ncmuseums

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

Monday, January 27, 2014

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 27, 2014



1). North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort (http://www.ncmaritimemuseums.com/beaufort.html) invites you to Merry Times for Tots:  Whales & Dolphins on Friday, January 31st, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.  Does a dolphin bark?  Can a whale sing?  How do they breathe?  Preschoolers (ages 2-5) and their caregivers are invited to the Museum for this free hour long program where visitors will have the chance to hear a story about dolphins and smell the oil from a Sperm Whale.  Children will also have the chance to touch the heart of the Museum’s own 33.5’ sperm whale named “Echo”.  Program by School & Group Coordinator Christine Brin.  Free Admission. Pre-registration preferred.  252.728.7317.

2). Discovery Place (www.discoveryplace.org) announces that the Multi-Sensory Van Gogh Alive Exhibition is coming on April 25, 2014. Fitting for one of the world’s greatest artists whose masterpieces blazed an exciting new trail for modern art, Van Gogh Alive breaks through all preconceived ideas of a traditional museum visit. The new experience, which has traveled the world  will be appearing in the eastern U.S. for the first time. Van Gogh Alive will be on exhibition for a limited time only, from April 25 – June 1, 2014. Advance tickets are now on sale. Admission to Van Gogh Alive is $20 for adults (14-59); $18 for children (2-13) or seniors (60+); free for children younger than 2.  All tickets include full day admission to Discovery Place. Discounts are available for Discovery Place Members and for groups of 15 or more. Children age 13 and younger must be accompanied by a responsible adult while in Discovery Place.

3). Kings Mountain Historical Museum (www.kingsmountainmuseum.org) presents a new exhibit, Common Threads: Kings Mountain’s Textile Heritage from Prehistory to Today, opening February 1 and on display until May 24.  This exhibit celebrates the rich textile history of Kings Mountain and the surrounding area, following a timeline from the Native American textiles of prehistory, to the textile mills of the 19th and 20th centuries that were instrumental in the development of this region, to the contemporary local textile manufacturers who continue to thrive in the industry through innovations in textile technology and environmentally sustainable practices.  Hands-on activities help children and adults better understand textile technologies and their importance to society – a common thread in Kings Mountain’s culture from prehistory to today.  Common Threads is proudly sponsored by J.E. Herndon Company, Neisler Brothers, Inc., and Patrick Yarn Mills, Inc.  Open Tuesday through Saturday 10am – 4pm.  ADMISSION IS FREE!  Donations are appreciated.  All donations go towards fulfilling the Museum’s mission to collect, preserve, and interpret history through exhibits, educational programs, tours, and other appropriate means, in order to foster a deeper understanding of the history of our community and the region. 

4). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org) announces that on February 8th, Wayne Henderson and a group of friends will be playing a benefit dinner show at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History.   The show includes not only Henderson’s unique blend of homespun stories and music, but also a wine dinner catered by Old North State Winery.  Wayne Henderson, master luthier and National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow, is featured in the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History current traveling exhibit, The Luthier’s Craft: Instrument Making Traditions of the Blue Ridge.  In addition to his work crafting musical instruments, Henderson is a world renowned musician with over 300 guitar competition awards to his credit. He has played at countless venues around the world including Carnegie Hall and at the 1992 Presidential Inauguration. Tickets are $100 per person and seating is extremely limited.  Call the museum today at 336-786-4478 to reserve your seat for this one-of-a-kind, small venue show with one of the living masters of the flat top guitar

5). The Asheville Area Arts Council Gallery (www.ashevillearts.org) will host In Public curated by Frank Meadows, February 7th through March 8th ,as part of our continued “Point of View” exhibition program. In Public exhibits new works by young local artists across a wide range of media. Curator Frank Meadows states, “I aim to use this show as an opportunity to expose and elevate true work being done by new artists. By taking fresh ideas out of bedrooms and studios and placing them in the public eye, the hope is to create a broader awareness of up and coming artists, and the challenges that their works present.  Media range from computer-based design, to mixed media drawing, photography and sculpture. Each work presents a style I find remarkably individual and fully engaged with the risk-taking necessary to sustain vitality.” In Public will feature the works of Zach Smith, Nick James, Dow One, soshie LAN, Charles McCurry, Bailey Ewing, Mary Claire Becker, Keegan Hooper, David Grubba, and Marissa Zarrabzadeh.  Join us for the opening reception featuring performances by AESC CPI and Páciens Trine held Friday, February 7th from 6:00pm-9:00pm.

