Road Reports

On the Road Again (and We Love It)

One of the things I most appreciate about working with Museum on Main Street is the opportunity we have to visit so many interesting places in the U.S. and to meet wonderful people from every corner of the country. In response to a question posed by our Publications office earlier this week, my MoMS Smithsonian-based colleagues Carol Harsh and Terri Cobb and I sat down to figure out just how many miles we had logged traveling this year for MoMS.

Can I get a drum roll, please? After Carol visits Indian Springs, Georgia next week, the three of us will have traveled 67,299 miles for MoMS in 2009. And, we got the chance to visit fascinating places big and small like Alliance and Omaha in Nebraska; Kodiak, Alaska; Kirksville, Missouri; Renton, Washington; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Berkeley Springs, Grafton, and Petersburg in West Virginia; Kingsland and Carrollton in Georgia; Hagatna and Asan in Guam; Sidney, Ohio; Sycamore and Chicago in Illinois; Austin, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Lindsborg, Kansas; Clinton, Mississippi; Okmulgee, Oklahoma; Enderlin and Bismarck in North Dakota; Ocean City, Maryland; and Hanley Falls, Minnesota. We can't even begin to imagine how many additional miles our Federation of State Humanities Council colleagues, our state humanities council partners, and the exhibitions themselves traveled as part of this project. My math-challenged brain can't handle it. But, one thing is sure, we have the enormous privilege of serving and experiencing communities everywhere.

We're looking forward to visiting your state and meeting you during our travels in 2010.

-- Robbie Davis, MoMS/SITES, Washington, DC

Life's a Beach...

Beach, North Dakota impresses tourists!

We MoMSers know that our exhibits grab the attention of locals, compelling them to reflect upon their regional customs, beliefs and history. How pleased we were to learn that international tourists in Beach, North Dakota were equally impressed with the Golden Valley Museum’s Journey Stories exhibit. Kimberly Nunberg explains:

"Last week Friday, a journalist and photographer from Germany by the name, Gerald Freyer was passing through North Dakota and stopped at the Museum along with his parents. They were thrilled and quite impressed with Journey Stories. We are so fortunate to be one of the communities to display this interesting and informative exhibit!”

Many thanks to Kimberly for this anecdote!

-- Roxanne Berschler, MoMS/SITES, Washington, DC

North Dakota Opening for Journey Stories Featured on Public Radio

Listen in to North Dakota's Prairie Public radio program "Hear It Now" on the opening of Journey Stories. The program features MoMS' own Terri Cobb and our great friends in North Dakota: Brenna Daugherty with the North Dakota Humanities Council; Dr. Barbara Handy-Marchello, the state scholar for the exhibition; and Myrene Peterson from the local coordinating committee in Enderlin. (The segment on Journey Stories begins about 13 minutes and 30 seconds into the program.)

http://www.prairiepublic.org/radio/hear-it-now/?post=12686

Congratulations to the North Dakota Humanities Council and everyone in Enderlin that pulled out the stops for Journey Stories. More than 20 local businesses participated in activities to support the exhibition.

-- Robbie Davis, MoMS/SITES, Washington, DC

Between Fences Enjoys a Successful Run in Medora, North Dakota

The Between Fences Smithsonian exhibit is a popular attraction in the town of Medora. It is no wonder, considering the town's western flavor and heritage. The exhibit stimulates visitors to carry the concept of fences farther than just wood and wire. It is this new mindset that many bring with them to Medora's seven museums and it creates a deeper appreciation for other exhibits.

On June 29th, the Chateau de Mores State Historical Site and the Billings County Historical Society hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for Between Fences with special guests U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, State Senator Bill Bowman, and State Representative Pam Gulleson. Local elementary students were also present at the event to be recognized for their work which is displayed in the exhibit. Medora area students were given cameras earlier in the year and asked to take pictures of fences in their lives. A PowerPoint presentation and booklets made by the children are available for viewing at the beginning of the exhibit.

   

U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan stands with students Thomas Christensen and Anya Baranko alongside their teacher Kathy Chernenko to acknowledge their work in the Between Fences exhibit.

Two large maps have been placed on the walls near the guest book, one of the United States of America and the other of the World. All visitors are encouraged to place a stick pin in their hometown. So many visitors from North Dakota have attended the exhibit that a North Dakota state map was added. It is interesting to see how many visitors from across the world have ended up in Medora.

The latter half of the Between Fences exhibit's stay in Medora will be supported by special events on Tuesday. The Between Fences speakers program for Medora featured Dr. Barbara Handy-Marchello on July 15. She is the state scholar for the exhibition and offered a slide presentation on the use of walls, fences, and other boundaries from world history. As an interactive program, the audience participated in a "quiz" and took part in a game that led to discussion about the changing meaning of fences and boundaries. Special productions of Recollections of Murder and Mayhem in Medora will be held on July 22 and 29. The play chronicles the murder trials of the Marquis de Mores, the French aristocratic founder of Medora. The Marquis' efforts to fence and civilize the land led to disputes with local free range cattlemen culminating in a shootout that killed one of the cattlemen. Actors in the productions portray the various viewpoints in the subsequent murder trials. Teddy Blue Abbot will be presenting on July 29 and 30. His performance topics will cover the Texas Trail and the Open Range.

The exhibit is scheduled to stay in Medora on view until August 1. Between Fences is the perfect exhibit to help celebrate Medora's 125th anniversary by bringing more interest and visitors to the town.

-- Marie Zeller, Medora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Medora, ND