April Happenings At The Franklin Historical Museum

ITEM OF THE MONTH

The April item featured in the Museum’s ongoing Item of the Month series is a small Native American Stone Knife from our collection. There is a lot to be learned about how Native Americans in this area used stone tools to create axes, grinding tools, etc. to shape their environment and live off the land. The knife, a general purpose tool, with both a tapering point and a thick edge, demonstrates the highly advanced workmanship and ingenuity of the local Wampanoag tribe. 

The research and exhibit is put together by Justin Edwards, a Dean College history major and a student of American History professor Rob Lawson, and by Susan Elliott, museum volunteer.

CINEMA SUNDAY – APRIL 10TH

Visit the museum Sunday April 10th from 1:00PM-4:00PM and view Stanley Chilson Films from the 1950s. See a bit of the Simple Life of Mid Century Franklin on the museum’s large movie screen. Stanley Chilson was a photographer who chronicled life in Franklin from the early 1930s through 1960. His films are rare treasures, that give us a unique view of how life once was in our town.

KID’S WEEK - HISTORY MYSTERIES DURING APRIL SCHOOL VACATION

The Museum will be open from 11:00AM-2:00PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 19th, 20th and 21st - School Vacation Week. Open to the public and always free the Museum hopes to encourage families looking for something to do with the kids during school vacation. Enjoy ‘History Mysteries’ by guessing the age of a vintage American Flag from our collection. Student visitors will be encouraged to fill out an index card with their guesses. Winners will receive a letter of commendation and a small token of appreciation for visiting and participating. View a Herbert Hoover campaign poster and determine how old it might be. There will even be a question or two to try to stump our older visitors. Enjoy portions of the animated series Liberty’s Kids on the museum large viewing screen. There’s lots to see and much to learn from a visit to the Franklin Historical Museum. Spend your vacation learning a little bit of Franklin’s history.

Franklin Historical Museum

The Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. Hours of operation are Saturdays 10:00AM – 1:00PM, Sundays 1:00PM – 4:00PM and starting again in April, Thursday evenings 5:00PM – 8:00PM. There is handicap access through the back door of the museum with an elevator to the 1st floor exhibits. Visit soon!