MOMCC CONFERENCE IN GALENA

[Chris Gordy]

The Midwest Open Air Museums Coordinating Council presents: THE AGE OF EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: MATERIAL CULTURE IN THE HEARTLAND on November 7,8, & 9 in historic Galena, Illinois. This conference is hosted by Apple River Fort State Historic Site, the Galena State Historic Sites, the Galena/Jo Daviess County Historical Museum, and the Mississippi River Museum.

Some of the conference offerings include:

Thursday Workshops:
Architectural Walking Tours of Galena
On Being the Boss: Survival Skills for Executive Directors of Non-Profit Agencies
;DEquipping and Clothing the Soldier: 1812-1865 presented by Bill Brewster and Tom Shaw
Period Dancing
Empire Dress Workshop

Friday's Sessions Include:
History of Galena
Travelers Accounts of Life in Single Room Homes
Material Culture as it relates to Military Material Culture
ID and Care of 19th century photos
18th century French women
What Blacksmiths really did in the 19th century

Will continue on next post....

[Chris Gordy]

Furnishing Illinois Homes 1820-1850
Printed Ephemera of the late 19th and early 20th century
Women's Undergarments 1820-1920
Historical Eyewear
Interpretive Programming
African American History in Galena

FRIDAY ENTERTAINMENT: BARBEQUE AND BALL GOWNS
Food, Period Dancing, Silent Auction

Saturday Sessions:
Threshing Machines
Planting the Prairie
Telling Stories Through Artifacts
Pattern Development
AND MUCH MORE!

There will be VENDORS set up at the DeSoto House Hotel ranging from sutlers (with pretty decent stuff), straw hats, hand forged stuff, period clothing and fabric, handwoven wool blankets, patterns, etc...

For more information go to www.momcc.org or send your name and address to [e-mail] for a program...

The workshops are at various historic sites while the sessions are at the Historic DeSoto House Hotel. Thursday evening there is a reception at Apple River Fort featuring entertainment by Zeno's Carnival of Culture. We hope to see many of you there.

[Chris Gordy]

It seems like this conference is going to be a popular one. As of now we have booked the entire DeSoto House Hotel under MOMCC. However, there is more room in town. Stoney Creek Inn (815-777-2223) has rooms and have been taking reservations. If it's a B&B atmosphere you're looking for then contact the Annie Wiggins Guest House at 815-777-0336.

[Chris Gordy]

Well, the conference went very smoothly and the Thursday night reception at Apple River Fort was very well attended with 150 conference members attending. The OLRHS was also represented during the event by Betsy Urven (Sauk War Goddess). Now that this is over Sue and I are really looking forward to seeing everybody in Springfield this coming weekend.