LCCA - Successful Day at Trains, Trains, Trains Event in Kennesaw GA- Recap
The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) had a very successful Special Event at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive history in Kennesaw GA, the current home of "the General" Steam locomotive on January 19,2013. This event which attracted over 2200 visitors to the museum was a huge success with people coming in from all over Georgia and other south-eastern states. The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History had several hands-on exhibits and operating toy train layouts. Kids of all ages enjoyed the Lionel Operating layouts as well as other gauge model railroads. This was a very family friendly, hands on event where the kids were able to run and play with the model trains. The purpose of the museum's event is to educate and entertain kids of all ages. Through themed events and exhibits (such as this event) the museum promotes history and understanding through a unique entertainment medium.
This was the Southern Museum third annual and most well attended Trains, Trains, Trains event. This year's event surpassed standing records for single day admissions (over 2200 visitors in 6 hours!) and gift shop sales. What started in their education center has grown to take over the entire 45,000 square foot museum demonstrating the great interest for trains within the community. Appealing to families and model railroad enthusiasts alike, Trains, Trains, Trains offered an array of fun and education through hands-on activities. Every year, the Southern Museum strives to grow this event to make it bigger and better than the year before. LCCA Member and Executive Director of the Museum, Dr. Richard Banz plans to continue development and expansion so as to make this program the museum event that people look forward to every year. We thank all of you who attended this informative, educational and most of all fun event!
The LCCA presented the museum's Executive Director, Dr. Richard Banz with a pair of the LCCA General Engines that commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Great Train Chase of 1862. These engines were produced by Lionel in 2012 exclusively for the LCCA to commemorate and celebrate this historic railroad event. The museum plans to display these engines year round in their museum. Thank you to Dr Richard Banz and the entire museum staff for hosting such a great event and all of the great southern hospitality extended to our LCCA members and me.
The LCCA was very successful in meeting with fellow LCCA members and attracting new members to join our club. LCCA member Bob Keller and I introduced visitors of the LCCA table to the benefits of being a member of the club and informed everyone about our upcoming convention in Chattanooga, TN during the week of July 14-20, 2013. Members who stopped by our display received a special commemorative un-cut sheet set of three LCCA bill board inserts as well as a LCCA Special Events Pin. This is all part of LCCA President Dennis DeVito's commitment and plan to reach out and have direct contact with 2200 members this year with our LCCA Special Events Program. We appreciate all of the members who stopped by the LCCA display and "talked trains". Thank you to Bob Keller for volunteering to help out at the booth and all of the new members who signed up and joined our club. I invite you to become involved and participate in upcoming LCCA special events and convention.
We will be just a few hours down the road this next summer at the Chattanooga Hotel in Chattanooga,TN for our 43rd annual convention to be held July 14-20, 2013. LCCA member and Executive Director of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, Dr Richard Banz will be in Chattanooga as our featured guest speaker on Monday evening July 15, 2013. Come and meet with Richard and learn more about this historic railroad event. On Tuesday, July 16, we will be back at the Southern Museum of Civil War Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. Members who sign up for the tour will be able to see "The General", get a behind the scene tour the museum, rarely seen archives and then retrace some of the historic sights along the path of the Great train chase. Mark these dates on your calendar. Stay tuned to our website www.lionelcollectors.org and future issues of The Lion Roars for convention updates, registration forms and additional information.
If you want to read more about this Trains, Trains, Trains event at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, go to the following link and read Geoff Folsom's 1-20-13 article in The Marietta Daily Journal publication. click here
Thanks again for all of you who attended this LCCA Special Event. We hope you enjoyed it and had FUN!
Al Kolis
Immediate Past President and Special Events Manager