NCMC Events From Around the State… April 6, 2015

1). The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org) presents the sixth and final program in the sports related series of History Talks: North Carolina Humanities Council Road Scholar Robert Billinger will speak about “Playing for Empowerment: Mill Team Baseball during the Depression” at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11.  This program will be held on the 3rd floor of the museum and is free to the public. Today will be the last day full day for viewing the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibition “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America,” before it heads to its next stop in Wake Forest, NC.  Also opening today will be the new permanent local/regional sports exhibit on the second floor. On Sunday April 12, the Mount Airy Sports Hall of Fame component of the Sports Exhibit will be unveiled.  The museum will be open from 1 – 4pm and will be FREE today.

2). The Joel Lane Museum House (www.joellane.org) presents a lecture by Ken Zogry on “Sitting Pretty: North Carolina Furniture 1700-1850” on Sunday, April 12^th at 2 p.m. at the Visitors Center of the Joel Lane Museum House.  From the earliest European settlement in the late 16th century until the outbreak of the Civil War, in an era before large scale factory production, North Carolina’s diverse population supported a small number of craftsmen who custom designed and hand built furniture to meet the needs of the state’s citizens. Generally based on styles from major European and American cities, but adapted to the small towns and rural areas of the state, cabinetmakers in North Carolina created unique designs and forms. This fully illustrated talk will highlight some of the more interesting examples from across North Carolina, and discuss broader design influences and specific regional characteristics. Admission is $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 or go to the Eventbrite web site to purchase tickets. 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). SECCA (www.secca.org) invites you to Talk @ SECCA Series: Curator Talk with Cora Fisher on Sunday, April 12^th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the SECCA Overlook Gallery.  Cora Fisher, Curator of Contemporary Art at SECCA, will discuss the exhibition Alternative Modernisms, opening at SECCA next Thursday, April 16th. The show includes five artists with diverse contemporary perspectives on the past. Her talk explores how history confronts the contemporary and how these artists explode the limits of Western modernism through the same media that defined it: photography and film. Visit secca.org to see the full list of talks in the Talk @ SECCA Series. This event is free and open to the public.

4). The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) has partnered with the NC Science Festival to present the Triangle SciTech Expo on Saturday, April 11^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Museum closes at 5 p.m.) This year's event brings university and industry scientists together to showcase amazing advances in biotechnology, engineering, science and technology through fun, hands-on and interactive activities. Expo visitors will also learn about the Triangle area’s history and promising future as an innovative leader in these fields, as well as why these fields are important to their daily lives. The Triangle SciTech Expo is sponsored by the Biogen Foundation. Both the main building of the Museum (Nature Exploration Center) and the Nature Research Center will be with teeming with over 40 exhibits, games, and crafts. For more information about the Triangle SciTech Expo, contact Kari Wouk at 919.707.9879 or via email at kari.wouk@naturalsciences.org.

5). The History Museum of Burke County (www.thehistorymuseumofburke.org) announces that they have recently opened a new exhibit, Senator Sam and Watergate. Senator Sam and Watergate shares the history of the Watergate Scandal and the involvement of Morganton native Senator Sam Ervin.  The exhibit will be on display in the Museum until June 30th, 2015.  The exhibit features artifacts and panels from the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh.  It also contains artifacts and memorabilia from Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton, including Senator Sam Ervin's senate desk.  The History Museum of Burke County has free admission and is located at 201 W. Meeting St, Morganton, NC, 28655.  It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.  For more information, please call 828-437-1777, or visit their website at www.thehistorymuseumofburke.org.

6). Border Belt Farmers Museum (www.fairmontborderbeltmuseum.webs.com) announces Fairmont’s Heritage Days on April 24^th and 25^th. On Friday, April 24^th, enjoy a country dinner and entertainment 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the town community building.  The evening will include live gospel music and a blue grass band, along with square dancing. On Saturday, April 25^th explore vintage cars, farm equipment, a barbeque pork cooking competition, a pound cake contest, country arts/crafts & food vendors, and live music featuring gospel and blue grass with clogging.

7). The Matthews Heritage Museum (www.matthewsheritagemuseum.org) and the Matthews Historical Foundation are sponsoring a new event to be held on Saturday, April 11^th at the Reid House from 12 to 4 p.m.  Dr. and Mrs. Reid extend a kind invitation to local citizens to attend their Victorian Lawn Party at their home at 134 West John Street. Dr. and Mrs. Reid will warmly welcome you to their home and have arranged for guided tours to be given.  They have also prepared a number of period games for the children to play, including hop-scotch and an egg walk.  A number of Museum docents have been recruited to assist children in making kazoos, spin tops and sewing cards.  Several adult games will be available including a cakewalk, and croquet among other activities.  A number of craftspeople will be demonstrating woodworking, basket making, beekeeping, and tatting. Mrs. Reid will share with others some of the etiquette of the day, while Dr. Reid will share some of his stories about patients he has treated.  A display of cars will feature vintage autos from 1915, and the 1920s.  Come join us as we celebrate the turn-of-the-20^th-century activities and take a step back in time to a simpler lifestyle. All activities are FREE. The Matthew Heritage Museum will be open that day for touring. 

8). Greensboro Historical Museum (www.GreensboroHistory.org) invites you to Meet Mr. Lincoln on Saturday, April 11^th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.  During April, which has been declared Greensboro’s Emancipation Proclamation Awareness Month, meet President Abraham Lincoln in a family-friendly show featuring veteran actor Peter Holland. The time in history will be late 1863, the same year as the Emancipation Proclamation and the Battle of Gettysburg.  These performances are free, but seating is limited so call Mary Allen at 336-373-2982 or visit greensborohistory.org to reserve your spot. These performances are made possible by the Lincoln Financial Foundation, City of Greensboro, Greensboro Historical Museum, Inc., and John Floy Wicker Endowment.  For a sneak peek of this show, visit the www.onceuponablueridge.com.

9). Olivia Raney Local History Library (www.wakegov.com/libraries) invites you to join them for a historical tea party and an afternoon of Civil War History in celebration of Raleigh History Month on Saturday, April 18^th from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The guest speaker will be Douglas J. Butler, NC Humanities Road Scholar, author, and photographer. He will discuss his book, North Carolina Civil War Monuments: An Illustrated History and the significance of monuments in Raleigh. Bring your favorite tea cup and saucer and enjoy an afternoon of history. Tea and light refreshments will be served. This event is FREE and open to the public. A book signing will follow after the lecture. For more information, please email olivia.raney@wakegov.com or call 919-250-1196. Olivia Raney Local History Library is located 4016 Carya Drive in Raleigh.

10). Leigh Farm Park (www.durhamnc.gov/ich/op/prd/Pages/Heritage-Parks.aspx) invites you to a special Civil War 150^th Anniversary lecture on the Battle of New Hope Creek on Sunday, April 19^th at 1 p.m.  One hundred and fifty years ago, on April 15, 1865, one of the last engagements of the Civil War in North Carolina occurred on the farm of Richard Stanford Leigh in what was then Orange County, now Durham County. Ernest Dollar, the director of the City of Raleigh Museum, will present the lecture on the Battle of New Hope Creek in the Leigh Farm Park Visitor Center. For those interested, the presentation will be followed by a walking tour of the site. The lecture is free. Pre-registration is not required.