Benjamin Franklin Exhibit Now Open at Wake Library
2/6/2008
Meet Ben Franklin and learn about his remarkable life and achievements at the Grand Opening of "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World," Friday, February 15, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. at Cameron Village Regional Library, 1930 Clark Avenue, Raleigh. The national traveling exhibit will be on display Friday, February 15, 2008, through Friday, March 28, 2008, during normal library hours.
Franklin not only served his country as a skillful diplomat and negotiator, he was also a scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, humorist and philanthropist. "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World," showcases Franklin’s wisdom and wit as he continues to inspire and entertain more than 300 years after his birth. Visitors to the exhibit will learn about Franklin’s dedication to making the world a better place and his life as the quintessential American success story.
The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary and the American Library Association organized the exhibit with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Local sponsors include the Wake County Friends of the Library, Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens, and the N.C. Museum of History.
Cameron Village Library is sponsoring free programs and other events for the public in connection with the Ben Franklin Exhibit, beginning with the opening celebration on February 15. A schedule of events is below.
Admission to the exhibit is free and open to the public. The Cameron Village Regional Library is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information call 919-856-6703 or visit www.wakegov.com/benfranklin.
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Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World
February 15 – March 28, 2008
Cameron Village Regional Library, Raleigh
Related Programs and Events
Friday, February 15, at 5:30 p.m. – Grand Opening Celebration
The Sound of Glass will perform in the atrium at 5:30 p.m. Benjamin Franklin will enter at 6 p.m. and lead a procession upstairs to the exhibit room, where he will talk about his life and achievements.
Thursday, February 21, at 6:30 p.m. – Franklin and the American Revolution
Benjamin Franklin played a crucial role in the years leading up to the American Revolution, first as an arbiter with British authorities, then as a key activist campaigning for revolution. How and why did Franklin go from loyal subject to revolutionary, and why was his choice so important? Why did his son remain a Tory, loyal to the British crown? Join Dr. Holly Brewer, Associate Professor of Early American History at N.C. State University, as she explores these crucial questions of allegiance, principles and revolution.
Saturday, March 1, at 11 a.m. – Fantastic Firefighters
What famous American established the first volunteer fire department? Preschoolers and elementary school-aged children will enjoy learning about how fire departments began in America.
Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m. – What We Wore: Fashions in Colonial America
Find out what Benjamin Franklin might have worn when he opened the first lending library in the nation or invented bifocals. What would his friends and neighbors have worn around 1770? Louise Benner, curator of Costume and Textiles at the North Carolina Museum of History, will share her knowledge and dress a mother and daughter from the audience in reproduction 18th-century clothing.
Tuesday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m. – Benjamin Franklin, Diplomacy and Social Life in Paris: 1776-1785
Shortly after the beginning of the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin was dispatched to France as a diplomatic representative. He lived well and worked hard, helping to negotiate the Treaty of Paris – and participating in some of the most important political meetings of the late 18th century. Join Dr. Elgiva Watson, Benjamin Franklin scholar and lecturer, to learn more about Franklin and his contributions to a fascinating time in history.
Thursday, March 6, at 4:15 p.m. – History Corner
The N.C. Museum of History and Cameron Village Library will present a Ben Franklin program with a North Carolina focus. This program is especially designed for school-age children.
Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. – Lightning is Electricity
School-age children will enjoy an electrifying demonstration about Ben Franklin’s contributions to science.
Sunday, March 9, at 2 p.m. – Revolutionary Tea Party
Visit Cameron Village Regional Library for an afternoon of tea and refreshments. Listen to the words of Benjamin Franklin as spoken by local actor J. Chachula, co-founder of Flying Machine Theater Company in Raleigh. Reservations are required. Please call 856-6703 for more information and to save your seat at our very special Revolutionary Tea Party!
Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m. – Family Kite-Making Workshop
Parents and children are invited to attend this workshop and build kites from scratch!
Thursday, March 20, at 7 p.m. – Journalism and a Free Press Panel Discussion
According to Franklin, "when truth and error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter." Visit Cameron Village Regional Library for a discussion of contemporary applications of Franklin’s journalistic principles. The panel will include Ted Vaden, Public Editor for The News and Observer.
For more information about adult programs, please call 856-6703. For information about children’s programs, please call 856-6723.
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