Denham Springs

The Smithsonian is coming to Denham Springs!

Old City Hall, September 4th - October 15th, 2011

Denham Springs is honored to have been chosen to host "Journey Stories," a compelling Smithsonian Exhibition, which shows how evolving mobility changed a young nation and how transportation made us grow.

Journey stories – tales of how we and our ancestors came to America – are a central element of our personal heritage. From Native Americans to new American citizens and regardless of our ethnic or racial background, everyone has a story to tell. Our history is filled with stories of people leaving behind everything – families and possessions – to reach a new life in another state, across the continent, or even across an ocean. The reasons behind those decisions are myriad. Many chose to move, searching for something better in a new land. Others had no choice, like enslaved Africans captured and relocated to a strange land and bravely asserting their own cultures, or like Native Americans already here, who were often pushed aside by newcomers.

Our transportation history is more than boats, buses, cars, wagons, and trucks. The development of transportation technology was largely inspired by the human drive for freedom. The Museum on Main Street exhibition Journey Stories will examine the intersection between modes of travel and Americans’ desire to feel free to move. The story is diverse and focused on immigration, migration, innovation, and freedom. It is accounts of immigrants coming in search of promise in a new country; stories of individuals and families relocating in search of fortune, their own homestead, or employment; the harrowing journeys of Africans and Native Americans forced to move; and, of course, fun and frolic on the open road.

The story of the intersection between transportation and American society is complicated, but it tells us much about who we are – people who see our societal mobility as a means for asserting our individual freedom. Journey Stories will use engaging images with audio and artifacts to tell the individual stories that illustrate the critical roles travel and movement have played in building our diverse American society.

This program is funded under a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.The opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of either the Louisiana endowment for the Humanities or the National endowment for the Humanities.

For more information or to submit your own Journey Story please contact Florence Crowder at florence.crowder@cox.net or 225-665-8179.

REQUEST for HISTORICAL ITEMS

• The Denham Springs Main Street Commission has issued a request for historic photos, clothing, news articles or any other artifacts pertaining to the history of Denham Springs and Livingston Parish. If anyone has any items they would like to loan or donate for an exhibit, please call Florence Crowder at 225-665-8179.

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 ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

• The Denham Springs Main Street Commission has begun an oral history project (audio and visual) and is interviewing local citizens to record their memories of our community. Anyone who is interested in sharing their thoughts of growing up, working and living in Denham Springs and Livingston Parish should call 

             Old City Hall at 225-667-8308

We would love to include photos, old home movies, audio of our area history. Some examples include:

• Range Rd. & Florida  Blvd. swimming pool & drive in movie theatre
  

• Swimming & dancing at Thunderbird Beach

• Denham Springs Hotel

• Carol Theatre

• Tastee Freeze
  

• Any buildings no longer in existence

• Old cars, gas stations, grocery stores, etc.

• Everyday life photos, home movies, etc.