The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will host the opening of an exhibition by Harvey Towns commemorating the 80th anniversary of the completion of Norris Dam. The opening reception will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Children’s Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive. Refreshments will be provided.
On March 4, 1936, the outlet conduit gates in Norris Dam were closed and the storage of water in the reservoir began. This exhibit displays rare and historic photographs of construction leading up to that event. Norris Dam, hydroelectric facility, was the first dam built by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
In March 2015, a cache of original panorama photographs taken by contract photographer Rell Clements to document construction of the dam was discovered at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge by Exhibit Director Margaret Allard. Because of the age and fragile condition of the photographs, an effort to digitize and reproduce modern copies was begun.
The scanning, editing, and printing of the photographs was achieved through the generous contribution of time, equipment, and technical knowledge of Edward Stickle of Oak Ridge, during a period of several months.
Harvey Towns, of Appalachian Frame Shop, designed, printed, and assembled the exhibition, which combines the photographs belonging to the Children’s Museum with his own collection. Harvey and his wife Judy have donated this exhibition to the museum for future display. Inspiration and support for this project was provided by photographer E. Wayne Nobles, of Oak Ridge.
The Children’s Museum is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed Mondays except in the summer. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors ages 62 and older, and $6 for children ages 3-18. Admission is free for children under 3 and museum members. For more information, call (865) 482-1074 or see the website at www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.
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