FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2026

Morgantown Museum Hosts History in Harmony: The Gospel Singing Koon Family

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The Morgantown History Museum will be hosting an opening event for their newest temporary exhibit, History in Harmony: The Gospel Singing Koon Family, on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

History in Harmony: The Gospel Singing Koon Family invites visitors to step inside one of Morgantown’s most beloved musical legacies. For more than six decades, the Koon Family’s voices filled churches, community halls, radio airwaves, and living rooms across West Virginia and beyond, offering harmony, hope, and a deep sense of belonging.

Through rare photographs, original music recordings, personal artifacts, and firsthand stories, this immersive exhibit celebrates how one local family helped shape the region’s gospel music tradition. Visitors will hear the music, meet the people behind the voices, and discover how shared song became a powerful force for connection across generations. Whether you grew up hearing the Koon Family sing or are discovering them for the first time, History in Harmony offers a moving reminder of how local stories can leave a lasting legacy.

"A lot of hard work went into this exhibit, but also a lot of love," said Katie Donnelly, exhibit curator. "Ashley Koon, the daughter of singer John Koon, did most of the legwork and spearheaded the creation of the exhibit to tell the story of her family and their impact on the community. History is more than just famous people; it's the regular people who create community and meaning through their lived experiences. Our stories are all interconnected."

Visitors can view the exhibit through Sunday, May 10, 2026, during regular museum hours: Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

The Morgantown History Museum is located at 175 Kirk Street. For further information, please call the Museum at (304) 319-1800 or email morgantownwvhistory@morgantownwv.gov.

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