posted 11/10/09

The History Museum at the Castle in Appleton

 

The History Museum Opens Exhibit about Appleton's

Senator Joseph McCarthy
 

Appleton, WI - November 10, 2009 - In response to community feedback, The History Museum will remove Senator Joseph McCarthy's bronze bust from collections storage for a permanent installation entitled, “Why McCarthy?” To celebrate the opening of the exhibit, the public is invited to tour the museum free of charge Saturday, November 14th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Former Senator McCarthy would have been 101 years old on that day.

Senator Joseph McCarthy, born and raised in the Appleton area, went on to become the figure-head of anti-communist movement in America in the 1950s.  Regardless of opinions on McCarthy's political involvement, he was an important figure with strong ties to the Appleton area.

"People are still interested and curious to learn about Joseph McCarthy, the man.  We as historians look for stories in our communities' history that are relevant to people," explains Matt Carpenter, exhibit curator at The History Museum.

"The story becomes an example of history that people can look to and draw their own conclusions from," Carpenter further explains. "Although his story is set more than 50 years ago, there are still aspects that are relevant to things that are happening in our national life today, such as the struggle and inherent tension between protecting America and honoring individuals' freedoms and rights."

The History Museum first showcased Senator McCarthy's bust in its award-winning exhibit “Joseph McCarthy: A Modern Tragedy” in 2002. While the new exhibit will not compare in size or scope to “A Modern Tragedy”, it will accentuate McCarthy as a prominent figure in twentieth-century history. The bust will be the focal point of the exhibit and allow visitors the unique opportunity to view this controversial sculpture.

Visitors can use a touch-activated screen to view historic images and learn about McCarthy's life and career.

A virtual version of the original exhibition, “Joseph McCarthy: A Modern Tragedy” is available at www.myhistorymuseum.org.

For more information from Scoop about The History Museum at the Castle click here.
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