Thursday, January 17, 2008

Jamestown New York museums, attractions to open doors for free this weekend

 
1/17/2008 - JAMESTOWN — The third annual Doors Open Jamestown, a free day at local museums and attractions, happens Saturday.

"Teaching our children about their hometown and building a sense of pride about Jamestown will make them think about moving back home after college or later in their career," says Ann Mason, board president of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event, along with the Fenton History Center, Jamestown Audubon Society and Nature Center, Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center, Robert H. Jackson Center, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Reg Lenna Civic Center and Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.

Each of the museums and attractions is holding drawings and contributing to a grand-prize basket that will be raffled off at the end of the event. Doors Open focuses on encouraging local residents to take advantage of their area attractions. The museums are also offering discounts in their gift shops.

At the Audubon Center and Sanctuary, visitors can get nose to beak at the Window on Wildlife. As the birds come to the feeders, you can see and hear them while you stay warm inside the Audubon Center. The whole family can learn about the many different types, or species, of animals and plants found in Chautauqua County in the Biodiversity exhibit. A separate local animal pelt exhibit allows you to touch the winter coats of foxes, raccoons and even a black bear. Find out how some native plants and animals are affected by introduced species from all over the world, and what we can do about it. Dress to go outside, so you can look for tracks in the snow along the trails. The Audubon is located at 1600 Riverside Road, on Route 62, heading toward Warren.

When you enter the newly renovated Reg Lenna Civic Center lobby and inner lobby, you will see the fully restored 1878 Buffalo Bill Cody Billboard in the restored 1923 theater. The billboard is the oldest known extant billboard in the country. The center, located on East Third Street, will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. Visitors may enter to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming Reg Lenna event.

The Robert H. Jackson Center at 305 East Fourth St. is housed in the 1860s Italianate structure known as the Alonzo Kent mansion. The Jackson Center advances the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson. Come see the mansion "dressed" for the holidays by local florists C Rosiez for Flowers & Gifts, Francesca's Floral Design, Garden of Eden Florist, and Lakeview Gardens. The recently renovated state-of-the-art theater and the gallery, where "Perpetrators," an exhibit of large-scale prints by artist Sidney Chafetz that depicts the men who carried out the atrocities of the Holocaust, is on view. Western New York Business First Brick by Brick awards recently recognized Habiterra Architecture and Landscape Architecture as a finalist in the Best Historic Renovation Project category for their work on the recent renovation of the center's theater and gallery spaces. Docents will be on hand for guided tours and light refreshments will be served.

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, located at 311 Curtis St., offers a tour of the galleries and natural history library. The institute was founded as a legacy to Roger Tory Peterson, world-renowned artist, educator, naturalist and creator of the Peterson Field Guides. The current exhibit is "Rare & Elusive Birds of North America," which features photography by William Burt. The photographs are from the remote habitats of the most elusive birds on the continent. Several of Roger Tory Peterson originals from the Peterson Collection are on exhibit also.

Memories — nostalgic and newly made — are waiting for everyone at the Fenton History Center. The "Deck the Halls" exhibit's last day is Saturday. The exhibit fills the four floors of the 1863 Fenton Mansion located on Washington Street. The mansion is "decked" out in fresh greenery, blossoms and berries. An exhibit on loan from the Chautauqua County Historical Society of antique dolls, "Living Dolls," showcases dolls dating back to the early 1800s. Dan Warren of WHUG will be broadcasting live from the Fenton History Center from noon to 2 p.m.

Visitors to the Lucy-Desi Museum at 212 Pine St. will see a porcelain coffee service of Lucille Ball's from her daughter-in-law, Amy Arnaz; the green recliner that was part of the décor of Desi's Desilu Cahuenga office in the early 1950s; and costumes designed by five-time Emmy Award winner Ret Turner. The Desilu Playhouse on the corner of Third and Main streets features exact replicas of the "I Love Lucy" television studio sound stages, a life-sized wall mural of the original studio audience, a "Vitameatavegamin" opportunity, "I Love Lucy" memorabilia, original costumes and props and more. The Lucy-Desi Museum and Desilu Playhouse will be open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame is filled with stories about family, friends and neighbors and their athletic accomplishments. Located at 15 W. Third St., the hall features accomplishments in baseball, football, motor sports, marksmanship, boxing and more. The Hall of Fame members will be selling tickets to the Feb. 18 banquet, at which former Buffalo Bills and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly will be the guest speaker.

For more information, phone any of the participating locations or visit www.fentonhistorycenter.org.
 
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com


 

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