WHEN:          Friday, October 16, 2009

WHERE:       Washington County Museum of Fine Arts

HAGERSTOWN, MD — Held in conjunction with the exhibit, “The Unwritten War: A Visual Story of the American Civil War,” sponsored by the Hagerstown Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Museum will present an exciting evening in observance of the 150^th Anniversary of John Brown’s Raid at Harper’s Ferry.  The John Brown Halloween Spectacular will be held on Friday, October 16 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and is sponsored in part by the Michael G. Callas Charitable Trust and the Estate of Miss Jane Steffey in memory of John Grason Steffey and Mary Erwin Steffey.

Portrayed by Larry Clowers, General Ulysses S. Grant, the most recognizable and well-known Union generals, Commander of the Union Armies and 18th President of the United States, will discuss his life, the war and his family’s connection to John Brown.  Constance Clowers, as Julia Dent Grant, his wife, will present a fashion show.  Discover the fashions of the 1860s as Mrs. Grant demonstrates what was worn during the Civil War era.  Discover how many layers of garments were worn, how long it took to dress and the secrets of the hoop-skirt.  Audience participation is encouraged!  Garments include hoop skirts, corsets, bonnets, and much, much more.

Hear haunting tales of the Civil War as told by Storyteller, Ann Griffith, while surrounded by items from the era including stories of John Brown, the town of Chambersburg and other nearby locales.  Ann Griffith has performed in a variety of settings throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland.  From well-lit corners to large halls to blankets beneath the stars, Ann has shared her unique interactive storytelling style with schools, after school programs, camps, community groups and libraries since 1992.

Between programs, children can participate in a silhouette cutting activity and a bullet carving session, with a bullet-sized lump of clay, a craft employed by some soldiers to pass the time at camp.   Refreshments of the day will be available for purchases and include apple cider, lemonade, short bread and gingerbread.  Take time out to have your photograph taken as Abraham Lincoln, don the famous top hat and beard of “Honest Abe” as you pose for our photographer.  The Museum’s all new, spooky, Halloween scavenger hunt will also make its debut.  Tickets are $5 per person for this very special, after-hours family event and can be purchased by phone or in person.

Thanks to the generosity of Antietam Cable Television, Inc., Hagerstown, Maryland, visitors will be able to view the popular local series, “Legends “ and “South Mountain Magic.”  These DVDs will be shown throughout the day, October 16, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in the Bowman Concert Gallery.

Dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting works of art for the people of Washington County and citizens from the quad-state (MD, PA, VA, WV) region, for over seventy-eight years, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has been recognized as one of the finest small museums in the United States. Admission to the museum is free. It is accredited by the American Association of Museums and its collection includes over 7,000 works of art. This “crown jewel of Washington County” has an enduring commitment to arts education and to the support of regional artists. The Museum offers studio art courses, lectures, concerts, and exhibitions from its permanent collection and traveling shows. The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is funded through support from museum membership and annual fund donations by the public, fundraising events, grants from the business and corporate communities, and support from Washington County, the City of Hagerstown, and the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. For more information on the Museum, please phone (301) 739-5727 or visit www.wcmfa.org.  Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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