Journey Stories makes its first Missouri stop in Walnut Shade

By Hiliary Smith, Van Leuven Communications

Journey Stories, the newest Smithsonian Institution exhibit to travel through Missouri with the Missouri Humanities Council’s Museum on Main Street program, shares the stories of our ancestors coming to America.

Focusing on immigration, migration, innovation and freedom, Journey Stories examines the intersection between Americans’ desire for freedom and the different methods and technology that help us get where we’re going. It tells the stories of immigrants searching for a new life, families and individuals relocating for fortune or employment and the difficult journeys of Africans and Native Americans who were taken from their homes and forced to move.

Journey Stories’ first stop in Missouri is the Bonniebrook Historical Society in Walnut Shade. The exhibit has a special connection to their museum which features Rose O’Neill, a Missouri resident and well known sculptor, suffragist, inventor, business woman, philosopher, poet, novelist, children’s book author and musician during the early to mid 1900s.

“Journey Stories fits fantastically with our museum because Rose did a lot of traveling throughout her life, beginning at the age of four,” said Susan Scott, president of Bonniebrook Historical Society, Inc. “When Rose’s family moved from Pennsylvania to Omaha, they weren’t prepared for the rugged wagon journey. They packed their wagons with books, tapestries, and fine linens instead of the necessary equipment such as shovels and farm implements that were needed along the way. In 1893, they moved again to a magical piece of property that Rose named Bonniebrook. As an artist, Rose frequently traveled for business and pleasure by horse, wagon, train, and steamship, so her travels really tied in well with the theme of Journey Stories.”

A guestbook allows Bonniebrook Historical Society to keep track of who comes to their museum and their number of visitors tremendously increased during Journey Stories. In fact, the numbers almost doubled on many of the days during the exhibit. Whether guests found out about the exhibit through word of mouth, distributed leaflets or from a feature on a local television station, nearly everyone reportedly enjoyed it to an extent they have even been inspired to look at their own personal journey stories.

“I cannot tell you the number of times people have said, ‘You know I’ve gone by here for years and have always driven past historic Bonniebrook, but we decided to come today because of Journey Stories and are so glad that we did,” Scott said. “Without question, Bonniebrook has greatly benefited from the exposure provided by Journey Stories and the numerous first time visitors that came to see it,”

Bonniebrook Historical Society partnered with their local library and the White River Valley Historical Society to create an exhibit that tells the local journey stories of Branson, Forsyth, the White River and the early railroad. They have also incorporated site stories, telling the journeys of Rose O’Neill to enhance the entire experience of the exhibit.

Covered Wagon

“The graphics in Journey Stories are first class,” Scott said. “In fact they’re almost scary because they’re so real. One of the panels is a covered wagon and it really looks like you’re seeing the actual contents being hauled by a pioneer family.”

A native of Oklahoma, Scott found the information about the dust bowl and the Cherokee Strip interesting, but noted that each person that comes in finds something they can tie to their background.

“It causes us all to stop and think,” Scott said. “Everyone’s favorite is always different, but one thing that is the same is the reaction. It inspires people to look into their own journey stories and write them down to share now and with future generations.”

Scott also noted her appreciation for all the assistance, guidance, and support from the Missouri Humanities Council.

“They started working with us over one year ago and have played a key role in coordinating our successful Bonniebrook journey stories with the amazing Journey Stories panels from the Smithsonian,” Scott said.

Learn more about Journey Stories at www.museumonmainstreet.org/journeystories and visit the exhibit in person as it travels throughout Missouri in 2010 and 2011. Stops include West Plains, Waynesville, Kingston, Webb City and Marshall. Check out our calendar of events to find out when Journey Stories will be in a community near you!

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