 |
|
Museum Notes
Summer Camp at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton MuseumThis summer the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum is adding a new summer camp program called Camp Shenandoah for children. In recognition of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, this year’s overall theme will be the Civil War era. Each day’s activities will focus on a different aspect of life during the early 1860s. For example, we will have Homefront day, Battlefield day, Abraham Lincoln day, Archeology day and the last day will be Parent’s day. All of the arts and crafts, games, songs and demonstrations will relate to the theme of the day. Some of the activities will include making butter, creating an Abe Lincoln hat, having a balloon battle, digging for artifacts, learning how to drill like a soldier, grind your own corn and create mosaics using the corn and other vegetables, find a way to navigate an obstacle course while “wounded” and go on your very own surveying treasure hunt. The week long camp program for 4-6 year olds will be from 10:30-12:00 July 14-18th and will cost $30. The 7-10 year olds camp will be from 9:00-12:00 July 21-25th and will cost $40. A maximum of twenty children will be accepted in each program so please call (903) 450-4502 to register your child. This program is sponsored by The Spencer Company of Dallas, Texas. The museum is located at 600 IH-30 East in Greenville, TX.
Audie Days Kicks off June 26June 5, 2009 - To honor and remember our nation’s military heroes, Audie Murphy Days will kick off Friday, June 26. The annual two day event, which is free and open to the public, is hosted by the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in conjunction with local military service organizations to celebrate Audie Leon Murphy, the most decorated soldier of World War II, as well as military veterans and those currently serving our country. Audie Murphy Days, June 26 and 27, centers on Audie Murphy, a native son of Hunt County, war hero, Hollywood film star and accomplished songwriter. This year’s events will consist of a variety of ceremonies, music, displays, speakers and demonstrations. Noted guests include Johnny Western, a country western singer and actor who wrote songs with Audie and performed with Johnny Cash for over 30 years, U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall, Fort Sill Honor Guard, Fort Sam Houston Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, Dr. Archie McDonald, and keynote speaker, Retired Master Sgt. Edwin Taylor. Friday’s events will be held at the Civic Center at 5501 Hwy 69 South in Greenville beginning at 9:00 a.m. and will close the evening with Audie Bingo and a concert by Johnnie Western. The concert (dinner is included) is the only event that is not free. Tickets are now on sale and cost $10 for adults/$5 for children 5-12 yrs. old. Saturday’s events will begin at the Civic Center at 9:00 a.m. and will move to the Museum located at 600 I-30 East in Greenville, at 1:00 p.m. with a variety of civil war living history demonstrations and military vehicle displays. The evening will end with a showing of the movie, Bullet For a Badman, which stars Audie Murphy, and a candlelight ceremony at the statue of Audie Murphy and the Hunt County War Memorial. These are just some of the activities taking place. Contact the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum at 903-450-4502 for additional information. Funding for this event is provided in part by the City of Greenville Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax Revenues and with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Creating 'Hall of Heroes' May 25, 2009 - It is impossible for Susan Lanning to hide her excitement over what is coming to her museum. Lanning, the executive director of the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville, is more than happy to give a tour of the upcoming “Hall of Heroes”, perhaps the single most ambitious project in the museum’s history. Lanning said the Hall, designed as a multi-media exhibit paying tribute to the men and women from Hunt County who served their country during war time, should be complete sometime early next year. “We’re looking at, realistically, January or February of 2010,” Lanning said. “We just sent all of the exhibit cases out for bid.” As it stands now, however, a walk through the Hall of Heroes is an exercise in using imagination. Blue tape lines the floor where the Hall will be located in the western end of the museum, marking where moveable walls will be set up. Chairs indicate where exhibit cases and other features will be set. But it is obvious Lanning and the other people who work at and for the museum have some big dreams which are about to become reality. The tour starts in the “Audie Murphy Hollywood Room”, a space which will be used to conduct the museum’s Lunch Break Specials and to host other events, such as the periodic movie nights. Dale and Kay Crumpton recently donated a 55-inch flat screen television for the centerpiece of the room, which will focus on Murphy’s acting legacy, as opposed to his historic military career. Outside of the “Hollywood Room”, visitors to the museum will encounter exhibits dedicated to the Civil War. Lanning is wanting to illustrate any local ties to the conflict. “We’re trying to really pull in what the soldiers from Hunt County did,” Lanning said, noting that is the goal of all of the displays which will be featured in the Hall of Heroes. Next, the visitor will feel as if they have literally walked into the trenches of World War I. “It is going to be so cool,” Lanning said. The walk-through trench diorama will include a subsonic vibration machine, a shaker, which will simulate what the soldiers felt as cannons fired rounds above their heads. The shaker was contributed to the museum by Dr. Larry Kaler of Greenville. Along the trench walls, visitors will be able to