Staff Report

GALLIPOLIS - Audiences will encounter history in its most compelling form through first-person historical portrayals when Ohio Chautauqua returns to Gallipolis next week.

An exciting mixture of education and entertainment, Ohio Chautauqua 2008 will focus on Inventors and Innovators. In these programs, scholars/presenters will explore the lives and legacies of those who helped shape our modern world. Characters for this year's event are: Thomas Alva Edison, Mary McLeod Bethune, Andrew Carnegie, George Washington Carver and Alexander Graham Bell.

These characters will share some of their fascinating experiences and help us to better understand how their innovations moved America and the world towards new ways of life. Discussions with these characters will also help us examine current topics like business ethics, race relations, education, philanthropy, women's issues and pop culture.

These programs are fun for the entire family. Each evening, trained scholars assume the costume and character of a historical figure, presenting an exciting and engaging living history performance. Everyone is invited to meet under the old-fashioned red and white striped chautauqua tent where they will have the opportunity to learn from and talk with famous characters from our past.

Ohio Chautauqua will take place in the Gallipolis City Park on July 15-19 with programs set to begin at 7:30 p.m. each night. In case of inclement weather, evening performances will be held in the Ariel Theatre.

The Bossard Memorial Library will be hosting youth and adult workshops to coincide with the event, with youth programs at 10:30 a.m. and adult programs at 2:30 p.m. each day.

All programs are free and open to the public.

Ohio Chautauqua 2008 is sponsored and presented by the Ohio Humanities Council.