The North Berrien Historical Museum proudly
presents the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Journey
Stories and special public events from August 6 through September 21, 2013.
Journey
Stories explores transportation history, showing how travel and movement
have shaped our diverse society. Using
engaging images, audio and artifacts, the exhibit tells the stories of our
ancestors’ journeys to America, our freedom to move to new beginnings, and our
travel for adventure and fun. Regardless
of our ethnic or racial background, we all have journey stories to tell. The
exhibit features a place for visitors to record their own 90-second story to be
preserved and shared online by the Smithsonian.
Admission to Journey Stories is free and open hours are Tuesday through
Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00pm, August 6 through September 21. In addition to a Grand Opening Reception the
evening of August 9, the exhibit will also be open extra hours during public
programs at the museum. Free group and
student tours can be scheduled by calling 269-468-3330. The North Berrien Historical Museum is
located at 300 Coloma Avenue on Red Arrow Highway, across from Coloma High
School. For more information and
directions, visit www.NorthBerrienHistory.org or
call 269-468-3330.
The public is cordially invited to a Grand
Opening on Friday, August 9, with two free events—a
historical marker dedication and a reception at the museum. At 5:30pm, a brief ceremony will dedicate a
new state historical marker at the former Coloma Interurban Station. Built in 1910 to serve passengers and freight
on an adjacent electric railway, the site is a gem of local history for its
unique role in regional travel, tourism, agriculture. It was a station until the railway closed in 1928,
then was used for 65 years as an electrical substation. It was added to the State Register of
Historic Places in 2013 through the efforts of the North Berrien Historical
Society. Remarks will be presented by U.S.
Congressman Fred Upton and the historical marker will be presented to the City
of Coloma by Tom Truscott from the Michigan Historical Commission. The station is a small brick structure
painted pale green, located on South Paw Paw Street just north of the Dairy
Queen on St. Joseph Street (Red Arrow Highway) in Coloma. Very limited seating will be provided for the
20 minute ceremony, but the public may bring lawn chairs if desired. The North Berrien Historical Museum is just a
half mile southwest of the Interurban Station on Red Arrow Highway. From 6:00-7:30pm, the public is invited to
celebrate Journey Stories at the
museum with refreshments, appetizers, and special guests. At 6:15pm, a ribbon cutting by the
Coloma-Watervliet Area Chamber of Commerce is planned. Brief remarks will be presented by Erik
Nordberg, Executive Director of the Michigan Humanities Council.
Journey Stories has been made possible
in Berrien County by the Michigan Humanities Council. Journey
Stories is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the
Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been
provided by the United States Congress. For more information about the Journey Stories exhibit and events in
Coloma, please contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330 or
info@NorthBerrienHistory.org.
