Thronateeska Heritage Center hunts treasures with three upcoming programs

ALBANY — Albany’s Thronateeska Heritage Center is bringing treasures of the past alive during the next week through a series of presentations and lectures focusing on gold mining, underwater treasure hunting and archaeology.

The first event is slated for today when lecturer, author and recovery diver Mike Brown will entertain and educate the audience with stories from his adventures prospecting for gold throughout the southeastern United States.

Brown’s 7 p.m. presentation will take place inside Thronateeka’s Wetherbee Planetarium, where he will use photos and video footage to accompany his lecture. Since his teenage years in Alaska, Brown has prospected for gold throughout the country, but will focus Thursday’s presentation on searching for gold in Georgia and Alabama.

Not all treasures are made of gold, however, so at 1 p.m. Saturday, Thronateeska will offer a presentation on archaeology during its Science Saturday program series at the center’s Science Museum.

Georgia Southern University archaeologist Kaitlynn Bell will conduct the presentation and will share her expertise in conservation, advanced archaeological analysis, and electrolysis.

According to Thronateeska Program Manager Alex La Pierre, Bell enjoys sharing her love for and knowledge of archaeology with individuals of all ages, but is especially excited to give children an opportunity to engage in workshops that demonstrate what archaeologists do.

At 7 p.m. April 2, Brown again will again be taking guests on a virtual adventure when he presents stories, images and video footage of the recovery of the Spanish 1715 “Treasure” Fleet, where he has found numerous artifacts.

La Pierre said Brown has worked as a recovery diver for the past eight years. He has made many record finds and participated in countless recoveries, she said, including the recovery of the “Treasure” Fleet, which will be fully documented in his book, “On the Trail of the 1715 Fleet.” The book is scheduled to be published this summer.

For Thronateeska, the trio of events allows the center to serve its mission of educating and inspiring Albany area residents about science and south Georgia’s history through through a variety of outlets.

“Thronateeska strives to provide a dynamic learning experience by hosting an array of credible presenters and resources focusing on a variety of scientific and historical subjects,” Thronateeska Executive Director Tommy Gregors said. “We invite the masses to come learn from the past, participate in the present and innovate the future with us.”

Cost to attend each of the three events is $3.50 plus tax per person, with Thronateeska members admitted free. All are suitable for children, but pre-registration is required for the Saturday archaeology presentation and children must be accompanied by an adult. To register for the archaeology presentation, contact La Pierre at [email protected] or at (229) 432-6955.

For more on these events and other things happening at Thronateeska visit the organization’s website at www.heritagecenter.org, or contact La Pierre.