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PINE MOUNTAIN – At the 2022 Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) Annual Conference in Thomasville, Pine Mountain’s Chipley Historical Center (CHC) was honored.

GAM President Ephraim Rotter and Award Committee Co-Chairs Melissa Swindell and Karin Dalton presented the Honorable Mention award, or second place, for “$1,000 to $25,000,” which refers to the average cost of an exhibit. Chipley Historical Center’s Vice Chair and Curator Cindy Bowden received the plaque, which reads, “In recognition of excellence in planning, implementation, and promotion of this engaging multi-faceted exhibition.”

“We are very pleased to present this award to a very deserving recipient,” said Rotter. “Our members represent a good cross-section of the museums and cultural organizations in Georgia’s communities, large and small. We are happy to honor institutions, staff members, volunteers, patrons, exhibits, and special projects that have excelled in providing inspiring programs and leadership.”

“Out of 400 museums across Georgia, we are very proud to have been recognized,” Bowden shared. “With the Chipley Historical Center being closed for a while due to the pandemic and the construction of the new addition, we submitted our application for the entire museum versus just one exhibit. We were very excited to learn we had earned an Honorable Mention.”

CHC’s Vice Chair and Curator Cindy Bowden, attended the event with her husband Tom, who also is an active member of the Center.

The theme of this year’s conference was “The Next Normal.” In addition to the awards luncheon, attendees participated in a variety of sessions and workshops ranging from developing education programs to designing eye-catching exhibits and visiting with vendors whose products and services target the field. The highlight of the week was the annual GAM Awards Luncheon.

Ongoing Program

The public is invited to the Center for the exhibition entitled “Horace King, A Man Ahead of His Time.” This exhibit, which explores the life of a remarkable man, his accomplishments, and his family, will be available for public viewing through May 27, 2022. Admission is complimentary though donations to the Center are always welcome. This exhibit has been made possible by fundraising efforts of the Chipley Historical Center. The display features information and images, which are on loan from the Alabama Department of Archives and History, Troup County Archives, Columbus State University, and The Columbus Museum.

For more about the CHC, visit https://chipleyhistoriccenter.org/, call (706) 663-4044, or email info@chipleyhistoriccenter.org. The Center is located at 146 McDougald Ave, Pine Mountain, GA 31822.