A new exhibit, Dearly Departed: Death & Dying in Montgomery County, will open March 21 at the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County.
The opening reception will take place 5-7 p.m. and includes refreshments. The annual meeting of the Friends of the Carnegie Museum will follow at 7 p.m.
Dearly Departed explores how families have dealt with the death of a loved one. The exhibit tells the story of the people, businesses and places that support individuals and their families at such times. Come learn about the growth of area funeral homes, changes in burial traditions and ways we’ve grieved over the past 200 years.
The exhibit will feature mourning attire and jewelry, a circa 1900 wicker removal basket, spirit photographs and more. A companion exhibit at the Crawfordsville District Public Library will feature the life and work of Sidney Speed, a local monument designer and expert carver.
The museum also will host two speakers as part of the Dearly Departed exhibit. At 7 p.m. April 18, Jeannie Regan-Dinius, director of Historic Preservation at the Crown Hill Foundation, will visit the museum and share the meaning behind the symbols found in cemeteries, past and present. At 2 p.m. May 5, historian Sheila Riley will discuss the history of Victorian mourning practices and how they are still seen today.
The public is invited to the opening celebration as well as the speaker series.
During the annual meeting, museum members will hear details about the museum’s 2023 activities, including an overview of the traveling exhibit The Amazing Castle as well as other featured exhibits that included crinoids, water and education. The membership will also learn about the museum’s record-setting attendance of 9,137 visitors in 2023. Members also will vote on a slate of incoming board members and get a sneak peak into what’s coming in 2024. All museum members are encouraged to attend.
The Carnegie Museum at 222 S. Washington St. is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and admission is free. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
The public is encouraged to follow the museum on Facebook and Instagram.
