ncmuseums

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

Monday, February 23, 2015

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 23, 2015



1). Museum of Anthropology, Wake Forest University (http://moa.wfu.edu) invites you to "Cherokee Handmade: At the Junction of Economic Development and Representation” on Thursday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. led by Dr. Courtney Lewis, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Carolina and enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. In 1997, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) opened their first Harrah's casino. By 2010, the casino hosted 3.6 million visitors and garnered $386 million that year alone. During this time, the EBCI government also launched several programs to bolster their small business stability and growth. Given the enormous success of the casino, why are small business viewed as critical elements on the Qualla Boundary? Dr. Lewis will examine these founding businesses of the EBCI, their impacts on both the economy and cultural representation of the EBCI, and the specific challenges they face as American Indian businesses. Admission is free. This event is cosponsored by the Department of Anthropology and the Anthropology Club.  The lecture is presented in conjunction with the MOA's featured exhibit, Understanding Our Past, Shaping Our Future.

2). The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org), in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services, Museum on Main Street, and the North Carolina Humanities Council, is the statewide launch site for the exhibit Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America. The exhibit opens on Saturday, February 28th and admission is free on opening day. At 2 p.m. Hometown Teams statewide scholar Pamela Grundy will present “Back Then, That Was the Thing to Do” – North Carolina Women’s Basketball 1923-1960.  The Museum will be open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

3).  The Asheville Area Arts Council (www.ashevillearts.com) presents WHEE Fresh, a collection of works by local artists from Western Carolina University’s Master of Fine Arts Program, in their gallery located in the Grove Arcade at 1 Page Avenue Suite 143 A. The MFA program at WCU is interdisciplinary, encouraging students to develop individual creative directions ranging from traditional painting and ceramics to experimental work in sculpture and new media.  The exhibition will be opening on Thursday, March 5th with a public reception on Friday, March 6th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.  It will run through Saturday, March 14th and can be viewed during normal business hours 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.  The gallery space will be occupied with freshly crafted works crossing disciplines of sculpture, photography, digital media, fibers, ceramics, drawing, and painting.

4). Earl Scruggs Center (www.earlscruggscenter.org) invites you to “Spring Afternoon Tea: The Art of Tea” on Sunday, March 22nd at 3:00 p.m. Join Earl Scruggs Center Curator, Annmarie Reiley-Kay, as she talks about the art of tea from Europe to the American South. The presentation focuses on depicting tea in famous works of art and the popularization of tea in society. After the presentation, enjoy an afternoon of delicious French & English pastries, finger sandwiches and, of course, tea. Music will be provided by accomplished Cellist, Levi Pendergrass. There will be teacup give-a-ways and raffle drawings for a Biltmore teapot & teacup set. Seating is limited. Reservations are required. Purchase online at www.EarlScruggsCenter.org or call the Center at 704-487-6233.  Tickets cost $25 and Earl Scruggs Center’s members receive a discount, please come by guest services or call the Earl Scruggs Center about discounted membership pricing and to purchase member tickets.

5). Spencer Doll and Toy Museum (www.spencerdollandtoymuseum.com) invites you to an African American Fashion Show on Saturday, February 28th, 3-5 p.m. African American culture is rooted in East, West and Central Africa. Over time the fashion has modified and/or blended with European cultures and other cultures such as that of Native Americans. Attendees are encouraged to show off their family heirlooms. Admission is $10 and includes museum admission and refreshments. Tickets can be purchased at the museum or by phone Thursday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

6). Cleveland County Arts Council (www.ccartscouncil.org) invites you to view "Treasures of the Earth", on display until March 4th. More than 1000 pieces of pottery are on display at the annual Pottery Show & Sale.  For a show this size we encourage you to visit a few times to see it all! The Arts Council is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

7). Tryon Palace (www.tryonpalace.org) will offer behind-the-scenes tours every Tuesday at 2 p.m., beginning March 3rd. Alternating weekly between the costume shop and historic gardens, each tour provides an inside perspective on the day-to-day inner workings of life at the palace.  Tours of the costume shop will include historical accounts of the c. 1809 Jones House, a brief tour of the home’s exterior, and a visit to the costume racks where the costumer will discuss the research techniques used to ensure the costumes are produced using historically accurate techniques and fabrics.  Visitors will also observe the costume team in action.  During tours of the palace gardens, visitors will discover what is in bloom this spring, learn about specific plants and design techniques, see the vegetables being served on the governor’s table this season and take a behind-the-scenes peek into the nursery yard. Tours also include information on the Waystation cistern project, privy and parterre gardens, and the use of produce in the kitchen garden.  Tryon Palace Behind-the-Scenes tours are set for Tuesdays throughout the spring. All behind-the-scenes tours begin at 2 p.m. at the Waystation. Tickets are included with the purchase of a One Day Pass or may be purchased individually as follows: $6 for adults, $3 for students and free for Tryon Palace Foundation members. For more information call 252-639-3500 or visit www.tryonpalace.org.

