Historical Society To Showcase ‘Behind The Scenes’

An Exhibit Committee member will share a special look at the details and scope of volunteer work at the McDonald County Historical Society Museum.

The presentation will be part of the Historical Society’s quarterly meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 15, at the Pineville Community Center.

Lynn Tatum, a former society president, was instrumental in readying the museum for the new exhibit, “Stories of Military Service.”

She and other exhibit committee members worked for nearly a year and a half before the exhibit opened, said Historical Society President Karen Dobbs.

The quarterly meeting, which is open to the public, frequently features all types of speakers from storytellers to Civil War re-enactors.

Building on the recent

success of the “Stories of Military Service,” Dobbs thought others might find it interesting to hear about the kind of preparatory work that has to take place for such a large-scale exhibit.

Exhibit committee members Judy Rickett, Sam Alps, Jane Lant and Tatum worked on the special project, aided by communications committee chairwoman Phyllis Chancellor, who gathered information.

The team literally spent thousands of hours, Dobbs said, to prepare for the exhibit’s opening.

Since the exhibit’s launch over Memorial Day weekend, the museum has experienced a “good influx of visitors.”

Many are amazed and delighted at the exhibit, which features 113 veterans’ photos and their stories.

Tatum will speak about the work that went into organizing and coordinating the exhibit.

Part of that work was organizing a 12-minute video which highlights the project for those who cannot climb the steps to the exhibit on the museum’s second floor.

The slideshow also will be part of Tatum’s presentation.

Dobbs welcomes anyone interested in the presentation to attend the special meeting. “Come and have fun,” Dobbs said.

Door prizes will be given and light refreshments will be available.

Best-selling books from the museum also will be available for purchase.

The program is free and open to the public.