Warmest of December and Holiday greetings, everyone, and thank you always for your support, event participation, and exhibitions attendance. Our University Museum is blessed to exist in an ecosystem of such thoughtful supportiveness that I’m fond of observing that the enduring warmth of spirit of our members and our campus-plus-regional communities not only sustains us, but inspires us.
This is a time of year when we have the great additional joy of seeing so many fans of our annual keepsake ornament arriving in the Lobby and the Museum Shop to acquire ‘this year’s model’ – for 2024, an exceptional image of Faulkner’s Rowan Oak. If you have interest, there are two modes of purchasing, by call-in and in-person at the Museum Shop.
To phone order a 2024 Keepsake please call our main line at 662-915-7073. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday, 10am-4pm. Keepsakes are $25 each and can be shipped within the contiguous United States for $10. Sales tax is required for all sales shipped within Mississippi.
Also wanting to keep you apprised of the University’s annual Seasonal Closure dates, which the Museum observes also – – we close at 4PM on Friday December 20 and re-open 10AM Thursday January 2. Faulkner’s Rowan Oak is the exception in that it will be open to all on December 27, 28, and 29 (during this 12/21 – January 1 date range).
2025 is certain to be an exciting New Year for both the Museum and Rowan Oak with Exhibition changeouts impending by January in the Museum – – more news soon to follow! – – and Rowan Oak’s exceptional and nationally-acclaimed House Tour program open daily Tuesday – Saturday 10AM to 4PM and Sundays 1:00 – 4:00PM. Comprehensive planning is actively underway for upgrades and modernizations to the Rowan Oak visitor arrival experience, with details also to follow in the New Year – – as we sustain our commitment to continual assessment, analysis, and improvement of our public access and programming commitments.
2025 will also see the formal dedication ceremony for the University’s newest (and largest) Pollinator Garden, now installed and planted out in our University Avenue frontage, with two stunning new granite benches just having been installed in November to explicitly welcome resting and repose along our sculpture-filled walkway .
And as always, the professional staff and I are here for you. I can be reached 7 days weekly at rsaarnio@olemiss.edu and desk 662-915-7202, and any staff member can receive a message sent via museum@olemiss.edu, or left at the Front Desk 662-915-7073. Separately, all Museum and Rowan Oak Staff Member addresses and phone extensions can be found at our website here: https://museum.olemiss.edu/museum-staff-directory/
Happiest of holiday seasons, everyone! We greatly look forward to seeing you at both of our museum sites in the New year!
With sincere regards always,
Robert Saarnio
Director
