DARLINGTON — Like the “Night at the Museum” movies, for three days Lafayette County’s fascinating history will be walking and talking, shooting arrows, rifles and cannons, quilting, making rope, tending campfires, and making music in Veterans Park on Main Street in Darlington.
The Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society’s special event Night (and Day) at the Museum 2023 will be held Sept. 15-17. There will be Civil War artillery and cavalry units, Fur Traders, War of 1812 soldiers, a gunsmith, a rope maker, pioneers, Drs. C.C. and Mary Gratiot, Miss Beulah Lamb (first teacher), Sylvan Muldoon (beauty parlor owner and astral projectionist), Josephus Driver (Darlington man of worth), Jackie Kennedy, Jamison Hamilton (first settler), Grace Eslick Francis (early settler), Al Parson (of the Parson Brothers Circus), Sarah Sophia Parson Wilkinson (prominent lady), and more.
There will be special exhibits in the museum (open all weekend) including a Quilt Show, Ancient Artifacts with Dennis Fox, 60’s Fashions, and Native Americans from the county.
But it’s not just things to look at: Visitors can have a conversation with characters from county history, add their own stitches to the historic quilt at the quilting bee, try their hand at rope making, rifle shooting, primitive archery or tomahawk throw.
Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the focus is on school class visits. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and begins with Farmers Market and Craft Fair. Then food vendors including Darlington Optimists Cheese Curds, Lucky Cow Coffee and Gelato, Kettle Corn, Alicia’s Grill, Lions Club Brats. Live music begins at 3 p.m. with The Fever River String Band and The Blarneys at 5:30 p.m.
Displays characters and activities continue on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There is no admission to attend, though donations are accepted. Parking is ample. The event will be held in alternate years going forward, with the next event scheduled for 2025. For more information or any questions, contact the museum at 608-776-8340.
