Morgantown Museum to Hold Grand Opening

Morgantown Dominion Post
13 December 2011

The Morgantown History Museum has moved to a larger venue and will hold a grand opening from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Formerly located behind the Monongalia Arts Center, the museum has moved around the corner to 175 Kirk St., and the free opening will give visitors an opportunity to view the many artifacts and documents that highlight the history of Morgantown and Monongalia County.

Included are Morgantown’s founder Zaquill Morgan’s headstone, a print shop from the days of “hot type,” Morgantown police blotters from as early as 1925, and the Coke and popcorn machines from the Metropolitan Theatre.

Live music by Soup Camel will run from 2-4 p.m. with work songs from the 1920s-’30s.

The opening coincides with The Way We Worked, a Smithsonian photo exhibition focusing on the history of work in America from 1857 to 1987, which will continue through Jan. 28.

The history museum will augment the exhibit with artifacts and photographs from the history of local workers, including oral histories from workers at the Sterling Faucet Plant.

The museum is also holding a youth photo contest of today’s workers and will be taking oral histories of work from Mon County residents during the exhibition. A lecture series that highlights local workers and work is planned. More information is available at: http://morgantown historymuseum.org/.

Other programs scheduled at the museum include: