FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2024

Morgantown History Museum Honors Juneteenth and Centennial Celebration

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown History Museum’s Black History Exhibit’s final day will be Friday, June 14th and will conclude with a Juneteenth event featuring guest speaker Lt. Edward Hargro, Jr., a retired member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Afterwards the exhibit will be transitioned out for the centennial celebration of Don Knotts and the Metropolitan Theatre.

The Black History Exhibit has been on display at the Morgantown History Museum since February and will be leaving the museum with an early celebration of Juneteenth. On the evening of Friday, June 14, 2024, the museum will host a reception featuring speaker Lt. Edward Hargro, Jr. from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Hargro will speak on the Tuskegee Airmen Experiment, or more commonly known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Originally from Lindside, WV, Hargro’s father is a West Virginia native. In 1941, he was part of the initial 400 men who enlisted into the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Hargro’s presentation will feature personal stories and memories of his father, along with an array of gear and documents from the Tuskegee Airmen. Light refreshments will be available during the event.

Starting in early July, the main room of the museum will undergo a transformation to showcase a diverse array of artifacts and documents commemorating 100 years of the Metropolitan Theatre, which first welcomed audiences in 1924. This special exhibit will highlight not only familiar historical pieces but also introduce new items that shed light on the theater's extensive legacy.

In addition, the museum will also be celebrating Morgantown native and celebrity Don Knotts. Despite his passing in 2006, this year marks the celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday. A reception marking the start of the exhibit will be hosted, featuring light refreshments; however, specific details are still being finalized. Updates about the event will be shared on the museum's social media channels.

The Morgantown History Museum is currently open Wednesday- Friday 11:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. and Saturday- Sunday  12:00 P.M.- 6:00 P.M. The museum also closes for all state observed holidays.

For more information on the reception or exhibit, or if you are interested in taking a group tour of the museum, please email morgantownwvhistory@morgantownwv.gov.

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