The Museum of LaFayette is preparing for a soft opening during the Honey Bee Festival on May 31, as organizers continue building out exhibits ahead of the public debut.
One of the featured displays, the “Upstairs School Room,” is still in need of several donated items to complete its historical setup. Museum officials say they are looking for bookshelves about three feet wide, old maps for wall displays, two kerosene lamps, a coat rack, ink wells for nine desks, and lunch pails dating back to the 1800s.
Additional items requested include a cotton U.S. flag from the 42- to 48-star era and a traditional portrait of George Washington.
Curator Jennie Chandler says community support is key to bringing the exhibit to life and preserving the look and feel of a historic classroom.
Anyone who has items to donate or knows of a source is asked to contact Chandler at 423-994-8485 or by email at [email protected] by May 15, 2026.