April brings a bounty of programs at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Meet James Tumblin, whose Gone with the Wind memorabilia is featured in the exhibit Real to Reel: The Making of Gone with the Wind. The exhibit runs through Sunday, April 14, so be sure to catch it before it closes, and hear Tumblin’s talk and exhibit tour on April 7.
On another note, discover how music was a powerful and meaningful influence in the Civil War. Christian L. McWhirter from the National Archives in Washington, D.C., will delve into this topic on April 28.
Take advantage of these April programs and more. Admission is free unless otherwise noted. Parking is free on weekends.
*History Corner: Colorful Creations
Wednesday, April 3, 10-11 a.m.
Ages 6-9 with adult, $1 per person
Visit the exhibit Art in Clay and see how potters decorated their creations. Then do some decorating of your own! To register, call (919) 807-7992.
*History Hunters: From Dirt to Dish
Wednesday, April 3, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Ages 10-13, $1 per person
Learn how colonial potters made their wares by visiting the exhibit Art in Clay and trying your hand at slip decoration. To register, call 919-807-7992.
*Make It, Take It: Spring Pinwheels
Saturday, April 6, 1-3 p.m. (drop-in program)
Make a pinwheel to spin in the spring breezes, and find out about historic handmade toys.
Film: The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Sunday, April 7, 2-4 p.m. for film, followed by short talk and exhibit tour
Creating Gone with the Wind was a monumental task, and this 1988 documentary outlines successes and obstacles along the way. See interviews with film crew members, screen tests and archival footage. After the film James Tumblin will give a talk and lead an exhibit tour of Real to Reel: The Making of Gone with the Wind, featuring memorabilia from his private collection. Tumblin is the former head of the Universal Studios makeup and hair department.
*Time for Tots: In a Pickle!
Tuesday, April 9 or 16, 10-10:45 a.m.
Ages 3-5 with adult, $1 per program
Explore the productive process of picking and pickling produce in North Carolina. Make and take home a craft that will put you in a pickle. To register, call 919-807-7992.
History à la Carte: A Short History of Southern Cuisine
Wednesday, April 10, 12:10-1 p.m.
Join Dr. John Beck of Elon University as he journeys through the delicious history of southern food — its varied ancestors, cultural ties and modern adaptations. Bring your lunch; beverages provided.
Music of the Carolinas: Donna Ray Norton
Sunday, April 14, 3-4 p.m.
Hear ballads from an eighth-generation descendant of the original settlers of Madison County and their musical traditions. The performance is presented with PineCone, with support from the North Carolina Museum of History Associates, Williams Mullen and WLHC-FM/WLQC-FM.
The Power and Popularity of Music in the Civil War
Sunday, April 28, 2 p.m.
Drawing from published and archival sources, Christian L. McWhirter, Assistant Editor for the Papers of Abraham Lincoln, National Archives, analyzes the numerous ways music influenced popular culture in the years surrounding the war and discusses its deep meaning for both whites and blacks, South and North.
For more information about the N.C. Museum of History, call (919) 807-7900, access the museum’s website or connect with the museum on Facebook and Twitter. The N.C. Museum of History is a unit of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. For more information on North Carolina arts, history and culture, visit Cultural Resources online.