La Salle: Expedition II 50th Anniversary Celebration at Elgin Public Museum
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La Salle: Expedition II 50th Anniversary Celebration at Elgin Public Museum
August 22 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
In August of 1976, a most unusual crew of Elginites shoved off in six replica canoes from Montreal, Canada, to re-create the travels of the 17th century explorer La Salle. Wearing period clothing, using replica tools, speaking and singing in French, they could not have guessed just how intense their eight-month journey to New Orleans would be!
As well-trained as they were, they could not foresee that it would be the worst winter on record, or that a modern motor vehicle would slam into them as they portaged their equipment alongside an Indiana roadway.
Still, they persevered, reaching the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico in April, 1977, just as La Salle had “discovered” it three centuries earlier. What they learned along the way shaped their lives forever, some even becoming environmental activists and teachers.
In this special indoor-outdoor event at Elgin Public Museum, we’ll have several members of that crew on hand to reminisce … a showing of a documentary film about the journey … games and other special activities for kids … and the grand opening of our new exhibit, “The Golden Age of Re-Exploration: The 1970s.”
Admission will be free, although there will be some ticketed games, activities, and raffles.
Contact: Sharry Blazier, 847-741-6655; follow Elgin Public Museum on Facebook