6). Bellamy Mansion (www.bellamymansion.org/calendar.htm) and the NC Humanities Council present a Road Scholar Program “Slave Voices North Carolina” by Lucinda MacKethan on Thursday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m.  The program is free and will be held at the Bellamy Mansion Museum.

7). Cape Fear Museum (www.capefearmuseum.com) invites you to celebrate the opening of Cape Fear Museum’s newest exhibit Collection Selections: Handbags at a Purse Swap event on Wednesday, February 12 from 7-10 PM. Visitors are encouraged to bring in new or gently used purses (up to three) to trade for a “new” handbag! Wine, beer, chocolate, appetizers, and cupcakes from One Belle Bakery will be served. We’ll conduct a fun survey about each guest’s “pursenality” to win prizes.  The Purse Swap is $15 for members; $17 non-members. Reservations are strongly encouraged. RSVP by February 7 to Cindy at 910-798-4372 or canzalotti@nhcgov.com.

8). The Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com) invites you to Civil War Living History on Saturday, February 8th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Cannon firing on Waterfront Park, re-enactor encampments, demonstrations and tours of the Civil War sesquicentennial exhibit, Under Both Flags: Civil War in the Albemarle signals the beginning of a public history day at the Museum of the Albemarle.   Sing along as the Tar River Dulcimers perform period ballads from noon to 3:30 p.m.  Tar Heel Civilians depict the war’s impact on the home front.    Enjoy a carriage ride ($5 per person, with Carolina Carriages) and pony rides ($3 per child, with Circle S Stables). Shop the Museum Gift Shop for that special gift–many Civil War related items will be at a 10 percent discount.  Junior Docents will lead visitor in period dances and games.  A series of lectures and book signings beginning at 11 a.m. when­­­­­­ Alex Leary, Camden County resident will present “The Mosquito Fleet”.  Elizabeth City native Chris Meekins, State Archives of North Carolina, will present “The Murder of Thad Cox:  A Tale Re-told” at 1:30 p.m.  Brenda McKean will sign her book Blood and War at my Doorstep:  North Carolina Civilians in the War Between the States throughout the day.  Young adults will enjoy on-going book discussion and book signing by John Bushmore, Boy in Chains, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Discover the Civil War through Photography offers interactive scenes of a Civil War battlefield, Bayside Plantation and a photographer’s studio for young and old alike in the museum’s Discovery Room.  The Discovery Room is open daily Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  Don’t miss this exciting day of educational and entertaining experiences for the entire family!

9). NC Maritime Museum at Southport (www.ncmaritimemuseums.com) invites you to “Maritime Valentines” on February 8th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Show your maritime love by creating a sailor’s valentine with shells collected from the beaches of the Lower Cape Fear.  Enjoy a heart cookie while designing your Valentine’s Day card.  All ages welcome.  Fee: $3.  Call the Museum to register 910-457-0003. North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport, 204 E. Moore St., Southport. 28461.

10). N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org) announces the opening of its final exhibit of Civil War Series, North Carolina and the Civil War: The Bitter End, 1864-1865. The final exhibit in a three-part series commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in North Carolina has opened at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. The exhibit series explores the nation’s bloodiest conflicts from 1861 through 1865. It is located within the museum’s permanent military history gallery A Call to Arms. Admission is free. The Bitter End, 1864-1865 begins in the spring of 1864, when heavy fighting in Virginia was thinning the ranks of Tar Heel troops. The exhibit concludes with the surrender of the CSS Shenandoah in Liverpool, England, on Nov. 6, 1865. Highlighted artifacts include revolvers, swords, battle flags and uniforms used by North Carolinians who persevered in the face of impossible odds.   Be sure to see The Bitter End, 1864-1865 and learn more about the stories of North Carolinians during the war’s final chapters.

Monday, January 20, 2014

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 20, 2014




1). North Carolina Museum of History invites you to begin celebrating Black History Month a week early at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Join the statewide kickoff at the 13th Annual African American Cultural Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Learn about the state’s diverse African American heritage and culture during this free event for all ages. The large festival boasts more than 75 outstanding presenters that include musicians, storytellers, writers, dancers, chefs and craftspeople. This year’s event is funded in part by the Raleigh Arts Commission and the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, with funds from the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, PNC, IBM and the N.C. Museum of History Associates. Additional support provided by the MLK Commission, N.C. Writers’ Network and LaVenson Press Studios. For more information about the N.C. Museum of History, call 919-807-7900 or access www.ncmuseumofhistory.org.  On Facebook “like” the page “2014 AACC” to get updates. 

