Introducing the Newest Thing in Ancient History

National Hellenic Museum Grand Opening is Dec. 10 in the Heart of Chicago’s Greektown

CHICAGO — The Greeks laid the foundation for western civilization. Centuries later, thousands of Greek families immigrated to the United States and brought with them a rich culture and strong values. Now, starting Saturday, Dec. 10, everyone can explore and celebrate the timeless traditions and epic history of Greek culture at the all-new National Hellenic Museum.

The National Hellenic Museum – the newest thing in ancient history – is the first and only major museum in the country dedicated to the Greek journey, from ancient times to the modern Greek American experience.

Chicago has one of the world’s largest Greek populations. But Greek or not, this journey touches everyone. Greek history and culture is at the very foundation of western civilization, and continues to influence our lives to this day. Our government, language, architecture and theater all have their roots in ancient Greece.

The Museum’s first feature exhibit is Gods, Myths and Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece, located in the John P. Calamos, Sr. Great Hall. This family-friendly exhibition, created by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, gives visitors of all ages the chance to meet with Greek gods, enjoy 25 interactive experiences, climb into a 12-foot Trojan Horse and imagine themselves in the detailed texture of life in ancient Greece. This special exhibit runs from December through August 2012.

Located in a new 40,000-square-foot space that is both contemporary and timeless, the Museum connects all generations—past, present and future—to the rich heritage of Greek history, culture, art and the Greek American experience.

“We don’t just preserve Greek culture; we celebrate it,” said Stephanie Vlahakis, the National Hellenic Museum’s executive director. “The contributions of ancient Greece and of Greek America are everywhere in our culture. The U.S. is a country of immigrants, and these stories will strike a universal chord with museum goers. We all share the legacy of ancient Greece and of the Greek American experience. That’s why we say we’re all Greek! This Museum is for everyone.”

Previously the Museum occupied space in temporary locations. The new three-story LEED-certification-pending building is the home to interactive permanent exhibits and high-profile traveling exhibits, as well as a children’s education center, research library, oral history center, rooftop terrace, gift shop and special events hall. As Chicago’s newest world-class cultural attraction, the Museum is expected to attract area residents, regional visitors and international tourists.

“The National Hellenic Museum has been important to the culture and character of our neighborhood for years,” Chicago 27^th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. said. “Now, in its new building, it can take its rightful place as an anchor in the heart of Greektown.”

A Tour of the National Hellenic Museum

First Floor

• Thomas & Melpomene Mathews Grand Lobby: The lobby provides a tranquil transition from bustling Halsted St. as guests enter the Museum.
• John P. Calamos, Sr. Great Hall: A 5,300-square-foot multi-purpose space capable of housing temporary exhibitions, programs and events – including the special children’s exhibit Gods, Myths and Mortals, which opens Dec. 10.
• Dr. Mary Dochios Kamberos Special Events Hall: The hall provides 1,700-square-feet of flexible event space, with state-of-the-art lighting and technology for a range of theater, dance and music performances; lectures; film screenings and private receptions.
• Museum gift store: The store is the place for Museum visitors and the general public to browse and shop.

Second Floor

As guests make their way to the second floor, projected light creates the appearance of water as they begin the core visitor experience.

• Halikias Family Exhibition Gallery: This expansive space will host two consecutive exhibits:
1. Temporary exhibit:
   • Preview In Search of Home: The Greek Journey From Myth to Modern Day. Guests can explore this “behind-the-scenes” preview designed to showcase the Museum’s signature permanent exhibit scheduled to open in 2012. The preview also demonstrates how curators research, design and construct exhibits while inviting guests to participate in the design process and learn more about the Greek legacy.
2. Permanent Exhibit:
   • In Search of Home: the Greek Journey from Myth to Modern Day, opening in 2012. The permanent 5,500-square-foot exhibit, made possible in part by Paula and Peter Fasseas, is the Museum’s signature experience. It sweeps visitors into the majesty and enduring legacy of the Hellenic story and helps them realize how their own lives are influenced by it to this day.The highly immersive voyage begins with Homer asking a muse to tell the story of Odysseus, searching for his home, Ithaka. The journey includes a look at original artifacts, authentic casts from sites throughout Greece, interactive multi-media experiences and the richness that is Greek history, culture and art. The exhibit shows how out of the Greeks’ struggle through several wars, thousands of immigrants journeyed to America with little in their pockets, but a full heart yearning for opportunity and a new home.
   • A window facing old Greektown and the “Greektown delta” will showcase an augmented reality experience for visitors, who can peer out the window while seeing images of 1920s Greektown in Chicago and Greektowns across the country. Guests can also see other ethnic neighborhoods in Chicago. This essential part of the exhibit represents the National Hellenic Museum’s mission to bridge the gap between the past, present and future.
   • Visitors will experience the struggles and triumphs of these immigrants as they built businesses, churches and community, sharing and expanding on the rich heritage they brought with them. Digital and social media elements will be integrated to encourage visitors to continue their engagement with the exhibit beyond the Museum walls. Visitors will leave the exhibit understanding the journey continues as they seek their own Ithaka, their own home and identity.
• Education Center: Education is a vital part of the Museum’s mission. The Education Center accommodates more than 80 students and converts from a classroom to an art studio. The flexible curriculum, tailored to suit K-12, covers subject matter including ancient art, qualities of a hero, cultural identity and the American immigrant experience, and Ancient Greek influences on America.All of the Museum’s education programs can be combined with interactive crafts and activities to make the overall experience fun and engaging.

Third Floor

• Frank S. Kamberos Oral History Center: The Greek tradition of storytelling is an essential part of the history of Greeks and Greek Americans. Everyone benefits when history is recorded; when it is not, the loss to future generations is incalculable. The National Hellenic Museum is proud to feature HOMER: The Oral History Project to celebrate that history. Interviews and recordings with individuals and groups, along with photos and donated archives, create an interactive, multi-media repository for Greek American histories. Each oral history keeps these important and unique stories alive for future generations.

• Gus & Mary Stathis Library and Resource Center: The 2,800-square-foot library is a unique place for visiting scholars, students and guests interested in accessing a comprehensive collection of Greek American history. The Museum’s collection is home to rare publications and archives.

Rooftop

• Rooftop Terrace: With an Illinois prairie garden and spectacular panoramic view of Greektown and Chicago’s iconic skyline, the 3,600 square foot rooftop terrace is Chicago’s new hot spot for weddings, parties, and private events. When the space is not reserved for events, the terrace is open to Museum guests with furniture to lounge on and free Wi-Fi internet access.

Admission

Admission to the National Hellenic Museum is $10/adults, $8/seniors and students, and $7 for children ages 3-12.

Members and children 3 and under are always free.

Located at 333 S. Halsted St. in Greektown, the National Hellenic Museum is open:

• Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Mondays)
• Tuesday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Weekends 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The National Hellenic Museum’s mission is to preserve and explore Hellenism and to chronicle the Greek American journey through exhibitions, oral histories, archival collections and education programs. Our purpose is to inspire in people of all backgrounds a curiosity for their own story through a greater connection to Greek history, culture and the arts. Located at the corner of Halsted and Van Buren in the heart of Chicago’s famed Greektown, the Museum celebrates its grand opening in December 2011. For more information, visit www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.

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Media Contacts:
Veronica Jackson
PCI
312/558-1770, ext. 128
vjackson@pcipr.com