Contact:

Tricia Adams, Hearthstone Historic House Museum

920-730-8204 / hearthdirector@att.net

Hearthstone Historic House Museum Opens New Exhibit: Fair America; 1876-1984.

Appleton, Wisconsin - Hearthstone Historic House Museum is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit, Fair America; 1876-1984. The exhibit looks at the World’s Fairs in America from the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia up through the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans. The exhibit will feature over 150 souvenirs and items from the fairs on loan from private collectors and other museums from across the country.

2011 marks the 160^th anniversary of the first World’s Fair. Held in 1851 in London, the “Great Exhibition” was the started by Prince Albert and showcased the best of the world’s products and manufacturing. Since then World’s Fairs and Expositions have been held all across the globe ever few years. Fair America; 1876-1984 will focus on the fairs and Expositions that took place in America over the years and highlight some of the products and technology that made a debut or was popularized after showing at the fair.

In conjunction with the new exhibit, Hearthstone will be hosting two lectures. Fair Facts will be presented at 7pm on August 31, 2011. Hearthstone Executive Director, Tricia Adams will present several fun facts about America’s World’s Fairs and what happened to some of the sites following the fair. Edison at the World’s Fair will be presented by noted Edison authorities, Robin and Joan Rolfs at 7 pm on September 14, 2011. The Rolfs will speak about the role Thomas Edison played in electrifying the 1904 St. Louis Fair. The lectures are free but space is limited and reservations are encouraged. Lectures do not include admission to the exhibit.

Fair America; 1876-1984 opens to the public on August 19, 2011 and runs through October 2, 2011. Admission to the exhibit is included in the price of general admission. General admission is $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, $3.00 for children ages 5-17 and children under 5 are free. Hearthstone is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10:00am until 3:30pm, Saturday from 11:00am until 3:30pm, and Sunday from 1:00pm until 3:30pm

Built in 1882, the home was originally owned by Henry Rogers who lived here with his wife Cremora and their teenage daughter Florence “Kitty” Rogers. On September 30, 1882, the home became the first house in the world to have electric lights powered by hydroelectricity using the system invented by Thomas Edison.

More information about Fair America; 1876-1984, or other exhibits and events at Hearthstone, please call 920-730-8204 or visiting our website www.hearthstonemuseum.org.