NCMC Art Section invites you to “Mixer at the Mint:  A NCMC Art Networking Night” on Saturday, August 17th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Mint Museum UPTOWN Charlotte.  Mixer at the Mint brings North Carolina arts professionals together for one night to ignite partnerships and spark ideas that will lead to the success and sustainability of the visual arts in North Carolina. Join professionals from across North Carolina from the North Carolina Museum of Art, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Mint Museum UPTOWN and many more.  This event is free and open to NCMC Art Section members. You can join the Art Section for as little as $20. Become a member of NCMC online at http://www.ncmuseums.org/join.asp. Non-Members may attend as the guest of a member, but must make a $20 donation at the door. This event is sponsored by the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Museums Council.

Monday, July 08, 2013

NCMC Events From Around the State… July 8, 2013

1). A Special Invitation from the North Carolina Humanities Council: Host Smithsonian Institution's Hometown Teams in 2015.  The North Carolina Humanities Council and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service are pleased to announce “Hometown Teams” — an exciting Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibition to tour North Carolina beginning in February 2015. Rural NC museums, libraries, historic sites, and historical societies are invited to apply as host sites by July 10, 2013. Sites will be determined by the end of September 2013. “Hometown Teams” is comprised of six content sections and an introduction; it requires 900 square feet of floor space, a ceiling height of 8.5 feet, and access to electrical outlets. More information, including the request for proposals is available at www.nchumanities.org.  Questions about “Hometown Teams”? Contact the North Carolina Humanities Council Program Director Darrell Stover at dstover@nchumanities.org or 336.334.5723.

2). History Mythbusting Workshop at Historic Stagville on August 10th. For those in the NCMC History Section interested in networking with fellow interpreters and discussing how to identify and avoid history myths, Historic Stagville is offering a half-day workshop featuring archivists from the Southern Historical Collection, curatorial staff from the NC Division of Historic Sites, and Mary Miley Theobald, author of the History Myths Debunked blog and "Death By Petticoat." Please call (919) 620-0120 or email jeremiah.degennaro@ncdcr.gov for more information or to register.  Space is limited.

3). Bellamy Mansion announces the opening of their new exhibit “Images of Distinction” on Tuesday, July 9th. Each year, Cape Fear Camera Club holds a regional competition that results in a spectacular photographic exhibit. In 2013, that exhibit will be available to the public in the gallery spaces of the Bellamy Mansion museum from July 9 - August 23. For admission pricing, please visit www.bellamymansion.org/visit-bellamy-mansion.htm.

4). President James K. Polk State Historic Site hosts its second of three 2nd Saturday programs this Saturday, July 13th – Folk at Polk.  Come and explore the diverse music traditions of 19th century North Carolina. Local area folk musicians, including Dr. Tom Hanchett from the Levine Museum of the New South, will be on hand to play a variety of time period music. Hours: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission: Free.

5). North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort - Join us for our 2nd Saturdays celebration on July 13th, part of a North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources series held at historic sites and museums across the state. This event will showcase usual and unusual things that you can find while beachcombing! There will be displays of every seashell found in North Carolina. Learn about sea beans and where they come from! Local artisans will also be set up on the front patio. This event is free and will be held from 11 a.m.  to 3 p.m.

6). Discovery Place invites you to “Explore Nano!” on Saturday, July 13th from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Explore science at the nanoscale with Professor Tom Schmedake from UNC Charlotte’s Department of Chemistry and researchers from the NanoSURE REU program, a research experience for undergraduates sponsored by the National Science Foundation.  Visitors will be able to design a new molecule, play with nanocoated materials, check out the nano exhibit, and even repeat a Nobel Prize winning experiment. Level 2; Free with Museum admission.

7). Hands On! the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, presents “Wiggle with Worms” on Tuesday, July 16th from 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon. Ages 6-10; younger, if accompanied by adult. Get hands-on with these fascinating creatures of the dirt! Hold worms, hunt for worm eggs, and create worm crafts. $16 non-members/$10 members. Limited spaces. Call to sign-up. Sponsored by the Etowah Valley Veterinary Hospital.

8). NC Transportation Museum will be hosting a new traveling exhibit: Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge appearing July 19 - August 31. The Queen Anne’s Revenge will present real items from the shipwreck of Blackbeard the Pirate’s ship. It will be available to all visitors with regular museum admission tickets.  Check the web site for all the special activities being held during this exciting event.  "Avast, me hearties! All hands ahoy!"

9). The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences would like to thank and celebrate the members of our military through its own Military Appreciation Week, July 21–27. During that week, the Museum is offering all active, reserve or retired military and their families discounted tickets to the current special exhibit (Dinosaurs in Motion), as well as discounted store merchandise and Museum memberships. The week will also feature special presentations from area scientists, including NC State University’s Tyson Wepprich, who researches a species of butterfly found only within the boundaries of Ft. Bragg Army Base, and Museum ornithologist John Gerwin, who will talk about common birds found in and around military bases of eastern North Carolina.  The Museum is open Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm; and Sunday 12–5pm. General Admission is FREE. A full schedule of Military Appreciation Week presentations and other related events will soon be available at www.naturalsciences.org.  Visitors must show Military ID to receive discounts.

10). The Museum of the Albemarle presents “Archaeology 101 for Children” on Wednesday, July 24th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Various stations will be set up to explain that artifacts have a meaning or a story to tell, the tools and methods used by archaeologists, how artifacts are recovered in a systematic fashion and how organized records are kept of finds, and the aspect of processing and interpreting artifacts from a site.  Also, become familiar with various vessels that either were used or have wrecked or sunk in the Albemarle region.  Discover what some local archaeologists have uncovered in their own backyard. Visitors will participate in archaeological activities. Free family program. For more information, please contact 252-335-1453.