2). Hands On!, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to Mad Scientists Lab – Oatmeal Play Clay on Tuesday, January 21st from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Ages 3 yrs & up. Join Dr. Bunson & Dr. Beaker in the Mad Scientist Lab as they make crazy concoctions. $7 non-members (includes admission for child participating in class); free for members. Sponsored by BP Fueling Communities. Limited spaces. Please call to register.

3). Tryon Palace announces that WinterFeast is coming on Friday, January 31st, with a bounty of oysters, brews and comfort foods. And for the refined ... they've got wine! Join them at the North Carolina History Center from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. for a down-home buffet of steamed oysters, shrimp and grits, hearty soups, and of course, Eastern North Carolina barbecue. There really is no better way to beat the winter blues than this tasty feast on the waterfront with your friends. This indoor/outdoor event gives you the freedom to sit down and stay warm inside, or socialize outside on Bate Commons with food, drinks, music, games, and gorgeous views of the Trent River. Tickets are $35 and include admittance to WinterFeast, food, and soft drinks. A cash bar offering beer and wine will also be available. Tickets may be purchased online, by phone (252-639-3524) and at the Tryon Palace ticket desk.

4). The Asheville Art Museum invites you to “Tot Time in the ArtPLAYce for Children” on Tuesday, January 21st at 10:30 a.m.  Parents with pre-school age children are invited to bring their youngsters to the Museum’s interactive Art PLAYce for Children to this monthly series called “Tot Time,” featuring a new guided art activity designed especially for tiny tots each month. Participating children must be accompanied by an adult.

5). North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort invites to a Traditional Boatbuilding Carpentry Class on January 25th and 26th , 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Traditional techniques, developed to solve woodworking problems unique to vernacular boatbuilding, are taught in this hands-on workshop. Participants work as a team to construct a twelve to fourteen-foot version of a traditional “rack of eye” flat-bottomed skiff. In the process they learn how to set up the boat, spile and bend planks, plane bevels, erect framing, and explore fastening options and the characteristics of traditional boatbuilding woods. 12 hours (2 day class) can be used as a prerequisite for 9-Day Boatbuilding Class.  Fee: $135.  Minimum age: 16 yrs. old.  Advance registration.  252.728.7317.

6). High Point Museum invites to Blacksmithing Demonstrations in the Historical Park on Saturday, January 25th, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Come watch our costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. All ages welcome.  FREE. Drop-in.

7). The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center will host the USS Underwriter Expedition Symposium and Navy Living History Saturday, Feb. 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Underwriter Expedition. Registration is now open until Jan. 24 and has limited seating. A boxed lunch from Our Picnic Basket will be included in the $10 registration fee due by Jan. 24. Please call 252-522-2107 or email cssneuse@ncdcr.gov to register.
8). North Carolina Museum of History invites you to begin celebrating Black History Month a week early at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Join the statewide kickoff at the 13th Annual African American Cultural Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Learn about the state’s diverse African American heritage and culture during this free event for all ages. The large festival boasts more than 75 outstanding presenters that include musicians, storytellers, writers, dancers, chefs and craftspeople. This year’s event is funded in part by the Raleigh Arts Commission and the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, with funds from the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, PNC, IBM and the N.C. Museum of History Associates. Additional support provided by the MLK Commission, N.C. Writers’ Network and LaVenson Press Studios. For more information about the N.C. Museum of History, call 919-807-7900 or access www.ncmuseumofhistory.org.  On Facebook “like” the page “2014 AACC” to get updates. 

9). New Winston Museum, in partnership with the Society for the Study of Afro-American History (SSAAH), and as part of their monthly Salon Series, will host a panel discussion titled, "A Community Within a Community: The African American Experience in Winston-Salem Before Integration." In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the upcoming Black History Month, Dr. English Bradshaw, local artist Jerry Hanes, and a representative of SSAAH will discuss African American life in Winston-Salem prior to integration, recognizing and exploring this community within a community. Dr. Rosemary Millar, professor of African American Literature at UNCSA, will moderate the discussion. Thursday, January 23 at 12:00 pm. Free admission, and guests are welcome to bring their lunch.

