 |
|
            
|
 |
 |
SUMMIT, NJ – The Clan Currie Society announced today that the "Home and Away, Highland Departures and Returns" exhibit, on loan from the National Museums of Scotland, has been extended. Originally scheduled to be on display through the end of June, the exhibit will remain at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum for an additional month. Home and Away is a touring exhibition that focuses on the many departures from the Scottish Highlands and Islands that have taken place over the last three centuries, and on the thousands of 'homecoming' journeys made by people of Scottish descent from across the world to their ancestral homeland. The exhibition celebrated its official opening on Friday, April 5, 2002 in recognition of National Tartan Day. Opening ceremonies included bagpipe and Scottish fiddle performances and keynote addresses from Lord Mike Watson, Scottish Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture and Peter Lederer, OBE, chairman of VisitScotland, among others. The centerpiece of the exhibit is an emigrant's kist. A kist is a small trunk or traveling chest which emigrants often packed their few belongings to travel abroad. In addition, Clan Currie loaned a number of items for the display, including a 19th century miniature hand-colored portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie, highland dress accessories, and several Scottish books, including the two-volume set of hand-written, hand-illuminated history of medieval Scotland, The Scotiad, written by the bard Andrew Munro. Partnering with Clan Currie in support of Home and Away is Vintage Hallmark of St. James's, exclusive importers of Ben Nevis Scotch Whisky. Said Currie, "We are thrilled to be working with Vintage Hallmark again after our very successful partnership as lead sponsors of the 2001 National Tartan Day ceremonies held in Washington, DC. Additional overseas support has been provided by VisitScotland, Highlands and Island Enterprise, and from The Friends of the National Museums. Tartan Day is a national American celebration which recognizes the contributions of Scots and Scottish-Americans to the development of the United States. In 1998 the U.S. Senate passed a resolution recognizing 6 April as National Tartan Day in recognition of "the outstanding contribution of millions of Scots-Americans to our great nation." The date commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 which was an influence on the American Declaration of Independence. Almost half of the signatories on the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, while three quarters of U.S. Presidents have been of Scottish ancestry. "Home and Away" will now remain on exhibit at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum through the end of July. The museum can be reached via ferry boats departing from Liberty State Park in Jersey City. For schedule and ticket information, contact the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry at 201-435-9499 (NJ) or 212-269-5755 (NY). For further information contact Clan Currie at 908-273-3509.
Home •
History of the Clan • Clan
Leadership • The Currie Tartan •
Clan News webmaster@clancurrie.com
|
