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Night at the Museum to feature storytelling

Storytelling, local song and dance traditions, and a living history presentation will highlight this year’s Night at the Museum event at the Beverly Heritage Center Nov. 2.

Harriet Tubman, a slave who escaped from captivity and became a leader of the Underground Railroad in the 19th century, will make an appearance at 6 p.m. at the Beverly Heritage Center.

Ilene Evans of Thomas will portray Tubman as part of the History Alive! program of the West Virginia Humanities Council.

The program is free and open to the public. It will include a presentation by Evans as Tubman and conclude with a discussion with the presenter.

After the living history program, a benefit reception will follow at 7 p.m. with hearty hors d’oeuvres and beverages, storytelling, and music and dance performances.

This portion of the event requires paid entry, and proceeds will benefit the Beverly Heritage Center.

Attendees will be able to enjoy the new tile floor in the Beverly Heritage Center gallery, which is a part of the ongoing development funded, in part, by events such as Night at the Museum.

“We are so excited to have the floor finally complete,” said Phyllis Baxter, of Historic Beverly Preservation.

“This event will give everyone a chance to see the progress and support finishing the work on the Beverly Heritage Center,” she continued.

During the reception, Susan Krakoff and Matthew Kupstas from Elkins will perform a crankie – a handmade scroll that tells the story of “Molly Bender” through fabric pictures.

“We will sing a few songs with guitar and banjo, and there may even be a little flatfooting somewhere in there,” Krakoff said.

Additional stories and songs will be shared by Jane Birdsong, a ballad singer, actor and storyteller from Elkins.

A retired teacher, Birdsong now devotes most of her time to arts and oral storytelling traditions.

Birdsong’s dramatic presentation will bring to life tales from nearby mountains and other rural traditions.

Advance tickets for Night at the Museum are available at the Beverly Heritage Center. The cost is $20 prior to the event or $25 at the door, if tickets remain.

For tickets or more information, call the Beverly Heritage Center at 304-637-7424, email info@beverlyheritagecenter.org or visit www.beverlyheritagecenter.org.

Beverly Heritage Center combines four historic buildings into one museum with regional Civil War and heritage exhibits, visitor information and a gift shop.

Operated by Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation and Historic Beverly Preservation, the Beverly Heritage Center’s winter hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday.

The Beverly Heritage Center is located on the corner of U.S. Route 219/250 and Files Creek Road in Beverly, 6 miles south of Elkins.

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