By Allana Ansbro

intern@salisburypost.com

The Rowan History Museum and Spencer Doll and Toy Museum are taking the phrase “history comes to life” to a whole new level.

The museums have teamed up and will be hosting a special one-night event on Aug. 1. The show will involve a number of historical characters telling all their stories at each of the museums. There will be a total of three performances for guests to attend. The first show will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by shows at 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Guests will start at the Rowan Museum where they will pick up keys to the museum and the tablet that will bring the museums to life. Then they will board the trolley that will transport them over to the Spencer Museum. There, they will meet a T. Rex, a Capuchin monkey, a Neanderthal and many others along the way.

After visiting and talking with the characters, guests will take the Trolley back to the Rowan Museum. There will be a buffet-style dinner provided where even more characters including Daniel Boone, Elizabeth Maxwell Steele and an American Civil War soldier will make an appearance.

Linda Sherrill of the Spencer Doll and Toy museum, said the goal is to “merge two museums into a fun and educational historic event.” The staff of the Rowan and Spencer Museums “want people to realize museums can be fun.”

Terry Holt of the Rowan History Museum said the idea for an “interactive event” originally came about around the same time the third “Night at The Museum” movie came out in theaters. He said the planning has really been a “joint effort” between the two museums.

“People love the idea of a museum coming to life,” Rowan Museum Executive Director Kaye Hirst said. Both of the museums, she said, have been working very hard at “combining resources” to make the event possible.

Tickets are on sale at the Salisbury-Rowan County Visitors Center, 204 East Innes Street. The cost is $25 for adults and seniors, $10 for children, or $70 for a family of four. For more information about the event, call 704-762-9359 or visit www.spencerdollandtoymuseum.com/Night-at-the-Museum.html. For tickets, call the Visitors Center at 704-638-3100.