Exhibitions
The Museum's exhibitions are the product of collaboration by many members of the greater West Chester University community. Exhibit development involves substantive planning by student co-curators in West Chester University's Museum Studies Program, collaboration with faculty experts across disciplines and departments on campus, expert input from guest collaborators who also act as content advisors, and, of course, interactions with our welcomed visitors.
Current Exhibitions
Roaring in Secret: Subversion and Change in the 1920s
November 15, 2024 – December 31, 2025
Opening reception: November 15, 2024 6:00 pm
This exhibition examines the simultaneously secret and subversive nature of the 1920s—from its art, music and literature to its technological inventions, from its economic boom to its bust, from suffrage to flapper culture, Prohibition to immigration. Authentic artifacts illustrate the ways in which innovations, inventions, and pop cultural movements in the 1920s fostered lasting change on American society. Immersive and engaging, the exhibition is contained within a recreation of a typical 1920s apartment, complete with authentic, period furniture and rare artifacts including flapper dresses, Art Deco jewelry, first edition books, toys, and 1920s household inventions such as toasters, radios, telephones and record players! Artifacts from the West Chester State Techers College are featured, as are never-before-seen photos of revelers, immigrants and gangsters. While exploring the apartment, find clues to locate a secret passage to our very own interactive speakeasy, with an authentic slot machine, bar and glassware, and even unopened prescription whisky bottles from the era! A stage will host student jazz bands throughout the run of the exhibition, and visitors can even try their hand at playing a recreated theremin!
The opening reception will include food and prohibition-era drinks from the period, accompanied by music from the Jazz Age. Wear your best 1920s-era outfit to the party!
