The Pioneer Museum of Alabama hosted a fundraising dinner and silent auction Friday night to benefit the museum’s children’s programs.

Museum director Kari Barley said the museum annually sponsors a variety of programs for children, including Pioneer Days, Spring Planting and living history programs.

“This year Pioneer Days brought more than 1,200 children to the museum,” Barley said. “That was the largest number of children that have attended and we hope to see that number continue to grow.”

The living history programs at the museum include demonstrations of pioneer life skills.

“The children learn about the skills that were necessary for daily living and those needed to make a living,” Barley said.

During the summer, the museum offers hands-on programs for children.

“Two summers ago, the summer program focused on steam-driven trains,” Barley said. “Last summer, the program was on the Civil War period and this summer, we learned about archeology. The children got to dig and find arrowheads to take home.”

Barley said the support of those who attended the dinner and silent auction will benefit the current children’s programs and others on the drawing board.