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America's Neighborly Role Model of Kindness and Caring

The Life of Mister Fred Rogers

Historian Jim Gibbons will discuss the life of Fred McFeely Rogers, an American icon of neighborly kindness with a heartwarming smile.

Registration required for EACH person attending. This family friendly program is open to all ages.

Close your eyes for a minute. Think of a time as a child when you felt alone, unloved, embarrassed, bullied or scared. Now picture a kind, heartwarming voice talking directly to you saying that it will be ok; you are special, “There is no one like you in the whole world. I like you just the way you are.” Now open your eyes. Smile, and know you are loved. For many children, this is exactly the comfort they felt when watching Fred Rogers television program, Mister Rogers Neighborhood. For many adults, the heartfelt lessons and kindness Mister Rogers showed us as children are something we strive to live by today.

Historian Jim Gibbons will discuss the life of Fred McFeely Rogers, an American icon of neighborly kindness with a heartwarming smile. Mister Rogers, a Presbyterian Minister, American television host and producer, made Mister Rogers Neighborhood a popular show for young children from 1968 to 2001. With puppets King Friday XIII, Queen Sarah, Daniel Tiger and more, Mister Rogers would take you to the Land of Make Believe or to a factory to learn how things are made. Mister Rogers was also known for The Children’s Corner in the 1950’s. Mister Rogers Neighborhood was popularly aired on The Children’s Programming Network and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Over his lifetime, Mister Rogers received many awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1997 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. In 1999, he was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. In November 2019, a movie starring Tom Hanks portrayal of Mister Rogers was also made in his honor.