Visit America’s first New Deal Homestead Community on Saturday, Sept. 26

Arthurdale Heritage Offers Free Admission on

Smithsonian Magazine’s 5^th Annual Museum Day

–Museum Day 2009 Poised to be Largest to Date–

 

Arthurdale, WV—On Saturday, September 26, 2009, Arthurdale Heritage will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine.  A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian’s Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based properties.  Doors will be open free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors at museums and cultural institutions nationwide.

Last year, upwards of 200,000 people attended Museum Day, with all 50 states plus Puerto Rico represented by over 900 participating museums, including 84 Smithsonian affiliate museums. This year, the magazine expects to attract over 1,000 museums.

“We are very excited to be participating in Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day,” said Theresa Marthey, Interim Director of Arthurdale Heritage.  “This is the perfect opportunity for us to showcase Arthurdale and its important part in America’s history.”

Arthurdale, the nation’s first New Deal homesteading community, was established in 1933.  The community provided a new chance at life for residents of North Central West Virginia who were suffering from the effects of the great depression.  Today, the community is a National Historic District.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt served as the empathetic force behind the project.  Visitors have the opportunity to walk the same roads the first lady did in the 1930s and 40s.

This multi-building museum illustrates the story of Arthurdale as a New Deal Homestead.  The museum is comprised of a forge filled with original tools, a service station reminiscent of a bygone era, the historic Center Hall, the original federal government administration building, and a fully restored Arthurdale homestead.

Visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday to download your Museum Day Admission Card.  Attendees must present the Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry to participating institutions. Each card provides museum access for two people, and one admission card is permitted per household.  Listings and links to participating museums’ can also be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

Visit www.arthurdaleheritage.org for more information on Arthurdale and for driving directions.

About Smithsonian Media

Founded in 1970 with the launch of Smithsonian magazine, Smithsonian Media—comprising Smithsonian magazine, Air & Space, goSmithsonian, Smithsonian Publishing Digital Network, Smithsonian Books and advertising for Smithsonian Channel—allows the intellectually curious to indulge and engage their passions for history, the arts, science, the natural world, culture and travel. Smithsonian Media’s flagship publication, Smithsonian magazine, has a circulation of more than two million. This multimedia network is also affiliated with the world’s most visited museum and research complexes at the Smithsonian Institution. For more information, visit www.smithsonian.com, www.airspacemag.com, and www.gosmithsonian.com