Danville native and retired astronaut Joe Tanner is back in town this weekend for two special events entitled ‘Mastodons To The Moon’. Bill Pickett has the details….
On Saturday, (August 8th), Tanner will be presenting a special program at Danville High School’s Dick Van Dyke Auditorium regarding his four shuttle missions into space. The Danville Municipal Band will provide music prior to the start of the program at 2:00 p.m.
On Sunday, Tanner is scheduled to meet members of the general public at the Vermilion County Museum (at 116 North Gilbert Street in Danville) from 1:30 until 4:00 p.m. The kid-friendly event will include face painting and an opportunity for parents to take photos.
Both events are free and open to the public. At Sunday’s event at the museum, visitors can tour the Dr. William Fithian Home (the old museum building). And there will also be a display at the Vermilion Museum Center (the newer building) of artwork created by some inmates at the Danville Correctional Center. The inmates created artwork following this weekend’s theme of Mastodons To The Moon.
{These are some of the paintings done by inmates at the Danville Correctional Center which will be on display at the Vermilion County Museum this weekend.}
Tanner’s appearance at both locations is sponsored by the Vermilion County Museum as part of the celebration of Vermilion County’s 200th birthday.
There is a Mastodon replica at the Vermilion County Museum Center. And although it is a replica – some real Mastodon teeth are on display nearby. The teeth were found in Vermilion County indicating the large Mastodons apparently wondered across our county at one time.