8). The N.C. Transportation Museum (www.nctrans.org) has special train rides for families, a book sale our die hard rail fans are sure to love, and a great program for fans Piedmont Airlines and aviation history.  All three big events happen Saturday, Feb. 28th.  Special steam engine train rides is scheduled all day long.  Accompanied by an expanded ride schedule, visitors will have a chance to experience the golden age of railroading. Rides will be offered at 11 a.m., 1, 2 and 3 p.m.  Also Feb. 28, the museum’s big Railroading Book Sale will be taking place.  Over 1000 books from a private collector will be on sale in the museum’s expanded Gift Station. The books are first quality, many are out of print, and the book sale is sure to be a hit with diehard rail fans. This book sale is a fundraiser for the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation.  Finally, a week delayed due to bad weather, Piedmont Airlines Day is also happening Feb. 28.  Celebrating the history and employees of the Winston-Salem based airline that was sold to US Airways in the early 1990s, the museum will host Capt. Cheryl Peters.  The first ever female pilot for the airline, Peters will tell her story of breaking new ground in 1974 and what it was like to take to the skies. Piedmont Airlines Day will also feature a restoration tour of the Piedmont Airlines DC3, the Potomac Pacemaker. Regular museum admission applies for all events.  Visit www.nctrans.org for more information.

9). N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org) invites you to Tar Heel Sports Legends: A Panel and Workshop for Youth on Saturday, March 7th from 10 a.m. – noon.  What does it take to become a professional athlete or an Olympic medalist? Four outstanding athletes from North Carolina will share their stories and highlight their sports careers, past and present, during the workshop. For ages 12 and up, this free program also includes a gallery hunt through the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame to test your sports knowledge. This exciting and educational program is presented in partnership with Our Youth Matters of Raleigh. Donal Ware, host of the nationally syndicated sports talk radio show “From the Press Box to Press Row,” will moderate the panel discussion.   To learn more about this special program, call 919-807-7900, visit www.ncmuseumofhistory.org, or follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ or YouTube.

10). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to Mad Scientists Lab – Microscopes! on Tuesday, March 3rd at 11 a.m. 3yrs & up. The Mad Scientists go Nano in preparation for the Nano Days festival at the end of March.  Nano scientists use very special tools to study things that are very, very, very small. Play & learn with stereoscopes, microscopes and transmission electron microscopes. $7 non-members (includes admission for child participating in class); free for members. Sponsored by Duke Energy, Exxon Mobil, the NISE network and The National Science Foundation.  Limited spaces. Please call to register. Mad Scientists Lab will be held every Tuesday in March.

Monday, February 16, 2015

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 16, 2015



1). Cowan Museum of History and Science (www.cowanmuseum.org) announces that their new exhibit, Old Rocks, Young Minds, is now open! This special exhibit is comprised of research done by the students of the Duplin County Early College. The exhibit explores the layered evidence of the earth’s rocks, minerals and fossils, which can be read almost like pages in a book when one understands the different types of rocks and how they form and continually change. Old Rocks, Young Minds is open until April 13th - do not miss your chance to explore it!

2). Museum of Anthropology, Wake Forest University (http://moa.wfu.edu) announces two new exhibits and a special Cherokee Mask Making Workshop! At Home on the Plains is now on display through August 29th.  Presented in collaboration with George Catlin’s American Buffalo, an exhibition on view at Reynolda House Museum of American Art, this new mini-exhibit showcases Plains Indians objects from the MOA’s permanent collection.  Exhibit highlights include beaded moccasins from the Cree and Lakota Sioux tribes as well as two rare Comanche painted hide robes, on display together for the first time.  The artifacts on view present an exclusive look at the height of Plains Indian culture. Understanding Our Past, Shaping Our Future, goes on display on February 17th and will continue through May 29th. This traveling exhibition focuses on Cherokee language and culture, using sound recordings as the basis for presenting a coherent story in words and text.  Major themes include Cherokee Homeland, Heritage Sites, Tourism, Family, and Community Celebrations. In coordination with this featured exhibit, MOA invites you to attend a Cherokee Mask Making Workshop on Sunday, February 22nd, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Participants in this program will learn about the Cherokee people and make their own mask.  The fee is $10 ($7 for MOA Friends) per mask.  The workshop is open to all ages.  Advanced registration is required.  Call 336.758.5282 or email moa@wfu.edu to register. The Museum of Anthropology is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Admission is free.

