Three insiders dish on what you can’t miss at the Levine Museum of the New South
Sure, a history museum is about the past, but the Levine Museum of the New South has a knack for making southern culture come to life in important and prevalent ways. Plus the Levine offers tons of educational, tasty, thought-provoking and unique events – the perfect cure for the same old, same old.
If you’ve visited Levine before, it’s time for a return trip. We didn’t want to miss any of the must-see, must-do events so we asked three insiders for help. Don’t worry, we got the dish.
Brenda Tindal
Age: 34
Role at Levine: Staff Historian
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Education: UNC Charlotte (Undergraduate); Emory University (Graduate)
What do you enjoy most about your job as Staff Historian at the Levine?
There is never a poverty of imagination when you’re working with incredibly creative and brilliant colleagues who share your enthusiasm for history and are equally invested in our vision of “Using History to Build Community.”
What should museum visitors not miss at the Levine?
“Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” traces the history of Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont region from the close of the Civil War in 1865 through present day. It is a great way for newcomers and native Charlotteans to learn about our city and the region.
What project are you working on now?
I’m working on research for our next suite of exhibits and programs, which we’re provisionally calling “American Dreamers.” Stay tuned.
Eric Scott
Age: 29
Role at Levine: Education Programs Manager
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education: Appalachian State University (Undergraduate); University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Graduate)
What do you enjoy most about your job as Education Programs Manager?
At the Levine Museum, we believe that everyone’s story matters and that history can be used to build community. Through our programs, tours, outreach and facilitated dialogues, I have the privilege of connecting the past to the present with people of all different ages and backgrounds.
What do people enjoy most about their experience at the Levine?
Making personal connections to the city and the region’s history. From seeing life through the eyes of a cotton mill worker to walking through downtown in the 1920s, visitors often leave with a better sense of their present place in time as well as that of the broader community.
What upcoming events are you looking forward to?
On May 19, the museum is hosting Queen City Brews. This event is sold out so I’m guessing a lot of people were looking forward to it as much as me! Not to worry, we always have great events planned at the museum.
Related contentFor example, the museum has teamed up with NoDa Brewing Co. to host a screening of BREWCONOMY and a talkback with director Camden Watts at NoDa’s N. Davidson Street taproom on May 24.
Oliver Merino
Age: 27
Role at Levine: Latino New South Coordinator
Hometown: Born in Mexico, came to the United States in 1999 at age 10
Education: Johnson C. Smith University
What do you enjoy most about your job as Latino New South Coordinator?
I really enjoy when people are able to connect to the history that is around them, discover new things and become more curious about history. A focus of my role initially was to help gather stories for our current exhibit,¡NUEVOlution! Latinos and the New South. I love being able to help share those stories and help people understand how their own personal experiences play a role in shaping our city and the South.
#NUEVOlution serves as a catalyst for personal reflection, cross-cultural interaction and community engagement. pic.twitter.com/bYaJ8XBHT0
— Levine Museum (@LevineMuseum) May 12, 2016
What role does the museum play in bringing all aspects of the community together?
Charlotte has become a city full of newcomers. People are coming to Charlotte from all over the U.S. and the world and it’s important to have a place for them to come to learn about our past, to connect with this place and the community they live in.
What event are you looking forward to this summer?
One of the best ways to get to know a culture is through food. On June 18 the museum will host chef Sandra Gutierrez, author of several award-winning cookbooks, who will talk about her book “The New Southern Latino Table” and how cultures collide on our plates. And we will sample some of her recipes!
With all this inside information, we know you are ready to plan a trip to the museum! The Levine Museum of the New South is located on the corner of College St. and 7th St. in uptown Charlotte. The museum is open daily with complimentary parking in Seventh St. Station. Plan your next adventure at www.museumofthenewsouth.org.
This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 3:28 PM.