What's going on at the Museum?

The answer... lots! We have tons of exciting things going on, and lots planned!

 One big event coming up is our Concerts on the Canal series kickoff, featuring the Jenkins Family and Captured Hearts. It will be on Friday, October 8th, at 6pm, at the Canal Museum. Admission is free, and there will also be free drinks and popcorn! This will be a great family event, so bring the kids, bring a chair, and come on out and listen to some great music.

The mountain biking club is in full swing, with rides on every Tuesday and Thursday and 5:30pm, weather permitting. Sign up at the Canal Museum, or sign up on our website. The club is for everyone, from beginners to experienced riders, and everyone in between. We have riders of all ages and skill levels, so don't be discouraged if you think you're not experienced enough. Meet us at the Museum, bring a friend, and get ready to have fun and get in shape at the same time!

The 1960's club will be starting up next week. Roanoke Rapids High School students will be learning all about the decade and the ways it affected America, specifically Roanoke Rapids. The club will be watching movies, listening to music, and researching the 60's. Additionally, the students will be producing a film about the 60's, as well as creating an exhibit chronicling the decade, which will be put on permanent display at the Museum.


Be on the lookout for more exciting things coming your way from the Museum. Coming up at the end of October we will have a haunted trail, which will be lots of scary fun for all ages. We are also have a scavenger hunt course for the Canal Trail in the works, which we are super excited about, so stay tuned for more info on these upcoming events!

Kickin' off the 60's program with RRHS students

It's the start of something exciting! The Canal Museum is partnering with Roanoke Rapids High School students to explore the 1960's. The club will be looking at how the 60's impacted Roanoke Rapids. What kind of things were going on then? How was Roanoke Rapids involved in the many changes that occurred in the 60's? What kind of music, movies, and events were popular during the era? We will be diving into the history of our town to answer these questions.We'll talk about the politics of the time, Vietnam, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. We'll talk about the moon landing, MLK, race relations. We'll talk about pop culture of the time, music, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Scott McKenzie. We'll talk about movies, Psycho, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Easy Rider.  In addition to expanding our knowledge about the influential era and how it affected Roanoke Rapids, we will also be guiding the students in producing a short film incorporating some exciting and important events from the 60's. The students will also be creating an exhibit for the museum, which will go on display and will chronicle how the major events of the 1960s affected rural America, specifically Roanoke Rapids. The exhibit and film are expected to be completed in March or April of 2011, and we are very excited for the students who will present them to the public. We hope you will come and join us as the area students share what we have discovered about our town during the 20th century's wildest decade!

First Ride is in the Books

So the first Mountain Biking Club ride is in the books. On Wednesday night, club members rode between 3.8 and 6.6 miles, and it proved to be a great first night. With more riders expected to ride on our next date, it seems that there will be a lot to look forward to on the next night of riding (Tuesday, September 14 at 5:30pm).

One thing I noticed on our first night is that we had a lot of diversity. Some riders were serious and competitive, others were there to get exercise, and others were there just for an enjoyable, relaxing ride on the trail. And quite honestly, it shows exactly what we want it to: we want all types of riders to come. No matter your skill level, the RC Mountain Biking Club is for everyone.

In addition to having fun riding, I met some really cool people too. Daniel Clay and Ross McKinney, who had been preparing for the trail for about a week ahead of the first ride, were awesome and just two of the people who I know are going to make the Mountain Biking Club a success. To be honest, there were a lot of cool people, and I am really excited about continuing to ride with everyone.

If you want to ride with us, it is not too late to join. It's never too late, actually. You can get in on the fun anytime you want. Just show up with your bike on Tuesdays or Thursdays (or both) at 5:30pm at the Roanoke Canal Museum and I promise you'll have a lot of fun.

See you next time!

Mountain Biking Club Starts Today

After three weeks of advertising for the RC Mountain Biking Club, today marks the beginning of the club. The first official ride will begin tonight at 5:15pm, and we are expecting a good size group for the first ride tonight.

If you want to join the Mountain Biking Club, there is still plenty of time. You can join anytime, all you really need is your bike (and we strongly recommend a helmet but that is up to you). Besides, it's FREE and I cannot think of a better way to exercise and get (or stay) in shape.

The trail is 7.5 miles long, and I know what you are probably thinking: "How in the world can my body handle 7.5 miles after work each day?" Don't worry, you won't have to go so far if you do not want to. We have designed routes that will utilize all parts of the trail and pass by the museum on different occasions throughout each ride so that you can stop when you're ready.

I cannot wait for tonight. There are a good number of people who are extremely excited about the start of this club, and I can promise everyone that it is going to be fun.

If you're interested, come to the museum tonight at 5:15pm. Remember, all you need to bring is your bike because it is FREE!

See you tonight and check out our photos from tonight's first ride in the next blog!