Smithsonian "Museum Day Live!"

Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is participating in this special 2014 Smithsonian event - a day designed to encourage people to discover the wonderful museums - big and small - in their own communities. At Mandarin Museum admission is always free, but on September 27, visitors will receive the member discount on most museum store purchases. Be sure to come in to the museum to relax in the front porch rockers, have a cup of lemonade and some Birthday cake (the cake will be cut at noon) as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Mandarin Museum being in Walter Jones Historical Park!

From 11am to 4pm you will also get to meet Dr. Keith Holland and several of the divers who found the Union steamship shipwreck site and brought thousands of Civil War artifacts to the surface.  

The historic 1875 Webb farmhouse will be open for tours, as well the Losco Winery and the 1876 Barn. You may view the Wheeler Sawmill and see and learn about chickens at the hen house. Local musicians will entertain you with traditional music throughout the day. And you may meet our "butterfly lady" Betty Taylor at the butterfly garden where she will give you information and answer your questions about how to attract butterflies in north Florida.

Let your imagination take you on a journey back in time as you stroll through the beautiful park. Picture the steamboats coming up the St. Johns and arriving at the wharf with your mail and dry goods and imagine the Maple Leaf buried under the mud of the St. Johns, just around the bend. Then walk on out to County Dock and look for shore birds, manatees around the pilings or fish jumping in the water.

Click here  to obtain your free ticket and bring it with you.

The ticket indicates a two person limit, but since this is always a free venue, we invite you to bring as many people as you'd like with your ticket. As a gift for obtaining a ticket for Museum Day Live, you will receive the digital edition of Smithsonian magazine free for one year with no obligation, beginning with the October edition.

If you don't get a ticket...come anyway, no problem, but the ticket helps Smithsonian track the success of this program all over the country. And, it gives you that free in-line subscription! 

This wonderful event will consist of a variety of delicious food samplings as well as wine sampling stations and there will be up to a 15% discount on wines purchased, plus a Fresh Market coupon. A raffle and a silent auction will take place during the evening, featuring many interesting items and gift certificates from a variety of local businesses. If you have something you would like to donate to the Silent Auction, please let us know asap at 268-0784.

We need your help to sell our 300 tickets. Buy for yourself and  tell your friends and neighbors what a great event it is and how it supports the work of the Mandarin Museum. If you own a business, you might want to purchase several tickets to give to special clients and staff members.

Click here to buy tickets online or stop by Mandarin Museum any Saturday and buy one at the gift shop. Thank you in advance for your support.