Party celebrates extension of Aurora's diversity exhibit
The Aurora Historical Society is throwing a party to celebrate the extension of its summer exhibit, "Ethnicity and Diversity in Aurora, 1834-Present," through the middle of August.
The party will be 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 20, at the Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer, Aurora. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Music will be provided by The Internationals, an accordion-mandolin duo with eastern European roots, and there will be complimentary refreshments.
The exhibit, which opened on May 4, features photographs and artifacts from the dozen ethnic communities that built the city from its founding in 1834.
Subsequent to native habitation, Yankees of English descent acquired the land and welcomed Irish, French Canadian, German and Luxembourger settlers to work in the factories and provide goods and services to an ever-growing population.
After the Civil War, African-Americans arrived in numbers. Around 1900, Eastern European Jews, Romanians, Italians, Greeks, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans arrived. The most recent immigrants arrived in the late 1900s from the Indian subcontinent and South Asia.
The materials on display are drawn from the museum's collections and constitute a sort of family album, according to Executive Director John Jaros, who curated the show.
"Visitors sometimes find their relatives, or even themselves, in the pictures. And they really enjoy showing their children the faces of their ancestors or pictures of the old neighborhood as it used to be," he said.
"This would be a great evening out for church groups or for family reunions."
In addition to the party, the exhibit is open noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays through Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Pierce Art and History Center. Admission is free. For information, call (630) 906-0650.
If you go
What: Party to celebrate the extension of "Ethnicity and Diversity in Aurora, 1834-Present" exhibit
When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 20
Where: Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer, Aurora
Cost: Free; donations accepted
Info: (630) 906-0650 or aurorahistory.net