TRAVEL DIGEST || Harriet Tubman historical park closer to reality

Harriet Tubman historical park closer to reality

AUBURN, N.Y.

A national historical park honoring Harriet Tubman in her upstate New York hometown is a step closer to reality.

Sen. Charles Schumer said the Department of the Interior has completed a land transfer agreement that will allow the National Parks Service to formally establish the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park in Auburn. The park still requires approval by the secretary of interior.

The park would encompass the site of Tubman’s old home along with the A.M.E. Zion Church about a mile away where Tubman worshipped.

Tubman is a hero of the Underground Railroad who helped guide dozens of slaves north to freedom. She had been free for a decade in 1859 when she bought a parcel of land on the outskirts of Auburn, about 25 miles west of Syracuse.

Art museum gets nearly $5M from anonymous donor

NEWPORT, R.I.

The Newport Art Museum has received a donation of nearly $5 million – the largest gift in the century-old museum’s history.

Museum Executive Director Norah Diedrich said the money was sent by an anonymous donor just before the new year.

The museum’s board of trustees allocated the money to its permanent endowment, which now stands at $7 million.

The museum plans to use the money for new visitor programs and capital improvements.

Rhode Island Public Radio reported that more than 2,000 works of art focusing on regional artists are included in the museum’s permanent collection.

WJAR-TV reported that it sees about 20,000 visitors a year.

African-American museum opens April ticketing

WASHINGTON

The Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture started distributing tickets for April.

To visit the museum, which opened in September, visitors have to get one of the free entry passes with a time to enter. The Smithsonian began distributing the April passes Wednesday both online and by phone.

The museum also gives out a limited number of same-day passes. Those are available online starting at 6:30 a.m. daily until they run out.

A limited number of passes is also available at the museum starting at 1 p.m. on weekdays.

Advance timed passes for May will be available Feb. 1.

Gulfport selects Georgia firm for work on aquarium

GULFPORT, Miss.

Gulfport officials have chosen a Georgia firm to develop and manage the city’s planned aquarium.

The Sun Herald reported that Gulfport’s city council approved the selection of Georgia-based David Kimmel and Kimmel Management Services for the work.

The newspaper reported that Kimmel will serve as the aquarium consultant, providing development and project management services and operational planning.

Kimmel served as president and chief operating officer of the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta from 2010 to 2014.

Gulfport’s planned aquarium, an $80 million project, will feature exhibits focusing on the Mississippi Sound, the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. It is set to open in early 2019.

Associated Press