Galveston – Local Swedish descendants will bring their craft skills and their ancestors’ original immigrant trunk full of family history to Moody Gardens on Saturday, April 3. Jan Faubion and her son Rob of VASA Carl Widen Lodge will share stories of their family who came to the U.S. from Sweden, host children’s story time and demonstrate folk craft making during the free Cultural Speaker Series from 1 p.m. through 5 p.m.

Speaker Jan Faubion’s great-grandparents came from Sweden to Texas through Galveston in the late 1880s. Her ancestors settled the Palm Valley community in Texas and were vital participants in the construction and settlement of Texas. Today, she and her son, Rob, continue their Swedish heritage by demonstrating Swedish straw crafts at cultural events throughout the state, including the Texas Folklife Festival and Bob Bullock History Museum.

The Cultural Speaker Series is in conjunction with the traveling exhibit, Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America through Galveston Island. The exhibit chronicles the Port of Galveston’s largely forgotten history as a major gateway to American immigration from 1845 to 1924. The exhibit is the first of its kind to explore, on a national scale, Galveston’s legacy as a port of entry and its importance in shaping the Texas and U.S. history.

Moody Gardens continues to encourage Galveston immigrants and their descendants to share their stories and artifacts by contacting 409-683-4215. Forgotten Gateway will be on exhibit through Sept. 11, 2010, and admission to the exhibit is $8.95 for adults and $6.95 for children and seniors. For more information about the Cultural Speaker Series and the Forgotten Gateway exhibit, please visit moodygardens.org or call 800-582-4673.

AT A GLANCE

Event: Forgotten Gateway Cultural Speaker Series: Stories of Swedish Immigrants

Activities: Cultural Presentation, Kids’ Crafts and Story Time

Featured Group: Carl Widen VASA Club

Date/ Time: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 3

Location: Moody Gardens Discovery Pyramid, One Hope Blvd., Galveston

Admission: Free, open to the public

Information: 1-800-582-4673, moodygardens.org

Exhibit: Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America through Galveston Island

Admission: Adults $8.95, children (4-12) & seniors (65+) $6.95

About the Exhibit:

Galveston was a Southern equivalent of Ellis Island. With over 200 original artifacts, Forgotten Gateway chronicles the largely forgotten history of Galveston as a major immigration port between 1845 and 1924.