Discovery Saturday returns to the National Music Museum (NMM) on May 2, launching a month of programs that explore America’s musical heritage and honor Military Appreciation Month through performances, activities, and special gallery experiences.
The May 2 Discovery Saturday will feature Missouri Valley Music, presenting folk music traditions through live performance and storytelling. Musicians John Everist (banjo, concertina, fiddle), Mike Pettman (concertina, accordion), and Bill Peterson and Josh Scott (fiddle) will share music rooted in Irish, Scottish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Métis traditions. Their program will explore how immigrant musicians carried their cultural heritage to America, preserving and evolving these traditions across generations.
In recognition of Military Appreciation Month, the NMM will feature a special gallery guide showcasing military instruments on exhibit. The museum will also launch participation in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission to veterans and active-duty military personnel and their families from May 1 through Labor Day.
Later in the month, on May 23, the Clay County Cloggers, led by Grace Freeman, will perform in the NMM Performance Hall. The group will present soft shoe (ghillie) dances while discussing Irish dance traditions and the evolution of clogging in America following immigration. In conjunction with the performance, NMM curator Arian Sheets will offer a special gallery talk highlighting instruments associated with Irish dance traditions, including a tin whistle by Feadóg Teo (NMM 06578), a dancing master’s fiddle by Thomas Perry (NMM 02674), and a harp by Clark (NMM 05777). Watch the NMM website and Facebook page for performance times and additional details.
“Of Thee I Sing: Origin, Heritage and Patriotism” is now open in the NMM’s Jason and Betsy Groves Special Exhibition Gallery. The exhibition invites visitors to experience America’s story through musical instruments—from Native traditions and colonial America to immigrant craftsmanship and patriotic expression—exploring how music’s influence has shaped the nation.
Discovery Saturdays take place on the first Saturday of each month, offering additional educational activities and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages.
The National Music Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information about Discovery Saturdays and other programs, visit www.NMMusd.org.
