This article orginally appeared in the Mt. Vernon Register-News
By Rosie Githinji
MT. VERNON — Visitors are invited to come take a look around the Jefferson County Historical Village, which will open its doors for the season this Saturday.
Jamie Wheeler, Jefferson County Historical Society director of community relations, said there are so many events planned for the season that the opening is not going to be extravagant.
“It’s kind of just a quiet opening,” Wheeler said. “We are just going to be open to the public for tours.”
Wheeler said there are many events planned to last throughout the summer, though.
From May 18 to 20, there will be a WWII field kitchen and a veterans gathering, as well as some reenactments among other activities. On June 16, the Historical Village is hosting a bluegrass festival and will have a Smithsonian exhibit that will last from June through August.
The exhibit is called ‘Journey Stories’ and it is presented by the Smithsonian Institute and the Illinois Humanities Council. The exhibit deals with immigration and migration in the United States and the JCHS will have local exhibits on display as well.
There will be an ice cream social August 11, where people can come and get ice cream, cake and listen to music, Wheeler said. She said tickets are $5 and it is the only event the Historical Society will have that will be of cost to visitors.
The Heritage Festival will be held during October an will feature people in costume and various crafts such as rope making and candle making, among other things.
“It’s kind of like stepping out of the 21st century into the 1800’s,” Wheeler said.
Those who visit the Historical Village can tour the grounds by themselves or have a guide.
We have village guide books that provide information on the different buildings,” Wheeler said.
There are also docents, or tour guides, available in the museum, welcome cabin and on the grounds who can take visitors through the village.
Village grounds will be open each weekend, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wheeler said during the Smithsonian exhibition, June 24 through Aug. 4, the Historical Village will be open Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Everything is free of charge with the exception of the ice cream social. The Historical Village will be open on weekends through October 28 and is located at 1411 N. 27th St. For more information, call 246-0033.