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March Programs at the Museum of History

Discover fascinating facts during March programs at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Did you know, for instance, that the nation’s first published African American poet was a woman? On March 5, a readers’ theater play will explore the life of Phillis Wheatley, whose first poetry book was published in 1773 in London.

How did child star Shirley Temple help Americans during the Great Depression? Find out on March 16 during a program that is part of the Perspectives on History lecture series.

On another note, don’t miss the string-band music of Big Medicine on March 14. The band, which was featured on National Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion” last spring, has released three critically acclaimed albums and has performed for concerts, dances and festivals across the United States and overseas.         

All March programs are free, except for Sacred Fire on March 5. Take advantage of these opportunities. Museum admission and weekend parking are free.  

Programs

Time for Tots: Go Fly a Kite!
Tuesday, March 2 or March 9
10-10:45 a.m.
Ages 3-5 with adult
To register, call 919-807-7992.

Learn about flying machines of the past and make your own kite to send into the sky.

History Corner: Basketball
Wednesday, March 3
10-11 a.m.
Ages 5-9 with adult
To register, call 919-807-7992.

Learn about the history of basketball and the beginnings of March Madness. Make a handheld hoop to take home to practice your shot! This program is presented with Cameron Village Regional Library.

Sacred Fire: Phillis Wheatley and Her Friends
Friday, March 5
7-9 p.m.
$5 adults; free for ages 12 and under
To register, call 919-807-7992.

“She came on a slave ship carrying the mind of a genius.” This readers’ theater play centers on the first published African American poet, Phillis Wheatley. The dramatization reveals her life through the words of those who knew her. Born in Senegal, Africa, in 1753 or 1754, Wheatley was enslaved at age seven and purchased by the John Wheatley family of Boston. The Wheatleys accepted the young girl as a member of their family and taught her to read and write, the first step to her poetic success.

Poetry Out Loud State Finals
Saturday, March 6
Semifinals, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; finals, 7-8 p.m.

Poetry Out Loud encourages high-school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. Come watch winning students from across North Carolina compete in the state championship.

Music of the Carolinas: Big Medicine
Sunday, March 14
3-4 p.m.

Big Medicine features string-band music of the rural South: old-time melodies and mountain harmonies, ancient ballads, heart songs, hollers, hymns and a touch of bluegrass. PineCone co-sponsors the performance.

The Little Girl Who Fought the Great Depression: Shirley Temple and 1930s America
Tuesday, March 16
7-8 p.m.
To register, call 919-807-7847.

John Franklin Kasson, UNC-Chapel Hill

Kasson will highlight child star Shirley Temple’s huge popularity and its paradoxes in the context of the Great Depression. This lecture is sponsored by the Museum of History Associates and the National Humanities Center. A reception follows the program, and the related exhibit In Search of a New Deal will open at 6 p.m.

History à la Carte: Undaunted Heart
Wednesday, March 17
12:10-1 p.m.
Bring your lunch; beverages provided.

Suzy Barile, Author

When former governor David Swain’s daughter Ella married Union general Smith Atkins, not everyone in the state rejoiced. Barile, the couple’s great-great-granddaughter, shares excerpts from Ella’s letters that reveal a loving marriage that transcended differences and scandal.

Make It, Take It: Hoop and Ball
Saturday, March 20
1-3 p.m. (drop-in program)

Get ready for March Madness by making your own miniature hoop-and-ball game and visiting the exhibit N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

For more information about these programs, call 919-807-7900.

marks programs of interest to children and families

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