PHOTO OF THE DAY: SUMMER VIBE
Last week marked the start of the summer season at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives. The Freeman museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and other times by appointment from May through September. That includes holidays.
Summer visitors will discover several new exhibits, added in time for last month’s Schmeckfest and now part of the museum experience. They include:
- Freeman Implement in the Unruh-Tieszen Wing. The company began in Freeman in 1909 and the exhibit includes a brief history and dozens of artifacts from the IHC dealership that eventually became Freeman International. The Gering family, which was part of the business for seven decades, assisted with creating the exhibit.
- A total revamp of the rocks and minerals in the Natural World Gallery. The new exhibit includes new narrative panels and lighting. Thor Aanenson, a junior at Freeman High School, helped develop the upgrade. The new exhibit was supported by a grant from the Freeman Community Foundation.
- An exhibit in the Kauffman Wing that includes a working 1957 Zenith television in a circa 1950s living room setting. Jerry Merkouris, a Valley Springs resident who enjoys restoring vintage televisions, volunteered his time and materials in helping the museum put together the exhibit.
Visitors will also notice new LED lighting in the Kauffman Wing, installed earlier this year.
The museum includes four historical buildings, an extensive archives/library, and the HHM&A mercantile, a gift shop that features the works of local artisans and authors.
Heritage Hall Museum & Archives traces its roots back to the winter term of Freeman College in 1911, but today operates as an independent, non-profit organization. It shares the history of the Germans-from-Russia immigrants who began arriving in the area in what is now the Freeman community more than 150 years ago. It also includes exhibits that share the history of the indigenous people for whom this land was home prior to the arrival of European settlers.
Although there is an admission fee to tour the museum, both the archives and the mercantile are open to the public at no charge.
People are welcome to call 605-925-7545 or email info@heritagehallmuseum.com for more information or go online to heritagehallmuseum.com and to the Heritage Hall Museum and Archives Facebook page.