3). The Wrightsville Beach Museum of History (www.wbmuseum.com) invites you to make plans to do something fun at the beach for your ½ day off from school!  On Friday, February 20th from 1 -1:45 p.m. join the Museum for “The Story of Mr. William Polite:  African-American Heritage at Wrightsville Beach.”  Learn the fascinating story of Mr. William Polite, head waiter at the best local hotels:  The Seashore and Oceanic at Wrightsville Beach and The Orton in Wilmington. Mr. Polite made his fortune first with his development of Polite’s Pepper Sauce, and later Polite’s Canning Company. A true entrepreneur, he also owned a catering company and in 1917 patented an aircraft gun. We will learn about table settings, make some cocktail sauce, and see photographs of old Wrightsville Beach.  For children ages 5-9. Space is limited. Call 256-2569 to register. Register by February 17 and be entered in a raffle for a special seasonal gift. FREE.  For more information please call: Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, (910) 256-2569

4). High Point Museum (www.highpointmuseum.org) announces the opening of the latest exhibit to open at the Museum. “Please Remain Standing” is a photographic exhibit that contains over 40 of North Carolina’s vintage theaters.  For over 30 years, documentary photographer Benita VanWinkle, a member of the art faculty at High Point University, has been crisscrossing the United States to document hometown movie theaters built before 1965. With over 250 theaters photographed, including over 50 in North Carolina to date, she is now pursuing the publication of this series. “Please Remain Standing” will be on display Thursday, February 19 until Saturday, April 18. The High Point Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday 10 am to 4:30 pm and the Historical Park is open Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free.

5). Asheville Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) is pleased to present a lecture entitled “Searching for Hubbard in the 21st Century Appalachian South” with Marilyn Zapf on February 21 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. The American Arts and Crafts Movement was championed by figures like Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) at the turn of the 20th century, but what, if any, of his ideals can be identified in craft today? This presentation will use Roycroft, an artisan community in East Aurora, NY founded by Hubbard in 1895, as a guide through Western North Carolina’s contemporary craft landscape.  After Zapf’s talk, guests will enjoy a reception and are encouraged to tour the Museum’s exhibitions. Reservations can be made by visiting www.ashevilleart.org or by calling the Museum at 828.253.3227. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members.

6). The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (www.secca.org) invites you to Celebrate Maya Angelou on Tuesday, February 17th, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.  The evening will honor, preserve and celebrate the legacy of Maya Angelou, beloved professor at Wake Forest and a national treasure. Dr. Serenus Churn, Sr., Senior Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Winston-Salem and Maya Angelou’s Pastor, will begin the reading. Dr. Angelou’s poems will be performed in song by WFU faculty and artist Lynn Book with two WFU alumni. Wake Forest University faculty, students, and select community members will lead a lively reading of her poetry.  Co-Sponsored by Wake Forest University Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA), Wake Forest Pro Humanitate Institute, IPLACe, American Ethnic Studies, and the Humanities Institute.  A light reception to follow. This event is free and open to the public.

7). Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (www.blowingrockmuseum.org) invites you to “Coffee with the Curator” on Tuesday, February 24th at 11 a.m.  Take a walk through the galleries at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum with the Curator and learn about our latest exhibitions! Afterwards, please join us for coffee and informal conversation with the Curator in the Community Meeting Room. Museum Members: Free, Non-Members: General Admission. $5 suggested donation. For more information call 828-295-9099 or visit www.blowingrockmuseum.org.

