Fundraiser Friday supports 2018 Smithsonian traveling exhibit

MOUNT VERNON - A fundraiser to support a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program coming to Linn County in 2018, takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at One Mission, 108 First St. East in Mount Vernon.

The event includes a social, mini-exhibit, a sports-themed variety show and silent auction.

The event aims to raise money to support the Smithsonian's 'Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America” traveling exhibit that comes to Mount Vernon from March 18 through April 28, 2018. The exhibit is sponsored by the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group in partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority's Main Street Iowa program.

'The Smithsonian has not been to Iowa with this program for years and their first journey back to Iowa will start in our little town,” said Joe Jennison, director of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group. 'It's going to be huge for Mount Vernon. We have been working for two years on this project and many of us had to keep it a secret for so long and now we get to share it with the world.”

'Hometown Teams” as well as the local exhibits featuring memorabilia from Eastern Iowa communities will be on display at the First Street Community Center, 221 First St. NE. Admission is to be free.

Following Mount Vernon the exhibit travels to Ottumwa, Guthrie Center, Jefferson, Ames and Conrad.

Tickets to the fundraising event are $20 and are available for purchase at Bauman's, the First Street Community Center, Hills Bank, Mount Vernon Bank & Trust and the Mount Vernon Visitors Center.

For more information about the fundraiser and the exhibit, go to visitmvl.com/HometownTeams or call (319) 210-9935.