At New Haven Museum: "Hip Road Trip: Roadside Architecture"

NEW HAVEN - Mary Donohue, architectural historian and guest curator of the exhibition Road Trip!  at the New Haven Museum, will speak on Connecticut’s roadside architecture at 5:30 p.m.  May 11, according to a release.

 

"Donohoe will take attendees on 'A Hip Road Trip,' a grand tour of Connecticut’s roadside architecture using vintage postcards, rare brochures and matchbooks, early automotive maps and contemporary photographs," the release said. "She will explore Connecticut’s two-lane highways—including the Berlin Turnpike, Route 1, and the Albany Turnpike—in search of vintage diners, tourist cabins, neon signs, gas stations, and 1950’s amusements such as miniature golf courses and drive-in movies. Roadside enthusiasts, Baby Boomers and pop-culture fans will all enjoy an entertaining and nostalgic tour of some of Connecticut’s beloved roadside attractions."

 

Donohue is the president of Grant House Heritage Services and serves as the assistant publisher of Connecticut Explored, the state’s history magazine, the release said.  "She was the deputy state historic preservation officer for the State Historic Preservation Office of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and has co-authored three award-wining publications including, most recently, 'A Life of the Land: Connecticut's Jewish Farmers.'” 

 

"Donohue’s lecture will be offered in conjunction with the “Road Trip!”  exhibition, which focuses on the joy of trading speed and convenience for the excitement of exploration and discovery of the unexpected. “Road Trip!” includes vintage photos of quirky roadside attractions, souvenirs and mementos crowdsourced from Greater New Haven residents, artifacts from the Connecticut Historical Society, Museum of Connecticut History, the American Diner Museum, and even a 1960s-inspired, turquoise-and-white diner booth, specially built for the exhibit by the New England Seating Company. The exhibition will run through September 1, 2017."

 

“Road Trip!” is made possible, in part, by the generous support of the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Richard L. English Fund, the release said.

 

 For museum hours and more information visitor Facebook.com/NewHavenMuseum or call 203-562-4183.

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