8). North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) invites you out on Thursday, February 19th at 7 p.m. in the Museum’s WRAL 3D Theater with Dr. Mark Norrell from the American Museum of Natural History, and curator of The World’s Largest Dinosaurs special exhibition.  Norrell’s talk, “Dinosaurs: Old Fossils, New Tools, Changing Ideas,” will focus on Norrell’s body of specimen-based and theoretical research. As a paleontologist and molecular geneticist, Norrell is acknowledged by many as one of the most important living vertebrate paleontologists. He is best known to have discovered the first theropod embryo and the Djadochta Formation, and for the description of feathered dinosaurs. In 1998, Norell was named a New York City Leader of the Year by the New York Times. The World’s Largest Dinosaurs explores the amazing ecology and biology of a group of uniquely super-sized dinosaurs—the long-necked and long-tailed sauropods—some of which may have reached lengths of 140 feet! Tickets are $10/lecture or $20/combo, which includes the lecture plus a ticket to the special exhibition. For more information, contact Andrea Jones at 919.707.9839 or andrea.jones@naturalsciences.org. The World’s Largest Dinosaur runs now through April 12th at the Museum. 

9). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to Critter Craft, Tuesday, February 24th – Friday, February 27th all day. This month’s Critter Craft focuses on dogs & hearts. All ages. Drop-in self-directed activity in our Party Room. Free with $5 admission/Free for members. Sponsored by Etowah Valley Veterinary Hospital.

10). Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com) invites you to join them and Serenity Arts Studio for Paint and Cookie:  Colorful Heart on Friday, February 20th from 4-5:30 p.m. School age participants will paint a heart.  The masterpieces created by participants during the workshop will be highlighted at Serenity Studio Arts, 601 East Main Street, on Friday, March 6th from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at First Friday Art Walk.  Limited space and supply fee.  For More Information Call 252-335-1453.

Monday, February 09, 2015

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 9, 2015


1). The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org) is proud to be a part of the fifth annual African-American Read-In on Wednesday, February 11th at 12 p.m.  Hosted by members of The Plaid Cloth Literary Society, this FREE event will be held in the Conference Room on the second floor.  To participate, one needs only to select works written by an African American and be prepared to read a poem or an excerpt from a book. Listeners are also welcome. Since 1990, more than a million readers, nationally and internationally, have gathered annually to participate in the Read-In.  It is endorsed by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English.  The goal is to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.

2). Joel Lane Museum House (www.joellane.org) is proud to present a film by Tony Curtis called Anglers, Whalers and Waves: the Story of Samuel Windsor on Thursday, February 12th at 7:00 p.m. at their Visitors Center. Tony Curtis will present his film, which is based on the life of Samuel Windsor, head of the only African American family living on Shackleford Banks in the late 1800s.  Tony produced and stars in the film which tells the story of the hardships of the life that the angler and whaler endured. Admission will be $16 for the general public and $11 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, mail a check to P O Box 10884, Raleigh NC 27605, or go to the Eventbrite web site. 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.

3). Kings Mountain Historical Museum (www.kingsmountainmuseum.org) announces their new exhibit, Pioneering Women of Cleveland County, which will be on display until May 23rd.  This special exhibit celebrates women’s history in Cleveland County and the surrounding region from the Revolutionary War to the present day.  The exhibit focuses a spotlight on the women whose courageous acts helped to turn the tide of the revolution, as well as on our “founding mothers” – the women who helped establish and maintain our area’s infrastructure, industries, hospitals, schools, churches, and civic organizations.  In conjunction with the exhibit, the Museum will host a 2015 Lecture Series focusing on local women’s history.  The first program in the series, “Women in the Civil War” by Mark Hughes, will be held on Thursday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. ADMISSION IS FREE!  Donations are appreciated.  To find out more about upcoming exhibits and events, please visit www.kingsmountainmuseum.org or call (704) 739-1019. 

4). North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) looks at evolution of love in the animal kingdom on Darwin Day, February 14th. Spend Valentine’s Day learning about famed naturalist Charles Darwin, take a closer look at his theories and their impact on modern science, and meet some of the scientists who are continuing his work when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts Darwin Day on Saturday, February 14, 9am-5pm. Free. Join Keynote Speaker Marlene Zuk from the University of Minnesota as she shares her “Lessons on Life, Love, and Language from the Insect World” in the SECU Daily Planet Theater at 12:30pm. Plus, discover what animals can teach us about love and relationships when Jennifer Verdolin (from the “DL Hughley Show”) presents “The Animal Pocket Guide to Dating” at 10:30am. You can also find out how animals choose (and confuse) their mates with NESCent’s Courtney Fitzpatrick or enjoy a Valentine to Alfred Russel Wallace with the American Museum of Natural History’s Richard Milner. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences documents and interprets the natural history of the state through exhibits, research, collections, publications and educational programming. General admission is free.
 
