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Erica Techo
(From left) Longtime director of Shelby County Museum and Archives Bobby Joe Seales, Chelsea Historical Society President Tony Nivens, Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer and local author Gladys Hodge Sherrer help cut the ribbon in front of the Chelsea Historical Museum on June 10, 2018. The museum celebrated opening in its new building with a ribbon cutting and several guest speakers.
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Erica Techo
Blake Lovett (right) speaks to a family at the Chelsea Historical Museum grand opening on June 10, 2018. Lovett, a lifelong Chelsea resident, serves as curator for the museum.
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Erica Techo
A family gazes at the farm equipment set up in the Chelsea Historical Museum on June 10, 2018. The equipment is on display in the museum's "agriculture room," which highlights the city's beginnings.
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Community members look at photos on the wall of the Chelsea Historical Museum on June 10, 2018. The museum re-opened in a new location, across the street from Chelsea City Hall, on June 10.
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Erica Techo
The Chelsea Historical Museum celebrated its grand opening on June 10, 2018. Residents and city officials gathered in the Crane House, the museum's new home, to hear from guest speakers and celebrate the opening.
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Items representing Chelsea area schools on display on June 10, 2018. The display is one of many in the Chelsea Historical Museum, which reopened on June 10.
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Items in the Chelsea Historical Museum celebrate the city's past and present, including the importance of the railroad. The museum opened at its new location on June 10, 2018.
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Farm tools hang on the wall of the Agriculture Room in the Chelsea Historical Museum. The museum celebrated its grand opening in its new location on June 10, 2018.
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Erica Techo
(From left) Longtime director of Shelby County Museum and Archives Bobby Joe Seales, Chelsea Historical Society President Tony Nivens, Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer and local author Gladys Hodge Sherrer help cut the ribbon in front of the Chelsea Historical Museum on June 10, 2018. The museum celebrated opening in its new building with a ribbon cutting and several guest speakers.
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Erica Techo
A poster board celebrates the opening of the Chelsea Historical Museum. Previously located inside Chelsea City Hall, the museum moved across the street to the Crane House and celebrated a re-opening on June 10, 2018.
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Blake Lovett speaks at the Chelsea Historical Museum opening on June 10, 2018. Lovett serves as curator for the museum and discussed the narrative goals of the museum and its layout.
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Community members tour the Chelsea Historical Museum on June 10, 2018. The museum celebrated its opening in a new building with guest speakers, food and other activities.
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Erica Techo
A display case dedicated to fire service in the city of Chelsea sits on display on June 11, 2018. The display is one of many in the new Chelsea Historical Museum, which seeks to highlight the past, present and future of Chelsea.
Members of the Chelsea and surrounding community gathered for a special occasion this Sunday.
On June 10, the Chelsea Historical Museum celebrated its grand opening in its new building. The museum, which was located in Chelsea City Hall, has reopened its doors across the street at the Crane House, located on 41 Weldon Drive, which formerly houses the Chelsea Public Library.
"This is truly a momentous day for our city," said Mayor Tony Picklesimer, who also thanked volunteers for their hard work in putting together the museum. "All I can pledge to you is my continued support."
The grand opening was celebrated with a ribbon cutting, and the day also marked a celebration of Alabama's bicentennial and the Chelsea community's 110th birthday. The town's first post office opened in 1908, years before the area was officially declared a city.
The Crane House was packed with community members getting a first look at the museum and hearing guest speakers discuss the city's history. Museum curator Blake Lovett, a lifelong Chelsea resident and Chelsea Middle School teacher, said the aim of the museum is to share a narrative of the city's history. The building is broken into three parts, including the agricultural room showing the start of the community; the industry room highlighting early businesses, churches and other parts of the community; and the incorporation room showing the city's establishment as a city.
Chelsea Historical Society President Tony Nivens also welcomed everyone to the event, noting that they hope to help bring the community together, both lifelong residents and those new to the city.
"If you love Chelsea, then you have a place here," he said.
The museum will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 1-5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
