Springfield History Museum News

The John F. Kennedy Experience: An Exhibit by Frank J. Andruss Sr., is an exhibition of rarely seen photos and memorabilia covering various periods in the lives of John and Jacqueline Kennedy. The exhibit is now open at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History.

The oldest surviving Stevens-Duryea automobile is now on view in the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. The 1903 vehicle is on loan from a private collector.

Storm Stories: Path of Fury, a multi-media exhibition that looks back at the June 1, 2011 tornado, will be on view from June 1 through October 28 at the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History at the Quadrangle in Springfield. Admission to the history museum will be free for everyone on June 1.

In the digital age it is hard to believe that at one time images of family members were hard to obtain, expensive, and relatively rare. Before the advent of photography around 1850, the only way to capture a likeness was to hire an artist to paint a portrait. A selection of these paintings by artists James Sanford Ellsworth and Joseph Whiting Stock are on view at the Wood Museum of Springfield History through May 6 in the exhibition Wandering Folk Artists: Family Portraits in the Early 19th Century.

Hasbro GameLand, a dynamic new hands-on exhibit for children, will open to the public on November 25 in the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History at the Quadrangle. Made possible by a grant from the Hasbro Children’s Fund, the exhibit pays tribute to Springfield entrepreneur Milton Bradley and explores games of memory, chance, speed, imagination, strategy and word play. Opening day festivities will include family activities and appearances by the costumed characters MR. POTATO HEAD, PRINCESS FROSTINE and ELEFUN from popular Hasbro toys and games.