GRAPEVINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OPENS EXPANDED MUSEUM NOVEMBER 15
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (November 11, 2014) - The Grapevine Historical Society will open its expanded museum located in the Ted R. Ware Plaza in the Settlement to City Museum Complex, 206 W. Hudgins St., on Saturday, November 15 at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The museum was previously located inside the Cotton Belt Depot.
The event will kick off with the dedication of the 1907 Grapevine Fire Bell by the Grapevine Fire Department, at the permanent display near the entrance to the museum. The bell signifies the days when the town's volunteer Bucket Brigade was called into action. Following the dedication ceremony and remarks by Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate, a ribbon cutting will officially open the Grapevine Historical Museum to the public. Historical Society docents will conduct guided tours through the museum. The museum's flagpole will also be dedicated. Light refreshments will be served.
"The grand opening will be a day of celebration for the Grapevine Historical Society, Grapevine citizens and visitors alike," said Joe Ann Standlee, president, Grapevine Historical Society. "Countless volunteers, city staff and the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau have dedicated more than three years to restoring artifacts, detailing histories and developing this wonderful new facility, which tells the story of life in Grapevine. We are thrilled to share the story of the Grape Vine Prairie through these interactive exhibits and displays for generations to come."
In preparation for the new museum, the Grapevine Historical Society partnered with the Captain Molly Corbin Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), a national organization founded in 1890 with the mission of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. A team of 14 volunteers from the Captain Molly Corbin Chapter of the NSDAR, in conjunction with the Grapevine Historical Society, performed more than 3,000 volunteer hours of curatorial cleaning, cataloguing and preservation of the museum's artifacts. The Captain Molly Corbin Chapter, which is based in Grapevine, was awarded the NSDAR's 2014 Historic Preservation Project Award, A Gift of Service to a Community to Save a Treasured Museum.
In addition to partnering with the NSDAR, the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Grapevine Historical Society contracted with Museum Arts of Dallas for the design and interior layout of the 3,000 square foot museum at a cost of $325,000. The museum will feature 2,000 square feet of exhibit space and 1,000 square feet of space dedicated to preservation and curatorial work, as well as storage space for artifacts. The expanded museum offers more than three times the space at the museum's previous location.
The museum's layout takes visitors on a journey highlighting the cultural and family life of early Grapevine residents in such areas such as agriculture, industry, family life, children and more. Some of the favorite exhibits include a pump organ from the 1870's, three beautifully restored wedding gowns from different eras, childhood playtime memories on the porch of the Playhouse, a trip through Grandma's attic and so much more. Storyboards detail the history of the exhibits, giving visitors a sense of daily life activities for Grapevine residents. A special interactive exhibit features Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate detailing the story of growing up in Grapevine, the building of Lake Grapevine and the development of the city.
Dedicated to preserving Grapevine's history, the Grapevine Historical Society meets monthly and maintains a website full of information, including a time-line of the city's history, a touring map of the historical structures in town and links on genealogy. In addition, the group has published three books; "The Grapevine Area History Book," which includes facts about the residents of the Grapevine area, as well as old photographs and archives, "Grapevine's Most Unforgettable Characters," highlighting family essays and photographs, and "Images of America: Grapevine," a pictorial book about Grapevine. For more information about the Grapevine Historical Society, visit www.GrapevineHistory.org.
What: Grapevine Historical Museum Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting
When: Saturday, November 15, 1 p.m.
Where: Ted R. Ware Plaza at Settlement to City Museum Complex, 206 W. Hudgins St., Grapevine
Admission: Free
For additional information about Grapevine, please call the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at 817-410-3185 or visit www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com.
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