That�s the day the museum will hold its second �garage sale.� �These are things which we have purchased off the shelf, had made for us, or made ourselves that have enhanced our exhibits, to make them bigger, more impressive, to attract attention, or just to make an exhibit more fun,� said Exhibits Director Mike Fey.

Many of the props and graphic images are from popular past exhibits on such topics as Norman Rockwell, South Carolina football, the Powers of Nature and more, representing a sort of �State Museum�s greatest hits.�

The first sale, in March, was a huge hit with the public, so the museum decided to repeat the event, said Fey. �They snapped up everything in sight really quickly. It was quite a surprise, but a very pleasant one.�

The uncommon bill of fare includes, in addition to the aforementioned items, South Carolina college football pennants; old Saturday Evening Post magazines featuring the artwork of Norman Rockwell and other Rockwell collectibles; toy trucks; a dollhouse-size reproduction of the historic Robert Mills house; graphic panels and street banners from a variety of past exhibits; even rolls of indoor/outdoor carpet and chain link and other interesting items that would dress up a rec room, stage play or have any number of fun applications.

�Let me stress that these items are not artifacts from our collection,� said Fey. �These things have been used at the museum through the years to amplify the atmosphere of various exhibits, and sometimes have even been re-used in other exhibits or programs the museum has presented.

�The large number of props has built up over the years, and we now need to make room for more storage space � and future props, no doubt,� said the exhibits director. �People will find a �treasure trove� of objects at �economic stimulus� prices.�

The sale takes place on the same day the museum opens a fascinating exhibit. From the Pee Dee to the Savannah: Art and Material Culture from South Carolina�s Fall Line Region will present art, furniture, weapons, textiles and many more objects which tell stories of the people of the unique area known as the fall line. A geographic area in which the rivers become too shallow to navigate from the Lowcountry, the fall line stretches across the state from Cheraw on the Pee Dee River, through Columbia on the Congaree River to North Augusta on the Savannah.

In addition, the Midlands Astronomy Club will host �One Small Step,� a celebration of the recent 40th anniversary of man�s landing on the moon, from 7:15 to 10:30 p.m. The club will set up telescopes in front of the museum for public viewing of the moon, including the Sea of Tranquility where Neil Armstrong first set foot on Earth�s only natural satellite. Club members also will give public star gazers a look at Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. The event is free of charge.

�These are examples of the amazingly wide variety of fun and stimulating programs and events that the State Museum presents constantly,� Fey said.

The garage sale will run from 10 a.m. to noon. The items went fast last time, so Fey advises those interested to come early.

�Anyone who enjoys curios or strolling through antique shops or yard sales should check this out,� said Fey. �There won�t be any antiques � the museum�s only 20 years old, after all � but you�d be hard-pressed to find a more varied and unusual � and fun � assortment of objects anywhere.�

(Image provided by the State Museum.)

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