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On Tuesday, March 27, Tomblin cut the cake celebrating the museum's fifth anniversary.
Commissioner Randall Reed Smith from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History introduced Tomblin at the celebration.
"We are very proud of what goes on here at the Museum In The Park," Smith said. "This is the star in our system. Each year, 21,000 people come through here."
Tomblin told the crowd it is hard to believe it has been five years since the museum opened. Earlier in the afternoon, he and Museum Foundation Board Member Frankie Esposito looked over photographs of the grand opening from five years earlier when Tomblin had cut the ribbon, surrounded by historical reenactors and others.
"This was an idea with a lot of foresight, and it has certainly paid off," Tomblin said, noting that visitors from other counties and neighboring Kentucky have utilized the museum since its inception. Tomblin said the museum does more than just preserve and display Mountain State history as it is also the site of activities for young people and truly offers something for everyone.
"The Division of Culture and History has great exhibits that go out on display in rotation where the public can enjoy them," Tomblin noted. "Before the Museum in the Park, there was no place for artists to display their work."
Tomblin said he was thankful to the museum staff, the Museum Foundation and Park Manager Bruce Collinsworth and his crew for the hard work they did in making the museum a showpiece.
Local history enthusiast Eldean Wellman was a part of the day's activities. Wellman stopped in front of the Marshall University display to discuss the infamous MU airplane crash in November of 1970 and its subsequent place in West Virginia history.
"This brings back the memories," Wellman said of the display.
Ken Singleton looked at the actual mine phone used in the Holden 22 mine fire, which for many years had resided in the sign shop of his father, Jim Singleton.
Ken Singleton said his family wanted the phone to be put on display in the museum because of its historical significance.
Community activist turned Logan BOE member Moss Burgess was also on hand, looking over an old switch board from the Aracoma Hotel, while former Logan Councilmember Sharon Hopkins and friend Debby Durham looked over a display of old television sets.
"This one is an RCA from 1947," Hopkins said.
The new manager at the museum met with Claude Williams, who is one of the original board members. Earlier in the event, Burgess had asked about mementos from a closed school and Williams was identified as the man who might know what happened to them.
And he did, Burgess learned.
Tomblin and current board members and Division of Culture and History staff met at the Logan County portion of the National Coal Heritage "Black Diamond" exhibit for a group photo and to discuss the early days of the museum. "Black Diamonds" is the first in a series of coal related exhibits set to tour West Virginia. Later, new legislator Josh Stowers toured the exhibit of quilts with Commissioner Smith.
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