Massillon Museum celebrates 75 years

MASSILLON, Ohio — The Massillon Museum’s summer exhibition — Eclectic. Everyday. Elegant. — celebrates 75 years of excellence.

The Massillon Museum opened in 1933. The exhibition will feature the 75 most important objects in the collection, display favorite objects and relive popular exhibitions from the past.

The exhibition, which encompasses both the first and second levels of the museum, opens June 7 and continues through Sept. 14.

The anniversary exhibition will open with a free pubic reception from 7-9 p.m. June 7. No reservations are necessary.

Sample items

The Massillon-manufactured steam engine will be on the lawn; the locally made Jewel automobile will be in the lobby. The main gallery on the first floor will spotlight permanent collection objects deemed by the staff and exhibition committee to be the best 75 pieces in the collection.

Summer visitors will see photographs by internationally renowned photographers; P.T. Barnum’s gold-topped cane, a Tommy Henrich Yankees jersey, Ida McKinley’s wedding corset, a Civil War drum, Tom Thumb’s wedding vest and a cigar store Indian.

The museum’s sculpture collection will be represented by the three-dimensional works of Anna Hyatt Huntington, Chaim Gross, David Hostetler and William Zorach. The electric permanent wave machine amazes visitors whenever it’s on display.

Special events

In addition to the museum’s big annual summer events — the Island Party and Fun Fest — many 75th anniversary events have been scheduled beginning in July: three gallery talks, an antique car show followed by a related evening benefit event, a brown bag lunch, pioneer day and a community celebration dinner.

A 120-page, soft cover catalog accompanying the exhibition will be published early in the summer. It will include essays and color photographs of the Massillon Museum’s 75 most important permanent collection objects.

Details

Eclectic. Everyday. Elegant. may be seen during regular museum hours from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2-5 p.m. Sundays. The museum will be closed July 4. A visit to the Massillon Museum is free. It is located at 121 Lincoln Way East (Ohio 172) in downtown Massillon. For more information, call 330-833-4061 or visit www.massillonmuseum.org.