(Photo by Jillyann Burns)
This coming weekend is a great time to explore some of Carmel’s museums as the Carmel Clay Historical Society presents Artmobilia at the Monon Depot Museum on Aug. 24 and the Museum of Miniature Houses celebrates its 20th anniversary on Aug. 25.
Artmobilia
The Monon Depot, 211 1st St. S.W., will feature the Indiana Historical Society’s Auto Indiana Traveling Exhibit, which is a presentation, sponsored by Kroger, of all things auto from inventors such as Elwood Haynes, Ralph Teetor along with automakers like Studebaker and Duesenberg. Visitors also can learn about how (ironically, in our town of roundabouts) a Carmel inventor named Leslie Haines invented a stoplight as a way to address the increase in accidents resulting from horse-drawn carriages encountering cars on the streets. Several local antique car dealers also plan to bring their cars to park on the lawn the day of the event.
The exhibit also illuminates how the expanding auto industry led to economic development in the iron, steel and glass industries, and what a key role the automobile played in the emerging “American Dream.”
The Artmobilia Exhibit will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. More information is available at www.carmelclayhistory.org.
Museum of Miniature Houses
Aug. 25 is the official celebration of 20 years of operation for the Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collectibles. Admissions to the museum will include a $1 coupon to be used at a visiting ice cream truck behind the museum.
The museum, opened in 1993, features seven room of exhibits of miniature houses, furniture, needlework and original paintings. It also has a small shop which sells related items. Current exhibits include room boxes by noted miniaturist LaVerne Sullivan and a wedding gown collection by local artist Peggy Latta.
The Miniature Houses celebration will be from 1 to 4 p.m. More information is available at www.museumofminiatures.org.