5). Mordecai Historic Park (www.raleighnc.gov/museums) invites children and their parents to join them on Saturday, February 21st from 10:00 -11:30 a.m. for a story and craft hour. In honor of Black History Month, staff will read Gloria Whelan’s The Listeners and talk about the story with the participants. Kids will then be invited to join us in making a special craft related to the story. Kids of all ages are invited to attend. The story and craft hour will be held in the Mordecai Historic Park Visitor Center. This event is free and registration is not required. Please call Mordecai Historic Park at 919-996-4364 for more information.
 
6). SECCA (www.secca.org) invites you to join them for 2nd Saturday on Saturday, February 14th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Bring your families to Saturday mornings @ SECCA where the auditorium will come alive with laughter as we watch classic cartoons and make art together. Help make a large scale geodesic dome out of spaghetti and gumdrops, and make a small one to take home! This activity ties into our Floating World project that is being built and is on display in our Collective Actions exhibit. This event is free and open to the public.

7). Bellamy Mansion (www.bellamymansion.org) invites you Masked Mardi Gras at the Mansion, a celebration of Fat Tuesday, on Tuesday, February 17th 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. $20 per person (includes specialty cocktail).  Masks required, festive dress suggested. For more information, visit their website or call 910-251-3700 for reservations. Limited space available.

8). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to celebrate Chinese New Year with them Tuesday, February 17th – Friday, February 20th. It is the year of the goat! Come learn about Chinese New Year traditions. Use your artistic skills to create hung bao and noise makers! Chinese New Year is Feb. 19th. Free with $5 admission/free for members.

9). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher (www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher) announces Hugs and Fishes Valentine’s Day Lock-In for Kids Only on Friday, February 13th and Saturday, February 14th at 6 p.m. Wish you could plan a romantic evening with your special someone?  Not sure what to do with the kids? Here’s your solution. The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher invites children, ages 5 to 12, to a Valentine’s sleepover. Hug them at the door and know the fish fun lasts all night.  They will play games, make crafts and enjoy animal programs with our qualified and trained staff. What’s not to love? Children must be comfortable staying away from parents all night. Dinner, snacks and breakfast will be provided. Fee: $55 per child.  PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
 
10). The Asheville Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) is excited to present Go Figure: Faces and Forms, an exhibition opening February 14th that brings together a selection of paintings, photographs, prints, drawings and contemporary craft that celebrate the human figure. Drawn from the Museum’s world-class Permanent Collection, the faces and figures in this exhibition span decades and artistic styles. Families will appreciate the show’s spirit of play with its inclusion of puppet figures and images of children, while artists and visitors of all ages will be delighted and inspired by the range of expression given to the human form in the 20th and 21st centuries. Additional information on upcoming exhibitions and public programs at the Museum can be found online at www.ashevilleart.org.

Monday, February 02, 2015

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 2, 2015



1). The Tobacco Farm Life Museum (www.tobaccofarmlifemuseum.org) will hold the 10th annual “Breakfast with the Commissioner” event hosted by Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler. During the event Mr. Joseph Priest, will be presented with the “Excellence in Agriculture” award. The award is sponsored by Wells Fargo. For the second year, the “Innovative Young Farmer” award, sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina, will also be presented at the event. This special event will take place on Friday, February 6th at 8:00 a.m. Tickets are on sale for $25 and include breakfast, the opportunity to hear firsthand the latest agriculture news, participate in acknowledging the “Excellence in Agriculture” and “Innovative Young Farmer” award winners and visit with North Carolina’s Agriculture leaders. Proceeds from this event benefit the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, Inc. Tickets can be purchased by calling 919-284-3431.

2). Asheville Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) is excited to present the next recital in its Pianoforte Series on Sunday, February 8 at 3:00 p.m. As part of the Museum’s popular series, Pianist Leslie Downs will perform selections by Mozart, Mompou, Ginastera and Chopin. Dr. Downs is active as both a solo and a collaborative pianist. Dr. Downs received his Doctor of Music Arts in Piano Performance degree from the University of Oklahoma. He also holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Yale University and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Centenary College of Louisiana. Dr. Downs currently serves as an adjunct professor at both Mars Hill University and East Tennessee State University. He also maintains a private teaching studio in Asheville.  Pianoforte concerts fill up quickly, so guests are encouraged to reserve seats early by calling 828.253.3227 or visiting www.ashevilleart.org.

3). NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher (www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher) will offer programs tailored especially for individuals who live with autism spectrum disorder on Sunday, February 8th.  Autism Friendly Day programs and activities are free with Aquarium admission. The dive program, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., will include an educator assisting guests in finding animals in the Cape Fear Shoals, the 235,000 gallon exhibit featuring sharks, rays and a green sea turtle. A diver will briefly describe the found animals. Visitors also can collect seven Aquarium passport stamps to guide them through the Aquarium and help identify animal-touching opportunities. A calm-space to help provide comfort, relaxation or a break will be available to families and their children.  The Aquarium hosts Autism Friendly Day with the assistance of the University of North Carolina TEACCH Autism Program to better serve the needs and interests of children and adults living with autism.

4). The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org) will be hosting Beginners Genealogy Class from 6- 8pm beginning Tuesday February 10. This course, taught by local genealogist Esther Johnson, will be a five-part series designed for the individual who is interested in researching his/her family tree. The classes will be held on Tuesdays February 10, 17, 24, March 3 and 10.  Visits to the Surry County Register of Deeds office and the Carlos Surratt Genealogy Room at Surry Community College are included.  Classes are $5 per person, free to Museum members. Call 336-786-4478 to register.

5). Tryon Palace (www.tryonpalace.org) invites you to their annual Free Day on Saturday, February 7th.  This year’s theme is “Working 9 to 5” and gives visitors and opportunity to get a first-hand look at the skills of colonial tradespeople. On this special day visitors can tour the first floors of Tryon Palace and its other historic buildings, enjoy the smells and tastes of their historic kitchens, and explore the winter gardens - all free of charge! In the N.C. History Center there will also be free hands-on craft activities and discounted admission to Regional History Museum and Pepsi Family Center.  Visit http://www.tryonpalace.org/sites/default/files/freedayflyer2015_final.pdf to download a map of all Free Day activities.

6). Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com) invites members of non-profit organizations, as well as CPAs and accountants within the Albemarle region of North Carolina, to attend a special presentation regarding the North Carolina law that affects sales tax changes for entertainment activities and how these changes affect non-profits. The presentation will take place on Monday, February 9th at 1 p.m. and will be led by Eric K. Wayne, Sales and Use Tax Director for the North Carolina Department of Revenue. The audience will be given an opportunity to ask Wayne questions to better clarify the law. The presentation is free and will take place within the Gaither Auditorium, located on the first floor of the Museum of the Albemarle. No reservation is necessary; however, space is limited to 200.

7). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to make A Valentine at Hands On! in their Party Room Tuesday, February 10th – Friday, February 13th. This drop-in activity is geared for all ages and will let you be creative & celebrate the ones you love! Free with $5 admission/free for members. Sponsored by Todd Webb, CPA, PC.

8). Joel Lane Museum House (www.joellane.org) will sponsor a performance of “Oldest Living Confederate Widow” on Friday, February 6, 2015 7:00 to 8:30 pm at All Saints’ Chapel, 110 South East Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. “Oldest Living Confederate Widow” is a play Allan Gurganus and Jane Holding adapted for the stage from his best-selling novel. It is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York City. Admission is $26 per person.  Advanced purchase strongly suggested by visiting Eventbrite.com. Tickets are non-refundable unless we must cancel the event. For more information, visit www.joellane.org, call (919) 833-3431, or e-mail joellane@bellsouth.net.   

9). New Winston Museum (www.newwinston.org) invites you to “Two Chancellors on a Stage” on Wednesday, February 11th, at 7:00 p.m. at UNCSA’s Freedman Theatre.  “Two Chancellors on a Stage” is a public dialogue between current UNCSA Chancellor M. Lindsay Bierman and former Chancellor Alex Ewing on leading an arts conservatory in Winston-Salem. Event is free and open to the public.

10). Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum (www.ncmaritimemuseums.com) invites you to Matters of Steel: Examining the Deterioration of a WWII Merchant Shipwreck on Thursday, February 5th at 11:00 a.m.
North Carolina’s coastline sits along the fault lines of America’s maritime history. For hundreds of years, humans have lived along our shorelines, leaving the indelible marks of their activities embedded in banks and beaches, as well as under the water. This lectures series will highlight the results of the latest research being undertaken in the state on a diversity of topics - from reconstructing the pivotal battles, iconic shipwrecks, and critical industries of yesteryear to the challenges involved in the study and preservation of North Carolina’s maritime past.  Presenter: Kara Fox, Program Maritime Studies, East Carolina University.  Free program.  The program will also be streamed LIVE during a 6 p.m. online presentation at http://csi.northcarolina.edu/ustream.  For more information, call 252-986-2995 or email maryellen.riddle@ncdcr.gov.