From: "Seymour, Janet I - WHS" <Janet.Seymour@wisconsinhistory.org> Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:26:15 -0500 Subject: List Serve: Gaylord Nelson and Earth Day Exhibit Message-ID: <488E289A5C909049B0E55F6B651B5B35019EFE769001@MEWMAD0PC01G02.accounts.wistate.us>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2010
CONTACT: Heather Groff
(608) 264-6428
"GAYLORD NELSON AND EARTH DAY" TO OPEN
AT THE WISCONSIN HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The Wisconsin Historical Museum will present an exhibit, "Gaylord Nelson an
d Earth Day: The Making of the Modern Environmental Movement," from March 2
3 through June 19, 2010. The exhibit will detail the story of Earth Day fou
nder and Wisconsin political leader Gaylord Nelson and will celebrate the 4
0th anniversary of Earth Day. Copies of photographs, letters, news clipping
s and other materials from Nelson’s career will be on display.
Nelson's idea was conceived as a "national teach-in on the environment." Ra
ised in Wisconsin's progressive tradition, Nelson believed that change come
s from people. After struggling to build political backing for environmenta
l legislation, he proposed a day when colleges across the country would sen
d a message of support by holding teach-ins like those used in antiwar and
social justice efforts.
The concept proved popular not only at colleges, but also among schools and
community groups of all kinds. Now, 40 years later, discover how a few wor
ds spoken by Nelson in Seattle became a historic turning point in environme
ntal history and forged the modern environmental movement.
A companion exhibit on Nelson's career and legacy, "Gaylord Nelson: Forward
Thinking," will open March 29 and run through June 30, 2010, at the Wiscon
sin Historical Society headquarters building, 816 State St. The Historical
Society exhibit is free to the public. Both exhibits are a cooperative vent
ure of the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Nelson Institute for Enviro
nmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Wisconsin Historical Museum is located on Capitol Square in Madison at
30 N. Carroll St. and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m
. Admission is by donation: $4 per adult, $3 per child under 18 or $10 per
family. Call (608) 264-6555 for more information, or visit us online at ww
w.wisconsinhistory.org/museum.
Learn more about Gaylord Nelson and Earth Day at www.nelsonearthday.net.
# # # # #
Heather Groff
Museum Promotion & E-Commerce Manager
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N Carroll St
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-264-6565
E-mail: heather.groff@wisconsinhistory.org<mailto:<mailto:heather.groff@wisconsinhi
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