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Faith, Family & Country Heritage Museum opens in Branson West
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer
Faith, Family & Country Heritage Museum held its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 14. Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce members and other friends were on hand to celebrate and have a look at the unique collection of 20th century historical memorabilia.
Museum founder and director Jim Zbick brings to the project a career of over 40 years in newspaper journalism along with experience helping develop and curate two military museums. He said the goal of the new museum is to preserve traditions of faith and family rooted in American history.
The museum highlights contributions of leaders such as Presidents Eisenhower, Washington, Lincoln, Grant, Truman and Kennedy, along with key historical moments such as Pearl Harbor, the dawn of the atomic age and end of World War II, the JFK assassination, moon landings, and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Separate displays also feature the Pony Express, the golden age of baseball, and the American home front during World War I and World War II. Exhibits include a variety of artist-enhanced mannequins, vintage artifacts and original artwork.
Branson resident Shirah Miriam Aumann, whose late husband was a Holocaust survivor, was glad to find an entire display room at the museum dedicated to the memory of Holocaust victims and the horrors they suffered. Zbick invited “Mimi” to participate in the ribbon cutting, and the two hope to plan some special events for Holocaust Awareness Week next spring.
Faith, Family & Country Heritage Museum is located at 15025 Business Hwy. 13 in Branson West. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; the museum will be closed Sundays and Wednesdays. School groups are also welcome; call 484-464-5059 for more information.