10). North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences tells Phil to move over! The REAL “hognosticator” is in the house! Sir Walter Wally makes official weather prediction Sunday, February 2nd.   Mayor Nancy McFarlane returns as “Groundhog Whisperer”.  Regularly listed among the Weather Channel’s “Top 11 Groundhogs to Watch,” Sir Walter Wally continues to gain national attention for his “hognosticating,” or rather prognosticating abilities. Needless to say, we’re certain that our furry, famous friend won’t disappoint this year. After all, since 1998, Wally has been right 50 percent of the time, while his cousin to the north of us, Punxsutawney Phil, has been correct a measly 31 percent. According to German legend, if Wally sees his shadow on February 2, we’re in for six more weeks of winter.  Come join us at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for the 17th annual Groundhog Day celebration and check out Wally’s prediction for yourself. Groundhog Day activities will take place Sunday, February 2, from noon to 5 p.m. with the shadow ceremony beginning promptly at 1 p.m. on Bicentennial Plaza in front of the Museum. Don’t worry. The ceremony will be over in plenty of time to enjoy your Superbowl festivities!

Monday, January 13, 2014

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 13, 2014




1). Hands On!, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to Curiosity Week at Hands On! Tuesday, January 14th to Friday, January 17th. Self-directed curiosity activities all week in our Party Room. Free with $5 admission/Free for members. Sponsored by Fountainhead Bookstore.

2). Tryon Palace announces the start of their 2014 African American Lecture Series, which begins Thursday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. in Cullman Performance Hall with the play “When I Leave”.  When the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) formed in 1959 under its first president, Martin Luther King, Jr., there was no doubt that the world was changing. That same year President Dwight Eisenhower signed the first voter registration bill. And in the play "When I Leave," the eldest son in a small farming family from rural North Carolina is struggling to contain his frustration with the many injustices of his segregated existence. Will the promise of a better world arrive in time to deter his discontent? Or will a lack of awareness ignite his brewing rage? Find out during this free program.

3). The Asheville Art Museum invites visitors to view the video works of Robert Wiegand and his first wife, Ingrid. The works were made in the 1970s when video art was first making an appearance in the art world. During this early period of video creation, the mechanical nature of the medium was a source for experimentation and inspiration. Robert and Ingrid Wiegand translated their prior training as painters into a hands-on, process-oriented exploration of this new electronic medium, allowing the aesthetic possibilities of video to take center-stage as they discovered how to manipulate sound, layer images and capture narrated performances.  This exhibition highlights several of the Wiegands’ works in which technological aspects of video are explored. These works are on loan from the collection of the Robert Wiegand papers and video art at the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and guest curated by Crystal Sanchez, Smithsonian Institution. It is available until Sunday, April 27th, 2014.

4). North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort invites you to the 3rd Annual Clam Chowder Cook-off on January 17th, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Four volunteer guest clam chowder cooks will compete at the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center.  Participants enjoy a tasting-sized portion of each of the four chowders and then vote for their favorite.  In addition clam chowder, the event will host a cornbread taste-off.  Tickets available at the Museum Store or online at www.museumfriends.org.   $30 Non-Members and $25 Friends Members.  Proceeds help support the operations of the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum. 252.728.7317.

5). High Point Museum invites to the Museum Guild Meeting on Wednesday, January 15th at 10:00 a.m.  Charles Roedenbough, noted historian and author of books on Governor Alexander Martin and Andrew Jackson, and Pine House will share his new discoveries. He has spent the last ten years researching the Sauratown Project and the early plantation of 18th century surveyor William Byrd who ran the line between North Carolina and Virginia.

6). The Matthews Heritage Museum announces its new exhibit "From the Heart" to open on January 16th.  Whether it is "puppy love" or true romance, Valentine's Day helps individuals express their heart's emotions.  A collection of antique valentines from the 1920s will be on display thru the middle of March.  The Matthews Heritage Museum is located at 232 N. Trade Street, Matthews, NC 28105.  The Museum is open Thursday to Saturday from 10 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $4.00 per adult, $2 for youngsters 11 to 17.  Children 10 and under are free.  The first Saturday of each month is free.  For more information on the Museum, tours, and exhibits, please see our website.

