Savanna Museum and Cultural Center
406 Main St. Savanna Illinois
See Gene Wrights "Gallery of Civil War Soldiers" of over 100 full sized
mannequins dressed in authentic Civil War uniforms.
The Civil War Display Will Be Open Sometime In April. Check Back For Details.
For More Info Please Call Connie at 815-565-0024
THE SMITHSONIAN IS COMING TO SAVANNA!
The Savanna Historical Society is pleased to announce “The Smithsonian” is coming to Savanna, Illinois. Savanna is one of only 6 communities, chosen to host this exhibition. This was made possible, through a grant, from the Illinois Humanities Council, in order to bring Smithsonian quality exhibitions, into small and medium sized communities in Illinois. Other communities in Illinois, that were chosen to receive the exhibition, were Carbondale, Marshall, Ottawa, Waterloo, and Beardstown.
The exhibition, entitled “The Way We Worked”, will be held in the 1st floor Community Room of the Savanna Museum and Cultural Center, 406 Main Street Savanna, Illinois. The exhibition will run February 25th thru April 7th, with operating hours of Wednesdays thru Sundays 2:00 PM thru 6:00 PM or (other times by appointment). This exhibition is free and open to the public (donations always welcome).
“The Way We Worked” exhibition explores how work became a central element in American culture, by tracing the many changes, that affected the workforce and the environments. It shows how Americans worked a diverse array of jobs, to power our society. It answers questions of why we work, and what aspects of life do our jobs fulfill. Whether we work for professional satisfaction and personal growth, or to insure the well being of ourselves and our families, work is part of nearly every American’s life. This exhibition will offer insight into our local community's own work culture, with programming and other interpretive opportunities.
Several local businesses will also be setting up kiosk type displays, which showcases, their business. These displays will show how local businesses have helped build our community and have influenced our society.
The Savanna Historical Society is also sponsoring a 'first' for Savanna, a film festival!!! During the 6 weeks stay of the exhibition, the SHS will show several films that portray both informative and humorous aspects of WORK. Plans are underway, after the showing of the films, for informal discussions of highlighted occupations, with local representatives.
In conjunction with the exhibit, the Society will welcome back Brian "Fox" Ellis on March 17th to present a program, on the mussel shelling industry, on the Mississippi River. Ellis has become a much requested guest speaker with his dynamic and well prepared presentations. A published schedule of events will soon be made available through the media, for all aspects of the exhibition.
People who would like to volunteer as tour guides during the exhibition are asked to call Jean Jones, at 815-273-3761. No formal training or experience is required to become a docent. Enthusiasm and commitment are the main qualifications needed. A training workshop, will be held for volunteers the evening of Feb. 23 or the morning of Feb. 24th. Docents will need to be present for the four hour shifts the museum will be open.
“The Way We Worked” is part of the “Museum on Main Street” (MoMS) program, a partnership between the “Smithsonian Institution Travelling Exhibition Service” and the Illinois Humanities Council.
The Smithsonian Exhibition arrives in Savanna for six weeks starting February 25th. The Savanna Historical Society is hosting the exhibition at the Savanna Museum and Cultural Center, 406 Main Street. Regular hours will be 2-6 pm, Wednesdays through Sundays. Society Board members and invited guests will formally open the exhibition on the 25th early at 1:00 pm. Invitations have been sent to city and political representatives to officially open the exhibition. The SHS is one of only 6 communities in Illinois to host the exhibition, with funding and exhibition materials provided from the Illinois Humanities Council and the Smithsonian Institution.
The name of the exhibition is “The Way We Worked”, and the exhibition focuses on how work became a central element in American culture. Also on display, will be several kiosk-type exhibits from local area businesses which were developed to tell the story of their workers.
Feb. 25: The SHS is presenting a film festival, with films being shown on weekends of the exhibition. The SHS is presenting films that highlight work in different professions and films of events that changed America. Varied in scope and content, the films attempt to reflect the importance of work and how some individuals can make and shape history. 
Films are for young or mature adults. Following the opening ceremony on February 25th, at 2:30 pm an original film, “Railroad Town on the River”, will be shown at the museum theater. The professionally developed film is the result of recording hours of conversation and film with former area railroad workers. It is the story of the people who worked here, working together to make a complex rail system. Savanna and area visitors will see familiar faces in the film as the story of their work is depicted. A special preview event for the film participants and their families will be held on February 18th. The film showing will also be repeated on Saturday, March 3rd at 2:30.
Refreshments will be served on February 25th.
Feb. 26: 2:30 Film, “10,000 Black Men Named George” In the 1920s, the rights of American workers, to join a labor union was still considered an open question, and African-Americans were routinely denied their civil and economic rights. So in 1925, when journalist and political activist Asa Philip Randolph and railway car porter Ashley Totten formed the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, it was a bold gesture which proved to have a major impact in both labor and race relations in America. 95 minutes
March 3: 2:30 2nd showing of “Railroad Town on the River’” film featuring our former railroad employees.
March 4: 2:30 Film presentation, “Norma Rae” Norma Rae is a southern textile worker employed in a factory with intolerable working conditions. This concern about the situation gives her (Sally Fields) the gumption to be the key associate to a visiting labor union organizer. Together, they undertake the difficult, and possibly dangerous, struggle to unionize her factory. This film is rated PG, parental guidance advised. Based on a true story. 118 minutes
March 10: 2:30 Film presentation, “Sheriff” A sheriff in a rural southern community strives to maintain order and civility. This is an unexpected intimate portrait of a complex man trying to do a good job in a bad world. Far from a high-minded, humorless presentation, “Sheriff” has some hilarious moments. 76 minutes Following the film presentation, Carroll County Sheriff Jeff Doran will be available at this showing to compare his work with that of the sheriff in the film.
March 11: 2:30 2nd showing of film, “Sheriff”
March 17: 4:00 Brian "Fox" Ellis returns by popular request. His program will be about the mussel/button industry on the Mississippi River. To accommodate the audience, this presentation will be at the Times Theater on Main Street.
March 18: 2:30 Film presentation, “9 to 5”, a hilarious comedy featuring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, the film concerns three working women living out their fantasy of getting even with, and their successful overthrow of, the company's autocratic, "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" boss. The film is rated PG, parental guidance advised. 110 minutes
March 24: 2:30 Film presentation, “Professor”, An Iowa University professor challenges his students, the university that employs him, and the purpose of teaching power-keg subjects like the Holocaust. This film might show that one man can change the world, even from his closet, he calls an office. Approx. 60 minutes
March 25: 2:30 2nd showing of “Professor”
March 31: 2:30 Guest speaker, Robert Bruno, University of Illinois Professor of Labor and Employment Relations, presents “The Way We Look: Hollywood Representations of Workers from Brutes to Heroes”. Working people have been a central theme of mainstream Hollywood film making for over a century. This presentation will reveal the dominant forms that working class men and women have taken on screen and discuss the meaning and purpose of these images. Participants will also watch brief video clips of several popular films.
April 1: Film Presentation “Musician” Common sense says you can't make a living in America playing avant-garde improvisational jazz. But Ken Vandermark, does it anyway. Among musicians, Vandermark's work ethic is almost mythic. The Chicago reed player has released over 100 albums with nearly 40 ensembles, and spends over eight months per year on the road. Follow him and see how he lives every other waking moment composing, arranging, and performing. Approx. 1 hr.
For further information on the Smithsonian Exhibit “The Way We Worked” please contact: Jean Ferris 815-273-7262 or Connie Zink 815-565-0024