peer into periscopes to view a photographic image of a World War I battlefield. “We are looking for a lot more donations,” Lanning said. “There is a lot of things we have, but there are gaps.” The emphasis Lanning is striving for in the exhibits is portraying the daily life of a soldier in each of the wars. Turning the corner, the visitor will be in World War II. Lanning is trying to bring to life what the actual experience was like for the soldiers. “We want to do some of the stories that really can’t be told in print very well,” Lanning said. One example will be an exhibit dedicated to a soldier’s backpack, illustrating everything which was stored inside. Of course, much of the space will feature Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War II. Lanning said the exhibit will highlight Murphy’s early life, then chronicle the route he took and important locations he visited during the war, along with details of his later years. Lanning is also wanting to dedicate exhibit space for the story of General Claire Chennault, who was born in Commerce and went on to found the famous “Flying Tigers” squadron, which fought Japan from China before the start of World War II. “We definitely are looking for more Flying Tigers artifacts,” Lanning said. There will be several “hands on” exhibits for children throughout the museum, she said. At the end of the World War II area, one wall of the museum will feature another life-size diorama, this one split into two sections. On one side will be a recreation of a battlefield in winter, perhaps representing the “Battle of the Bulge”, and will include a soldier writing a letter home. The other side of the diorama will be a scene taken from the home which would receive the letter, a kitchen complete with appliances and cabinets from the era. There will be spaces devoted to the Korean and Vietnam Wars and Lanning said there will always be rotating exhibits featuring the lives of local veterans. “The whole idea of this is telling their personal stories,” Lanning said. “There are a lot of people from this area who did some amazing things.” [Our thanks to the Herald Banner for permission to reprint this story.]
New! Summer children’s program at the museumMay 15, 2009 – There’s a new option in town for kids’ summer fun. "Camp Shenandoah" is both fun and educational (but don’t tell the kids!) The focus of the summer program is the Civil War era, in recognition of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday this year. Shenandoah "Campers" will create crafts, play games, sing songs, and watch demonstrations centered around the 1860s in America. Each child in the program will receive an official Camp Shenandoah T-shirt. There will be two camp sessions. Four to six year olds will meet 10:30 a.m. - noon, July 14-18. The seven to ten year olds' camp will meet 9 a.m. - noon, July 21-25. Each group is limited to 20 children. (A second 4-6 year old session will be added at 8:30 – 10 a.m. if the first session is filled.) Registration for Camp Shenandoah is now open. Fees are $30 for 4-6 year olds and $40 for 7-10 year olds. (Family level members receive a discount.) Call the museum at 903-450-4502 to register or for more information. Camp Shenandoah is sponsored by Mary Spencer, daughter of Otha
and Billie Spencer.
Easter After Dark
Well, now is your chance to experience again the excitement of an Easter egg hunt, only this time at dusk and with the opportunity to receive some great prizes. Easter After Dark will start at 7:30p.m. on Friday, April 3rd at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. There are all sorts of prizes in store for everyone who participates! Prizes will range from candy, automotive supplies, tools, restaurant gift cards and gift certificates all the way up to tickets to the Texas Motor Speedway Nascar race in November AND pit passes, Fossil watches, admission tickets to a number of museums in Dallas and Fort Worth and small and large cash prizes, including one egg with $75! These are just some of the prizes we are gathering to fill those 500 eggs for everyone to find! There will be one change for this year’s event. As a nod to those of the older generation (65 and older), for the first ten minutes after the starting gun goes off they will hunt on one side of the field and the younger generation will hunt on the other side. Turn an evening of fun into a weekend getaway by spending the night after the event at a local hotel or bed and breakfast. Treat yourself as you explore all of the neat prizes you just won! Tickets to the event cost $8 if purchased in advance or you are a member of the Museum and $10 the day of the event. There are a limited number of tickets so people are encouraged to buy them ahead of time. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. Rain out date will be April 4th. Contact the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum at (903) 450-4502 to purchase tickets or for additional information. The Museum is located at 600 I-30 East across from Mary of Puddin Hill in Greenville, Texas. Funding for this event is provided in part by the City of Greenville Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax Revenues.
More Renovations for the MuseumFebruary 27, 2009 - With the third and final part of the grant that allowed us to add the new wing last year, the Museum is in the process of completing the rest of the planned renovations. To date, we have had a wall built across the old Gift Shop that gives us about a 12 x 15 work room. this room will be used to have committee meetings, put the newsletter together, store supplies, and do large scale projects. The remaining has been painted to match the new Gift Shop. In addition, we have had gutters installed and a back piece added to the Tower to keep visitors dry when it rains. Plans include installation of outside lighting, more lighting for the new wing, window tinting, and landscaping in front of the building.
