: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:49:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Historical Association
Subject: Plans for historical museum move forward
Planning is in progress for the new Chatham Historical Museum in the restored Chatham County courthouse in Pittsboro. In the entry corridor, an exhibit will highlight the history and evolution of the courthouse, and a large relief model or map will depict the entire county. To tell the “Chatham Story,” a timeline will introduce the main topics:
people, including a tribute to veterans; community life in schools, churches, homes, towns, and country stores; agriculture; and business, industry, and transportation. Permanent exhibits will use artifacts and photographs from the Chatham Historical Museum’s permanent collection, supplemented with material from other sources. Displays using digital technology will enliven the presentations. Committee members agree that the most difficult part of the planning has been selecting appropriate, balanced historical information from all parts of the county during human occupancy — a large order for a small space, given Chatham’s long and rich history.
Drafts of the text proposed for exhibits are available for public viewing in the interim Chatham Historical Museum, 184 East Street, Pittsboro, during normal hours on Wednesdays between noon and 3:00 p.m. and on Pittsboro’s First Sunday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. A member of the planning committee will be available to answer questions and receive comments.
Planning the museum office space, including a research and study area, exhibit preparation, and storage, will continue as work gets underway on restoration of the courthouse, which is expected to be completed by early 2013, as is the Chatham Historical Museum.
“A tremendous amount of work has been accomplished in a short time to ensure that the Chatham Historical Museum will be something everyone in the county can be proud of,” said Susan Little, who coordinated the work of the exhibit committee. “To make the exhibits the best they can be and to expand the museum collection as a vital part of preserving the cultural heritage of Chatham County, we now need the financial support of everyone in the county..”
For more information, visit the interim museum at 184 East Street, Pittsboro, or send questions to CCHA, P. O. Box 93, Pittsboro, NC 27312, or to .
Chatham County Historical Association
PO Box 93
Pittsboro, NC 27312
www.chathamhistory.org