May 4, 2010
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History will present its “Second Saturday” program of museum activities on May 8, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston. The free program is geared for children of all ages. It is recommended that children under the age of 13 be accompanied by an adult.
On Saturday, kids can enjoy participating in a scavenger hunt while using the Museum Bingo Sheet all day long. They also can visit the “hands-on-history cart” which will have samples of Civil War artillery including shells and cannon balls from the Museum’s Civil War collection from noon - 3 p.m.
Kids also can take part in the “make ‘n take” craft activities in the North Connection Room of the museum all day long. They can make a unique Mother’s Day card and decorate Mother’s Day gift boxes.
At 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon, participants can gather in the North Connection Room to hear the story, Outrageous Women of Civil War Times, which was written by West Virginia author Mary Rodd Furbee in the North Connection Room. The book presents summaries of the lives and accomplishments of significant women of the period–among them, Louisa May Alcott, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Clara Barton and Loreta Janeta Velazques. The story introduces other exceptional women and discusses topics such as the Temperance movement and mill girls. Small reproductions of photographs, prints, and paintings illustrate the collective biography.
Museum staff will take kids on a mini tour of some of the museum’s Civil War artifacts during the “museum walk ‘n talk” sessions at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. They can see and hear about a captured Confederate Battle Flag and a painting of John Brown, among other items.
In addition at 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., the Museum Media Center will present Al Stone of Hinton portraying Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Stone has portrayed Lee in classroom settings, at award ceremonies, church gatherings, reenactments, theater stages and other special occasions. He was selected to perform Lee’s role in the documentary titled April 1865 for the History Channel. Stone has been described by Civil War reenactors and historians alike as presenting the most accurate impression of General Lee in the country today.
For more information about “Second Saturdays,” contact museum guest services at (304) 558-0220, ext. 111.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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