"Lonesome Dove" Actor speaks at Lunch Break Special
Biggs, a Texas native who attended Texas A&M University-Commerce and has made the town his home, discussed his trade and experiences working with some of the top actors and writers in the industry including Duvall, Horton Foote, Robert Mitchum and Kathy Bates. The Lunch Break Special is on the first Tuesday of each month. Museum members are admitted free. There is a $3 admission for guests. Lunch is available by ordering ahead of time.
Visiting Exhibit April, 2007 - A visiting exhibit courtesy of Texas
Women's University, The Women's Collection. The exhibit, Women Airforce
Service Pilots of WWII will be at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton
Museum beginning April 5-28, 2007. WASP served as part of the Army
Air Force from September 1942 to December 1944, 1,074 graduated
from the program and were assigned to operational duties, 38 died
while in the WASP program. Exhibit open during regular museum operation
days and hours.
AUDIE MURPHY STATUE STANDS VIGIL
Click here for printable Audie Murphy statue picture The ten foot bronze statue of Audie Murphy dedicated
June 2002 stands vigil over the newly finished Hunt County War Memorial
to be dedicated to the memory of 271 souls lost in combat during
the wars of the 20th century. Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier
of WWII, stated, “ The true heroes, the real heroes, are the
boys who fought and died, and never will come home”. At 11:00
a.m. on November 13, 2004 `Hunt County heroes will be honored with
the dedication of the War Memorial. The Memorial made of gray and
black granite bears the names of the 217 heroes from World War I,
World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The Memorial honors all veteran
who have faithfully served their country with their military service.
The public and family members of the deceased being recognized are
encouraged to attend in this event. Parking will be available on the Museum grounds with overflow parking at Family Fellowship Church parking lot on Division St. Transportation provided by The Connection will shuttle guest between the Memorial area and the church parking lot. A golf cart will furnish transportation from Museum parking to the Memorial area for those unable to walk the distance. The Memorial is the result of an effort started during Greenville’s sesquicentennial when a ten foot bronze statue was commissioned of Audie Murphy, America’s most decorated soldier of World War II. Tasked by the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Sesquicentennial Committee consisting of Jack Finney, Leo Hackney and James Taggart commissioned local artist, Gordon Thomas to sculpt the ten-foot statue. The Statue was begun in April 2000 and dedicated in June 2002 at the Audie Murphy/ American Cotton Museum. The original concept was presented in two phases. Phase I was the Statue, sidewalk and landscaping around the statue. Phase II is the memorial wall and plaza area and nearby parking lot. This concept was brought to fruition by the Hunt County War Memorial Committee consisting of Chairman John Reynolds, Vice Chairman William Thomas, Secretary Adrien Witkofsky, Treasurer Joyce Delgado, Hunt County Judge Joe Bobbitt, Jack Finney, Robert Dial, Gordon Thomas, Logan Wilson, Charles Engle, Noble Gilstrap, Bufford Hammond, Robert Jordan, and Chris Kilmer. Special thanks and recognition to Hunt County Commissioners, Luckett Crane Services, Hallman Memorial, and Kilmer Associates for their contribution to this effort. The completed Hunt County War Memorial is a fitting memorial to the 271 brave souls of Hunt County that gave their lives to protect and defend the United States in times of war during the 20th Century. Their names are engraved in granite as follows:
WORLD WAR II
KOREAN WAR
VIETNAM WAR
The Audie Murphy/ American Cotton Museum is located
at 600 I-30. The Museum may be reached by traveling East on I-30
from Dallas and exiting at Exit 94B and crossover the overpass and
turn right on to Frontage road for ½ mile or if traveling
west on I-30, Exit 95 (Division ST.) and stay on north Frontage
road for ½ mile.
The Audie Murphy/American
Cotton Museum
The American Cotton Museum This page designed and maintained by 
Please report any problems to Webmaster
|
March
16, 2009 - For all you adults out there – do you remember
when you used to have fun hunting eggs at Easter when you were kids?
May
3, 2007 - Commerce actor Jerry Biggs illustrates how he was “hanged”
in the television mini-series “Lonesome Dove,” during
a program at the May Lunch Break Special at the Audie Murphy/American
Cotton Museum. Biggs, who has had featured roles on stage as well
as in television and movies and appeared in commercials, was one
of the three outlaws who, along with Robert Urich, was ordered hanged
by Robert Duvall’s character in the popular series.
