spring events
living on the rails
archery class, tea with mom, and more
explore the adventures of railroad life
homegrown heroes a fond farewell
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saturday april 28th the stick The Morris Center is excited to present, The Stick, by nationally-known silhouette artist, Clay Rice, opening Saturday, June 9, 2018.
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS Reptiles are an exciting and important part of our Lowcountry ecosystem. Come and take a closer look at our reptile neighbors.
Free to the general public, this community kick-off party features a presentation by Rodger Stroupe, who will talk about the history of Lowcountry railroads, including the Port Royal Line, the Hampton and Branchville Railroad, and the Charleston and Savannah Railway.
upcoming
technical look at locomotive history thur may 31 5:30pm Join Terry Koller for a special presentation on the history of steam locomotives! These steam-powered behemoths ripped and roared their way across the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
self protection workshop thur may 3 11am - 12:30pm yoga in the galleries Take a break from your day and explore the world of yoga at the Morris Center! This hour-long yoga session is provided by yoga instructor Kelsey Lee, who will guide the class through a series of gentle and relaxing yoga poses.
Join Lindy Woods for a self-defense seminar which is for people wanting to learn fast and practical self-defense skills. This event is free. However advanced, registration is requested due to limited space. To register call the center 843-284-9227.
Tues & Thurs 6pm - 7pm April 10, 12, 17, 19 and May 1 & 3.
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mother’s day afternoon tea with kim poovey thur may 10 2pm - $30 Morris Center invites mothers and daughters (or other significant women in their lives) to an afternoon tea party where they will enjoy a full tea with scones, a variety of finger sandwiches, desserts, live music, and a performance by Kim Poovey. Kim will present the history of afternoon tea, proper tea etiquette, and how to brew the perfect pot. Audience members also learn the history of Margarete Steiff, founder of the Steiff Stuffed Animal and Teddy Bear Company. Dress to impress and bring your best hat for this fun affair. $30 pre-payment is required for this program. Members’ cost is $25.00.
My Friend Elizabeth Keckley
SAT MAY 12 2pm My Friend Elizabeth Keckley, is a one-act play written and directed by Eileen Waite of Bluffton. Carolin Collins, also of Bluffton, will portray Lizzie Keckley, the modest confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln (played by Waite) during her years in the White House. Pre-Registration is required and free admission.
Lowcountry Paint & Sip Class fri june 1 6pm - $20
Explore the wonderful world of art with talented local artist Amiri Farris. Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy an evening with friends, while painting your own Lowcountry masterpiece. All supplies are provided. Space is limited; the event sells out quickly. Advance payment and registration required!
archery class thurs june 14 10am - 12pm
reptiles & amphibians Alligators, snakes, and turtles - oh my! Examine the intriguing characteristics of local reptiles and learn how to respectfully and safely interact with these creatures. Decipher the difference between reptiles and amphibians and learn how amphibians “tell” us about the health of our ecosystem. Free admission – pre-registration is required.
thurs may 17 4pm - 5pm
hurricane talk tues june 10 2pm Join Jonathan Myers for a fascinating presentation about the 2018 hurricane season. Myers is the morning meteorologist for the WJCL StormTracker 22 Weather Team in Savannah, GA. This presentation will discuss the forecast for the season, and why there may be more/less hurricanes in 2018. Also, he will take a look back at Hurricanes Matthew and Irma.
railroads & the civil war thurs june 21 5:45pm
animal adaptations tues june 26 1pm - 4pm
busy bee’s & bonnie’s garden wed july 11 3pm
Join Monica and Russ with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for a hands on learning experience on the ancient art of archery. Contributing to nearly every aspect of the era, the railroad industry during the 19th century was responsible for the accelerated expansion of territory and industry, and was a pivotal element in the downfall of the Confederacy. Focus on Bird Beaks: Why do birds have different shaped beaks? Birds have many different kinds of beaks, depending on what they eat and where their food source is.
Busy Bees is an educational workshop that focuses on the wonderful world of honeybees. Students engage in games and activities that teach about life cycle, anatomy, and communication habits of our favorite pollinators!
