Patriotism museum reopens at new site

Patriotism museum reopens at new site

ATLANTA — The National Museum of Patriotism has moved to a new site in downtown Atlanta.

It’s already open to visitors but will have a grand reopening ceremony April 2.

The new museum site at 275 Baker St. across the street from the Georgia Aquarium hosts exhibits on the immigrant experience; branches of the military; first responders; the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta; patriotism in entertainment; events that led to the Revolutionary War; a hall of patriots honoring Medal of Honor winners and others; and an exhibit about the 2001 terror attacks.

The museum closed its former location in Midtown Atlanta in October 2007.

The museum also has an exhibit on “Sweetheart Jewelry,” which are lockets, bracelets, pins and other items sent home by American soldiers to their sweethearts during times of war.

For more information, visit www.museumofpatriotism.org.

New visitor center to be built in Smoky Mountains

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — The National Park Service is cleared to build a new visitor center on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson says an environmental study has found no significant impact would take place from construction of a new Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

The new building of 6,000-7,000 square feet would replace a former ranger station and court room built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

It would be build adjacent to the current center, about two miles inside the park on Newfound Gap Road and near Cherokee, N.C.

The Great Smoky Mountains Association will fund the $2.5 million construction and the Friends of the Smokies will spend $500,000 to create maps, exhibits and media to interpret the park.

Art in Bloom at Minneapolis museum

MINNEAPOLIS — Spring again will be in full flower at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The museum will celebrate its 26th Art in Bloom fundraising event from April 30 through May 3.

Every year, top floral designers showcase their arrangements with artwork from the museum’s collection. Florists also put up displays outside the galleries.

This year’s theme is “An American Classic,” represented by the image of a white lotus shot by Minnesota photographer Cy DeCosse. Tours, lectures and demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend.

General admission is free, but some events are ticketed, and the money raised goes toward acquiring artwork, sponsoring exhibitions and presenting lectures.

Visitors can register online for Art in Bloom’s ticketed lectures, events and lunches at www.artsmia.org/art-in-bloom.

Associated Press