7). Jackson County Public Library in Sylva is hosting “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future,” on view from January 6th through Feb 9th.  The exhibit focuses on Cherokee language and culture, using sound recordings as the basis for presenting a coherent story in words and text.  “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” was designed to include community input as a way to develop its content.  A community team held monthly discussions to develop the ideas and images that would make up the exhibit.  Major themes include Cherokee Homeland, Heritage Sites, Tourism, Family, and Community Celebrations.  The touring exhibit is sponsored by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in partnership with Cherokee Central Schools, Southwestern Community College, and Western Carolina University.  Funding was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  Slated to travel to ten sites in the region, the exhibit places cultural interpretation in locations frequented by the public.  “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” will later be on view at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Cashiers Symposium and Historical Society in Cashiers.  For more information, contact: Curatorial.InSight@gmail.com

8). Fort Fisher State Historic Site invites you to their 149th Anniversary Program on Saturday, January 18, 2014.  Fort Fisher State Historic Site will commemorate the 149th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher with the living history program, “Always near the front, with instruments and tourniquets: The Medical Service at Fort Fisher.”  Held from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., this free program will focus on medical and health care available to soldiers on both sides of the 1865 battle. Civil War re-enactors will set up displays and discuss period medical tools and the care of sick and wounded soldiers. Infantry units will conduct the manual of arms and participate in firing demonstrations, as well as talk about camp life and garrison duty. Artillery units will conduct drills and firing with the site’s rifled and banded 32-pound cannon and the site’s bronze 12-pound Napoleon cannon. Civil War sutlers and a period photographer will be on hand and tours of the site will be conducted throughout the day. All Fort Fisher programming is made possible by the Friends of Fort Fisher and its sustaining members: Troy and Lori Barbour, Mike McCarley, Tammy and Jack Moore, Brian and Deedra Nunnally and Jim and Catherine Taylor.

9) New Winston Museum, in partnership with the Colonel Joseph Winston Chapter of the NSDAR, will host: History Lessons at Camp London. Award-winning history educator Eric Marshall shares his experiences and approaches to providing a meaningful history education, including his passionate role in Camp London, a Civil War reenactment program for his fifth grade students. Mr. Marshall has been featured on the CBS Evening News and in Our State Magazine for his educational innovation. This will be an excellent example of the power of educators to meaningfully impact their students and make their subjects resonate. Tuesday, January 14 at 5:30 pm. Free admission.

10). The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by waiving general admission fees on Monday, January 20, 2014.  Martin Luther King Jr. Day is one of two holidays each year the N.C. Aquariums offer visitors free admission. The other day is Veterans Day in November. Many area schools are closed for the holiday, too. Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to spend a fun-filled day at AquaCamp. Preregistration for the camps is necessary.  Call (910) 458-7468 or visit ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher to find more information on the camp and to register online.

Sunday, January 05, 2014

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 6, 2014



1). Hands On!, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to visit them Tuesday, January 7th – Friday, January 10th to celebrate World Braille Days @ Handay On!  World Braille Day is celebrated each year on Jan. 4th. Learn to write your name in Braille, experience Braille books and see how 6 dots changed the world – all day on each of the days. Play Braille Twister Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.. All ages. Sponsored by Drs. Alison & Richard Reid, Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Free with $5 admission/free for members.

2). The Museum of the Albemarle invites you to join them for a new lecture series, “Back to the Past”, every first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. The Museum begins the new lecture series on Tuesday, January 7th at 10:00 a.m. with “Looking Back Farm in Perquimans County”.  A member of the Haines family will answer your questions about organic farming.  The Haines have been farming organically since 1987.   The family manages 350 acres in Perquimans County.  In 2011, with support from a grant, the Haines family created a mobile organic feed mill that supplies local livestock farms with bagged organic corn and wheat feed. It is the first source of organic feed in his region. Through this community endeavor, they are demonstrating the viability of organic agriculture.

3). Tryon Palace invites you to the newest traveling exhibit in the Duffy Gallery that features the artifacts for Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge. This rare exhibit gives you a chance to see actual treasures, including weapons, nautical tools, and personal artifacts recovered from the shipwreck (found near Beaufort in 1996). The exhibit will be on display at Tryon Palace until February 15th.  Special programming will be held in conjunction with its visit; including “Pancakes and Pirates” on Saturday, January 11th from 8:00 -11:00 a.m. "Pancakes and Pirates" invites children ages 10 and under to join the infamous pirate, Blackbeard, for his favorite meal ... pancakes! While devouring breakfast, they'll enjoy sea chanteys, chatting with pirates and building their very own treasure chest!  Seating is limited for this event and preregistration is required by noon on Friday, Jan. 10. Children ages 10 and under will eat for free, thanks to a generous donation from Bob and Carol Mattocks. Tickets for adults wishing to join them will be $10 each. The fun continues that same day from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with "Pirates in the Palace." Visitors of all ages will enjoy a day filled with crafts and lessons from pirates, all in an effort to teach the skills needed to join Blackbeard and become one of his buccaneers! A treasure map will lead you all over the Palace grounds, and if you be a true sea rover you'll find Blackbeard's booty!