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omegrown Heroes: The Lowcountry in World War II, our interactive and popular exhibit, will be formally closing to make way for Living by the Rails: The History of the Lowcountry Railroads. Set to kick off Saturday, April 28, with a special ceremony at 1:30 PM, the Morris Center hopes to captivate the exciting history of our local railway system. This exhibit is suitable for all ages. Free to the general public, this community kick-off party features a presentation by Rodger Stroupe. He will discuss the history of Lowcountry railroads, including the Port Royal Line, the Hampton and Branchville Railroad, and the Charleston and Savannah Railway. The exhibit opening celebration will also feature live music, historical reenactments, and a variety of children’s activities such as face painting, a bouncy castle, and more. This exhibit has been made possible by a $5,000 grant from the South Carolina Humanities Council and generous donations from local sponsors including The Myers Edge (McDonald’s), Piggly Wiggly, and Printology. Living by the Rails will feature a documentary film with local noteworthy, retired railroad workers and civilians sharing their firsthand accounts about working for and living by the rails. This film conveys the importance of train transportation and how railroads, specifically the Charleston and Savannah Railway, affected Ridgeland and the Lowcountry’s economy and societal progress. Told through primary sources, the exhibit brings to life a rich period in the region’s history. The film, produced by Dana Rose Productions, connects the past and the present while showing how the railroads changed travel and trade in the Lowcountry. Local educators may be able to integrate this exhibit with current social studies standards and curriculum from third to twelfth grades.
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A “Selfie Station� will also accompany the exhibit, and visitors may don authentic clothing and snap photos with railroad memorabilia. Photographs, along with creative depictions of historical information about the local railways, will help make Living by the Rails a memorable experience! This exhibit is for individuals interested in Lowcountry heritage, history, railways, and is a perfect opportunity to bring a friend to discover our architecturally distinctive, converted Sinclair Service Station. Visitors will also be able to enjoy our other current exhibit, 521 All-Stars: A Championship Story of Baseball and Community, highlighted separately and available through June 1, 2018.
SAT, APRIL 28
WW We honored our brave the Lowcountry Greatest Generation with Homegrown Heroes: The Lowcountry in WWII, from April 2017 through early April this year. In a salute ďŹ tting to our troops, The South Carolina Federation of Museums presented an Award of Achievement to Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage on March 22, 2018 for Homegrown Heroes.
“Homegrown Heroes: The Lowcountry in World War II” examined the Second World War’s impact in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. This story unfolded with the Day of Infamy and the American entry into the war. The display revealed untold multicultural personal stories of local men and women bound together in support for those abroad and on the Homefront. This exhibition celebrated and honored those whose stories were fading away, featuring a documentary of local veterans and civilians sharing their personal experiences in WWII. Our project highlighted the hidden accounts of
courageous men and women which will be preserved for future generations. The Morris Center worked with WWII scholars, local historians, partnering museums, and local community members to help tell the stories. We would like to thank our local heroes and their families for allowing us to feature them through the exhibit. Additionally, we thank our generous sponsors including the South Carolina Humanities Council, the town of Ridgeland, South Carolina, Piggly Wiggly, and Roseland Plantation for their support. Another special thank you for you - for visiting the center, sharing Homegrown Heroes with others, and helping us reach over 4,000 individuals in our historic little gas station!
The Morris Center is excited to present, The Stick, by nationally-known silhouette artist, Clay Rice opening Saturday, June 9, 2018. This new traveling exhibit, developed by Rice and The South Carolina State Museum, is based on the artist’s children’s book of the same name. The Stick is about a young boy who embarks on an exciting journey after finding a stick. “The Stick is a poignant and heartfelt oath to the power of imagination,” says Rice. With original illustrations from Rice, The Stick, will come to life in this fascinating new traveling exhibit. Rice blends the elegant black and white silhouette tradition with a colorful world in the story of the power of imagination. Rice is as much a folklorist as he is a visual artist, collecting stories from people he meets and preserving their tales in silhouettes. This art form began in France in the mid-1700s, taking its name from one of its most famous practitioners, Etienne de Silhouette. Rice learned his craft from the master—his grandfather, famed South Carolina silhouette artist Carew Rice, who was described by poet Carl Sandburg as “America’s greatest silhouettist.” The Stick will be on display through August 11, 2018. The exhibit is a part of a traveling exhibition program offered through the South Carolina State Museum. The Traveling Exhibitions Program gives galleries, museums, and art centers across South Carolina the opportunity to request the exhibit to tour their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists.
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10782 Jacob Smart Blvd. S. Ridgeland, SC 29936
connect with us! Did you enjoy the local wildlife programs? Creepy crawlies or sea turtles? Or did you prefer gardening, painting, and crafting? Perhaps you were curious about local history, reenactments, Native Americans or archery. You may have enjoyed yoga and self-defense classes. Or, you might have taken part in an afternoon tea, enjoyed local cooking, and savored fresh oysters. Your feedback is deeply valuable! Please remember to email us at info@morrisheritagecenter.org or call us at 843-284-9227 to provide your thoughts. We accept sponsorships for our exhibits and programming series as well as donations to enhance our visitors’ experience. A special thanks to Jasper Feed and Seed for making our “How Does Your Garden Grow?” event in early April such a success!
THANK YOU
If you are connected with any groups or organizations that would be interested in using our facilities (construction is now underway for Phase 2!) for a wedding or special occasion later this year, please contact Tamara Herring at the center.