Tuned In: Montgomery County's Place in Musical History  

October 24th, 2009 - April 3rd, 2010

This exhibit examines the importance of music in the lives of Montgomery County residents in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.  Music holds a central place in our society, from community bands to favorite stores, church choirs to school orchestras, victrolas in the parlor to iPods on the Metro.  Many county musicians and entertainers have gone on to broader fame, and a few local stores have grown into national chains; others have stayed local favorites, no less important or loved.  Some groups last the test of time and have long histories, while others enjoy only a brief existence.  The story of our local music scene is told through photographs, archival documents and artifacts.

Photo: MCPS teacher Teri Burdette leads a class in singing and signing, 1983 (photo by Bill Mills)

The Suburban Ideal: Domestic Architecture in Montgomery County, 1890-2010

November 28th 2009 - June 26th, 2010

This exhibit looks at the wide range of architectural styles found in suburban homes built in Montgomery County neighborhoods, 1890 to 2010.  Looking at historic photographs, maps, architectural artifacts and models, newspapers and advertisements, the exhibit explores the changing attitudes, aesthetic trends and consumer expectations about housing and neighborhoods.  Extraordinary events, population growth, technological developments, social and political ideologies, and changing cultural norms are examined in this look at the much-maligned - but also much-loved - place known as suburbia.

Photo: Viers Mill Village, 1965 (courtesy the Montgomery County Sentinel)