September 27, 2002

The very first Spurlock Museum tour was three years in the making. Before the new building was completely constructed, before all the artifacts were packed for the move, before most of the gallery plans were more than a twinkle in the curators’ eyes, a teacher had called, and the tour was booked. The first school bus to pull up to our door would be filled with second graders from Sidney Grade School. (You should have heard the cheering the day the students were told they would be first!)

That phone call was “the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” In the years between the booking and the actual visit, Museum staff members became friends with the Sidney Grade School students and staff through outreach programs and teamwork on a semester-long, all-school project. The school staff even joined the Museum in building their own new facility. In the fall of 2002 the students and staff became a part of Unity East Elementary School.

As the Unity East visit took place on the Museum’s first full day of operation, members of the Museum Board and some of the gallery curators were in the building to watch the tour and talk to visitors. The staff was delighted they could be present to see how their work and support were appreciated by all who came through our doors.