“Journey Stories” features the historic journeys Americans have made in creating this country.
The exhibit is part of the Museum on Main Street (MoMS) project (www.MuseumonMainStreet.org), organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and brought to Cleveland by Humanities Tennessee and ORMS.
“Journey Stories” features images, audio, and artifacts highlighting the critical roles travel and movement have played in building American society. From the populating of the continent to the family vacation, events throughout history have determined where people have been and where they are now, creating communities that trace their origins and experiences across maps — and the globe.
Christian Hoeferle, ORMS board president, said “We would like to invite everyone in our community, young and old, traveling or settled, native or recently immigrated, to join us as the ‘Journey Stories’ hosts in Cleveland as we connect local history to the exhibit with programs and events. Being chosen as a partner by Humanities Tennessee to allow Journey Stories a travel stop in Cleveland is a big honor for ORMS. Our hosting committee has done a remarkable job in putting it all together.”
Journey stories — tales of how we and our ancestors came to America — are a central element of our personal heritage. From Native Americans to new American citizens and regardless of our ethnic or racial background, everyone has a story to tell. Our history is filled with stories of people leaving behind everything — families and possessions — to reach a new life in another state, across the continent, or even across an ocean. Many chose to move, searching for something better in a new land. Others had no choice, like enslaved Africans captured and relocated to a strange land and bravely asserting their own cultures, or like Native Americans already here, who were often pushed aside by newcomers.
Exhibit hours are Monday through Sunday (daily), from 1 to 5 p.m. and Monday through Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m.
While open in Cleveland, the “Journey Stories” exhibit will be accompanied by speakers, rotating displays and special programs specific to Bradley County’s journey stories.
An opening reception with a special welcome by Cleveland City Mayor Tom Rowland is set for Saturday, August 14, from 1 p.m. — 3 p.m. in the community room of the library where the exhibit will be displayed.
Each of the six weeks has been devoted to topics related to this community:
Aug. 14 through 20
Native Americans’ Journeys
Aug. 21 through 27 Journeys of Faith
Aug. 28 through Sept. 3 Journeys initiated
by Industrialization
Sept. 4 through 10 African Americans’ Journeys
Sept. 11 through 17 Journeys of War
and Depression
Sept. 18 through 24 A Mosaic — Journeys
of Immigrants
The Smithsonian exhibit is welcomed by a hosting committee, cochaired by Mosaic Center representatives (ORMS Board members) Renee Lastra and Lilli Lauster. Others on the host committee include Bob George, Andrew Hunt, Dr. Bennett Judkins, Dr. Richard Jones, Rhode Kirkpatrick, Bryan Reed, Dr. David Roebuck, Lelia Ware, Evie West and Melissa Woody.
