By Andy Mehalshick, PA Homepage
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) It’s called the Public Square Pop Up Museum. It will be located inside an office building on Public Square and the museum will celebrate the history of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The I-Team’s Andy Mehalshick has the story.
It may not look like much now. But a space in Downtown Wilkes-Barre will soon be transformed into a place that remembers our great history..
“We’re going to be looking at Native Americans, the American Revolution the mining story. On the floor below us, we will be looking at the industrial revolution part of us.” Explained Chuck Switzer, Irem Temple Restoration Project.
The Public Square Pop Up Museum is connected to the ongoing Irem Temple Restoration Project. The former temple is located just around the corner and the folks involved in that project are now working with the Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society on the Pop-Up.
“There is so much economic development dollars and jobs out there with historical tourism just look a Gettysburg for example,” Added Tony Brooks, Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society.
“This will be used for the entry area.” Courtney McMonagle Interim Dir. Pop Up Museum showed Eyewitness News around.
“It’s definitely different and I think a lot of people are excited about it. There is an incredible amount of history here as all here have said and we must take advantage of that.” McMonagle told Eyewitness News.
“This Pop Up Museum is to celebrate our Red Carpet campaign,” Said Christian Wieglage, of the Irem Temple Restoration Project.
Gary Muchler grew up in Wilkes-Barre and say he can’t wait for the new museum to open. “We used to go to the historical society all the time when we were kids right behind the Osterhout Library. The coal mining and all that kind of stuff. It was great.”
The Pop-Up Museum will open in August.
