Go online to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week at 10 regional attractions

Congress created National Travel and Tourism Week in 1983 to underscore the economic power of travel in the U.S. The annual celebration of the contributions and accomplishments of the travel industry happens the first full week in May. Like nearly every aspect of life during the coronavirus pandemic, our travel habits and spending have had to change. While the lost revenue and jobs in tourism look devastating, national industry leaders vow the spirit of travel has not been shattered.

Thus, the theme of this year’s weeklong observance is the Spirit of Travel. And, in that spirit, we bring you ways to enjoy some of the regional attractions you haven’t been able to visit in person.

Cosmosphere

The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, about 45 minutes from Wichita, had to move two milestone anniversary celebrations in space history online in April. If you missed the virtual events, you’re in luck because you can visit cosmo.org and the museum’s Facebook page to see much of the content created for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission and the 30th year since the Hubble space telescope launched.

One of the gems in the Cosmosphere’s massive collection is the Apollo 13 spacecraft’s command module, Odyssey. The team created a webpage with a virtual tour of that artifact along with an extensive collection of documents, photos and videos telling the Apollo 13 story. The material is a mix of Cosmosphere creations and NASA material.

Don’t miss the behind-the-scenes look at the restoration of the Odyssey, which was carried out by Cosmosphere’s Space Works division from 1995 to 1997. You can find a link to this special webpage from the museum’s homepage or under the News + Events tab.

On April 24, the museum team posted material about Hubble’s launch aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on that day in 1990. Astronomers gain science and the public gets to see the wonders of the solar system and universe thanks to Hubble, which has captured some of the most iconic astronomical images. This month’s free Coffee at the Cosmo lecture program is dedicated to Hubble. It will happen live on Facebook from 9 to 10 a.m. May 21.

The Volland Store

While the gallery and event center in a repurposed historic general store is closed to visitors, The Volland Store in Alma, about 140 miles northeast of Wichita, has programming at thevollandstore.com.

The gallery’s planned exhibit for March 14 to May 24, “Prairie.River” can be seen in its entirety on the website. The exhibition features Lawrence-based painter and printmaker Lisa Grossman and the drawings of Manhattan, Kan., based Erin Wiersma.

At 3 p.m. May 7, Volland is hosting a virtual discussion by the authors of “Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills.” The event is free but RSVP to get the Zoom link and credentials.

The recently published book, by Kansans Rex Buchanan, Burke Griggs and Josh Svaty, uses images of rarely seen petroglyphs (mostly on private property) to share what these carvings tell of the region’s first people and “to appreciate an important feature of Kansas history and its landscape that is increasingly threatened by erosion and vandalism.” The book is available for purchase through The Volland Store.

Factory Obscura

Discover new Oklahoma musicians and see inside Oklahoma City’s immersive art experience during the LIVE at Mix-Tape series from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. The livestreams (on Facebook and Instagram) are free and the musicians accept tips.

Mix-Tape Experience is the first permanent installation by the artist collective known as Factory Obscura. The group, which was slated to be the artists in residence at this month’s Wichita Riverfest, includes carpenters, dancers, designers, filmmakers, musicians, poets, sculptors, textile artists, visual artists, welders plus a team of electronic, light, projection and sound artists.

Visit factoryobscura.com for downloadable activity guides and coloring sheets.

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

The 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was April 19. It’s difficult to replicate the impact of visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, on the site where the Murrah Building stood, but the next best option is exploring the 25th Anniversary Virtual Hope Trunk at https://memorialmuseum.com/trunks/. You’ll find artifacts that teach about the bombing and the community’s response, from a first-responder’s helmet to a video of the 20th anniversary remembrance speech given by President Bill Clinton.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art was supposed to be celebrating the opening of the Momentary, its satellite space that is within walking distance of the main museum campus in Bentonville, Ark. Instead, both had to close soon after the new contemporary art space opened in late February.

Crystal Bridges’ mission is focused on access to art, so they have a plethora of virtual resources. At crystalbridges.org, view past temporary exhibitions, tour galleries in the permanent collection and explore architecture through tours of the Moshe Safdie-designed museum or the on-site Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house.

Both venues also are loading social media channels with interesting content. Crystal Bridges is hosting its inaugural Virtual Art by the Glass event from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 1. Registration is free for these adult at-home artmaking Zoom sessions. The first installment offers step-by-step instruction on drawing your houseplant from artist Tram Colwin.

The Momentary is starting a free Virtual Live Concert Series from 6 to 8 p.m. May 2 with Reykjavik-based supergroup FM Belfast. Tune into the Momentary’s Facebook and YouTube pages for a live dance party. There are also some events at themomentary.org that require registration, for example a free Zoom work-in-progress showing by the venue’s artists in residence at 6 p.m. May 4.

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Mo., has been closed since summer 2019 undergoing a $30-million transformation expected to finish this fall. Museum staff commemorated the 75th anniversary of Truman being sworn in as president on April 12 with a launch of the @HarrySTruman75 handle on Twitter. The account features daily quotes from the 33rd president, which also are incorporated on the museum’s existing Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Visit trumanlibrary.gov for online resources ranging from digital collection/archives features to free, 45-minute interactive learning programs along with activity and lesson guides.

The Mystery Hour

Syndicated talk show host Jeff Houghton normally tapes “The Mystery Hour” in front of a live audience in Springfield, Mo. Instead, he’s doing a live show on Facebook every weeknight. The 30 minute shows feature guest interviews, musicians and a mix of new and classic comedy sketches. Guests range from local and regional personalities to celebrities. Jim O’Heir, who plays Jerry on Parks and Recreation, was a guest earlier this week. Past episodes remain on Facebook if you don’t catch it live.

Silver Dollar City

When Branson, Mo., theme park Silver Dollar City opens it’ll be celebrating its 60th season. But you can get a taste of their Diamond Jubilee festivities now by visiting silverdollarcity.com. Find at-home activities for kids themed around the rides and areas within the park, and there’s a section of recipes and online videos from the culinary team, including their famous succotash made with corn, squash, fried okra, peppers, onions and chicken.

If you’ve ever been to the park you’ve likely noticed their signature food items are meals cooked in six-foot-wide skillets made by onsite blacksmiths. Don’t worry, they’ve sized down their succotash skillet recipe for those of us not serving 125,000 pounds of it each year.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Ark., is celebrating 28 years of rescuing abandoned, abused and neglected big cats with an online event May 5. Refuge team members plan to flood the refuge’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts with live videos so viewers can feel as if they are visiting from their living rooms. There will also be games and interactive posts.

The event will showcase some of the 90 animal residents – including tigers that were once part of the park run by Joe Exotic made famous by Netflix’s “Tiger King” docuseries. The refuge is using the event to raise money for the care of its animals after missing out on attendance that often peaks in spring and is strong throughout the summer.

Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Neb., has a page devoted to “Zoo from Home” experiences at omahazoo.com. Find interactive videos and activity guides on a range of species from the more than 35,000 animals living there. You’ll also see some of the newest enclosures, including the Owen Sea Lion Shores opening this year to the Asian Highlands completed in 2019. Material is added daily by the animal care staff.

This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 12:00 AM.