4). The Asheville Art Museum invites you to visit them for FREE on Wednesday, January 8th  from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. as a New Year’s gift to the community. For the remainder of 2014, the Museum will continue to offer this free admission afternoon on the first Wednesday of each month from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Visitors can enjoy several exhibitions currently on view at the Museum, including Cityscapes by Ben Aronson; Lasting Gifts; Rebels with a Cause; Selections from the Permanent Collection: 140 Years of American Art; Josef Albers: Experiments in Color; Esteban Vicente: The Art of Interruption - Painting, Drawing, Collage; Cycle: Hoss Haley; and Robert and Ingrid Wiegand: An Electronic Medium.

5). North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort invites you to “Brown Bag Gam:  U.S. Lifesaving Service in North Carolina” on Thursday, January 9th, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Pack a lunch for the Brown Bag Gam during your lunch hour and join Associate Museum Curator Benjamin Wunderly for an informal discussion on the history of the United States Lifesaving Service in North Carolina. The small crews of this service, the predecessor to the United States Coast Guard, rescued hundreds of sailors in a time when most people traveled by water.  Gam is defined as a friendly conversation between whalers or to visit with another ship while at sea.  Free Admission. Reservations preferred.  252.728.7317.

6). High Point Museum invites you to Bread & Butter Making in the Historical Park on Saturday, January 11th,  10:00  a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Come see our costumed interpreters bake bread and make butter in the Hoggatt House. All ages welcome. FREE. Drop-in.

7). The New Winston Museum presents “History Lessons at Camp London” on Tuesday, January 14th at 5:30 p.m.  In partnership with the Colonel Joseph Winston Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), we present Stokes County educator Eric Marshall. Mr. Marshall has been featured on the CBS Evening News and in Our State Magazine for his passionate and innovative approaches to educating his fifth grade students about the Civil War.  The Colonel Joseph Winston Chapter of the NSDAR will present Mr. Marshall with a certificate recognizing him as the chapter’s selection as an Outstanding Teacher of American History; Marshall has also just been confirmed as the statewide NCSDAR winner of the Outstanding Teacher of American History award and will be nominated for the national award, to be announced in June 2014. New Winston Museum has invited Mr. Marshall to share his experiences and approaches to providing a meaningful history education. 

8). Joel Lane Museum House presents a lecture on "Elizabeth Keckly: Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House" by Rebecca Ryan on Thursday, January 16th at 7:00 p.m. at the Visitors Center of the Joel Lane Museum House. Admission will be $15 for the general public and $10 for members of the Joel Lane Historical Society. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, and advanced payment is required. Please call 919-833-3431 with your MasterCard or Visa, or mail a check to P O Box 10884, Raleigh NC 27605, or go to the Eventbrite website. Be sure to include the names of all in your party; nametags will serve as tickets. Tickets are non-refundable unless we must cancel the event.

9). Discovery Place will bring the interaction of history, science, creativity and innovation into sharp focus for visitors with a thrilling, multi-sensory experience, 101 Inventions That Changed The World, coming February 2, 2014. Advance tickets are now on sale.  The exhibition will be appearing in the U.S. for the first time since its international debut in Salt Lake City earlier this year.  With more than 6,000 different video files, 40 projectors and floor-to-ceiling walls that display crystal clear images, the experience delivers a multi-sensory presentation to take audiences on a spectacular journey of inventions – from stone tools to the birth of the Internet. Advance tickets are now on sale now. 101 Inventions That Changed the World will be on exhibition until April 21, 2014. 

10). Cape Fear Museum announces that the “Big Read Greater Wilmington” continues its Big Read celebration of The Things They Carried with a keynote presentation and book signing by the book’s author and Vietnam veteran Tim O’Brien, on Wednesday, January 15th  at 7:00 p.m. at Kenan Auditorium on the campus of UNC Wilmington.  The Things They Carried is semi-autobiographical account of a young platoon on a battlefield without a front, dodging sniper fire and their own misgivings. O’Brien will discuss The Things They Carried and about the process of transforming actual experiences and events into fiction. He will read excerpts from the book and share personal anecdotes.  Tickets to O’Brien’s keynote presentation are free (limit four per person) and can be obtained at the Kenan Auditorium Box Office. More information: www.uncw.edu/arts/boxoffice.html.