PLATTSBURGH — Local museums, galleries and cultural organizations across Clinton County opened their doors to all Saturday and Sunday for the 15th annual Museum Day weekend hosted by the Adirondack Coast Cultural Alliance.
Across the weekend, participating locations offered free admission, including demonstrations, tours, exhibits, hands-on activities and more.
Museum Day weekend is an opportunity for residents to experience the history of Clinton County through the lens of each museum.
Museum Days was the brainchild of Bob Parks, then publisher of the Press-Republican, in 2008.
A special Museum Day Passport was redesigned for this year’s event.
The 2024 bilingual passport guides visitors to the museums and cultural sites located throughout the Adirondack Coast.
AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL
According to Mike McMahan, volunteer docent at the Plattsburgh Airforce Base Museum, this weekend-long event is a “wonderful opportunity” for children to learn about the area.
“It’s great, I think it is wonderful to be doing Museum Day weekend,” McMahan said.
“We are here for the people as an educational tool, to inform people about the history of the Air Force base.”
McMahan, a retired member of the Air Force, was stationed at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base from 1982 to 1988.
“I’ve been on many assignments, I never got to pick where I was going and when I was told I was being assigned to a base in Plattsburgh, New York, I said ‘where?’” McMahan said.
During his time on the base, McMahan started a family.
“Plattsburgh is a special place,” he said.
“My children were born here, and they loved it. We have since moved away and they’re all over, but we still come back here when we can.”
McMahan hopes that people will always take advantage of Museum Day Weekend to get a “better understanding of what went on at the base.”
“I think last year we got over 100 visitors,” he said.
“It’s for everybody.”
The Plattsburgh Air Force Base museum boasts their unique “hands-on,” approach to the artifacts found there, museum guests are encouraged to check things out, try on helmets and uniforms.
“This museum is very hands-on,” Debbie Kegan, volunteer docent, said.
“You can touch things, pick things up, try things on. Most museums have everything roped off or behind glass, not here.”
HANDS-ON
The North Star Underground Railroad Museum, located at 1131 Mace Chasm Rd, Ausable Chasm, offers its guests an in-depth look at the people, routes, methods and stories of those who escaped, or helped others escape, slavery to Canada through Clinton County.
“Museum Day weekend is vitally important because it calls attention to the fact that we are here,” Tom LaBombard, trustee and volunteer docent, said.
“We are here for the community, we are here for learning and educating.”
According to LaBombard, the museum offers tours for schools, civic organizations and anyone interested in a private tour.
“We all learn about the Underground Railroad in school, but this fills in the blanks, it fills in the details” LaBombard said.
“It really brings it to life. Museums in general bring history to life, and I think this one really brings that era to life. Many people comment that they didn’t know this or that before coming in. They learn something new here.”
Due to its proximity to the Canadian border, this area was a major contributor to the Underground Railroad.
“A lot of people took a risk, took their chances, to do what was right,” LaBombard said.
“It needs to be remembered.”
SPRING AND GARDEN FESTIVAL
Downtown Plattsburgh is home to one of the area’s most significant historic locations, the Kent-Delord House Museum, located at 17 Cumberland Avenue, Plattsburgh.
According to the Kent-Delord House website, the mission of the museum is to provide unique educational experiences based on authentic objects and stories of the Delord family.
During Museum Day Weekend the Kent-Delord House hosted its 2nd annual Spring and Garden Festival featuring blacksmith demonstrations, candle making, a recreation of the historic Red Store, tours and more for kids to enjoy.
According to Samantha Williams, Kent-Delord House Museum director, the spring and garden festival is a way for guests to experience what life may have been like when Judge Henry Delord lived on the property.
“We have some crafts going on, black smithing, beeswax candle making, some herbal medicines, the Master Gardener Program is here,” Williams said.
Visitors could also check out a recreation of the historic Red Store, a general store operated by Henry that was once located on the property.
“I hope everybody gets a chance to appreciate a museum this weekend,” Williams said.
“There are some phenomenal institutions, so take your family and get out there, it is worth it. I wish I had the weekend off so I could go to them all.”
According to Marta Clute, a retired Kent-Delord House Museum board member, Museum Day weekend is great.
“It gets people out,” she said.
“Especially the children, they get an opportunity to walk around and tour outside.”