Mahoning Valley Historical Society is planning its 144th Founders Day Open House for Sunday, September 8, 2019 at Tyler History Center with many free activities and a focus on the Mahoning River.
- Free Museum Admission
- Local History Fair
- Ice Cream Making
- Family Friendly Games
- Mahoning River Walking Tour
“This annual event gives the community a chance to look back on its deep history and reminds us all how resourceful and resilient the Mahoning Valley has always been,” says Bill Lawson, MVHS Executive Director. “One good example is the Mahoning River, which we are featuring this year. From early settlers recognizing the area’s potential, to decades of economic and industrial development, to the important work of reclamation and recreational enhancement, the river has shaped who we are as much as we have tried to shape it.”
Admission to Tyler History Center will be free on Open House Sunday. This gives visitors access to the following exhibits—The People of the Mahoning Valley: Stories of Identity and Innovation, The Rayen Mural, and On the Banks of the Mahoning: How the River Shaped the Valley. The other MVHS facility, Arms Family Museum on Wick Avenue, will be closed that day due to the activities at the downtown Tyler location.
One Founders Day Open House activity includes a Local History Fair, where many local or regional historical societies, museums, and groups will display information on attractions and events for their respective organizations. Friends of the Mahoning River, partnering with MVHS for the day’s tours, will also have a special display featuring the work of their non-profit group.
Also at Tyler History Center will be MVHS Archivists giving an overview of the two-dimensional collections and services provided in the Archives Resource Center. There will be family-friendly games and ice cream making in tribute to Harry Burt, inventor of the Good Humor Bar. Light refreshments will be on sale throughout the day. The History To Go Event Series 2019 offers the Founders Day Mahoning River Walking Tour at Noon and 2:30 p.m. starting times. More information about this new tour can be found at https://mahoninghistory.org/event/founders-day-mahoning-river-walking-tour/
Open House FREE parking will be available in the adjacent lot on the west side of the building.