Churchill Museum to host overnight experience for youth

Luke DeSmit explores the National Churchill Museum after hours during a Night at the Museum event. The next Night at the Museum, to be held this Friday, will focus on the museum's newest traveling exhibit, Our Lives, Our Stories.
Luke DeSmit explores the National Churchill Museum after hours during a Night at the Museum event. The next Night at the Museum, to be held this Friday, will focus on the museum's newest traveling exhibit, Our Lives, Our Stories.

The National Churchill Museum is offering area youth a fun twist on the traditional weekend sleepover.

The museum will hold a Night at the Museum program Friday, giving children ages 6-12 the opportunity to explore its collections and exhibits - including its newest traveling exhibit, Our Lives, Our Stories - overnight.

Education and Public Programs Coordinator Many Plybon said the museum's third such event - which starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 a.m. Saturday morning - will focus on life during the 1930s-1950s.

"Our big activity for the night is we're going to do a 1940s radio program. I found a vintage script from a five-minute murder mystery show," Plybon said. "We're going to do a recording of it, and each child will get a copy to take home."

She said other activities will include watching the film "Swiss Family Robinson" and possibly a tour of the collections area, which isn't normally open to patrons. The museum will have snacks and breakfast, but will not be providing dinner Friday night. Children will leave Saturday morning with a recording of the radio program and a museum patch.

Plybon said the Night at the Museum program was started as "a way to get exposure to the museum after hours."

"We try to make it fun and exciting for the kids," she said.