FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2007

CONTACT: Katie McElwain/ Marketing Coordinator

(802) 447-1571 Fax (802) 442-8305

Two Covered Bridge Events at the Bennington Museum to Conclude Exhibit

The Bennington Museum will host two events to close “Portals to Our Past: The Covered Bridge in Art and History”, a two part exhibition consisting of the Smithsonian exhibit “Covered Bridges: Spanning the American Landscape”, and “Art of the Covered Bridge”. The Smithsonian exhibit will be on view until June 10, and “Art of the Covered Bridge” will be on view through late July. Author Michael Lasser presents “Popular Music of the Covered Bridge Era” on Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m. In this program, Lasser will discuss and play recordings of late 19^th century popular music influenced by covered bridges in America. Lasser, author of “America’s Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley”, has always had a passion for American music, from minstrel music of the 1830’s to rock and roll. Growing up in New Jersey, he saw his first Broadway musical at age 10. From that moment on, he was hooked. Lasser is a frequent speaker at universities and art and history museums, sharing his knowledge of songwriters, the music’s history, and how songs stir our emotions. This event is free.

On Saturday, June 9 at 3:00 p.m. Bill Caswell will give a presentation on the “Covered Spans of Yesteryear: Documenting North America’s Past and Present Covered Bridges” as the conclusion to the covered bridge exhibits at the Bennington Museum. Caswell heads a project to document all the covered bridges, past and present, in the United States and Canada. He hopes that through these presentations the public will become more aware of covered bridges that existed in the past, and appreciate ones that still exist so they may be preserved for the future. The presentation will be the perfect way to conclude this exhibit. This event is free. Merchants Bank Foundation is the local sponsor of the educational programs associated with the covered bridge exhibits.

You can view “Portals to our Past: The Covered Bridge in Art and History” with regular admission to the museum. Or better yet buy a membership! It’s a bargain, with unlimited free admission to the museum and discounts on many events and the shop. The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main St. (Route 9) one mile west of the intersection of Routes 7 and 9 in downtown Bennington, Vermont. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed Wednesdays. For more information, visit the website at www.benningtonmuseum.org or call 802-447-1571