The Elkhart County Historical Museum invites girls to bring their American Girl Doll to the museum and learn together what life was like for children growing up in the 1970s. On Saturday, Februrary 27th the museum will host “The Groovy ‘70s: Featuring American Girl Julie!”
The program will focus on some of the things that helped define the ‘70s. One example is the environmentalist movement which made great strides in the 1970s. 1970 marked the first celebration of Earth Day and the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1972. “In recognition of the environmentalist movement, the girls will be making kites just like Julie did in her book Julie and the Eagles,” says Oestreich. “Julie made and sold the kites to try and raise money to save endangered bald eagles.”
Girls will also be making projects featuring some of the fads of the 1970s. “Two of the more famous fads are lava lamps and pet rocks,” says Oestreich. “So each girl will get to make a lava lamp and pet rock to take home.” Other fads included roller skating, homemade ribbon barrettes, and pong. In addition, many girls in the seventies read Judy Blume books and watched Little House on the Prairie.
Girls are welcome to come dressed in seventies inspired attire. For girls this means bell-bottomed pants, platform shoes, turtle neck shirts, and flower prints. Hair for girls switched from long and straight in the first part of the decade to more loose and feathery like the hair of Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcet in the latter part of the seventies.
Several American Girl related prizes will be awarded to participants including a grand prize of the Julie doll. Additionally there will be prizes of American Girl story books, activity books, and clothing. If anyone is interested in donating items to allow for more girls to go home with prizes please contact the museum.
While the bringing of an American Girl Doll to the program is encouraged it is not required. Everyone is welcome to attend the program whether or not they have a doll.
The cost to attend “The Groovy ‘70s: Featuring American Girl Julie!” is $3/girl. Participants may choose from a morning session from 10:00 to 12:00 or an afternoon session from 1:30 to 3:30. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, please contact Rebecca Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or Rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.
Rebecca Oestreich Elkhart County Historical Museum