Great Depression Photo Exhibit

In the movie Night at the Museum, exhibits come to life. In “Night at the Smithsonian,” a program at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, sponsored by the Southlake Historical Society, Marvin Williams, a Southlake resident who is on the board of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, will present photographs that bring to life a critical time in America’s history: the Great Depression.

The program will be in the third floor meeting room of Southlake City Hall, 1400 Main Street.  It’s free, and everyone is invited.

Facts about the economic conditions that brought about the Great Depression will be paired with many photographs that showcase daily life for Americans, including North Texans.

The National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., houses 3 million artifacts; everything from the original Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln’s top hat to Dizzy Gillespie’s angled trumpet and Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.”. It is the greatest single collection of American treasures.

Williams will discuss some of the misconceptions about the Great Depression and how it compares to the state of the economy today. Williams served three three-year terms on the board of the National Museum of American History before becoming an emeritus member of the board. He and his wife, Fay, are the parents of Harold Williams, captain of the 2002 Dragon football team, and John Williams, who attended Covenant Christian School in Colleyville.

Find out more about the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History at http://americanhistory.si.edu/.  For more information about Southlake history, visit the society’s website at www.southlakehistory.com.