The first building to be completed in Beamish Museum's new 1950s Town development had its official launch on Saturday with guests soaking up the atmosphere and many wearing period dress to join the celebration.
The new Welfare Hall and Community Centre, which earlier had been at the County Durham museum, attracted crowds on its public debut which followed a parade, with music, through the main street of the town to its door.
The hall, a replica of a 1957 one that still exists at Leasingthorne Colliery Welfare Hall near Bishop Auckland, is the first building to take shape in Beamish 's hugely ambitious plans to create lots of new attractions for visitors.
And, having seen it, many people now will be keen to know what to expect next - and when.
The Chronicle was given a behind-the-scenes look at the construction site where - out of sight to the public - workers are busy creating the next stage of the town.
And here's our guide to what's happening there and what else is in store for the award-winning outdoor visitor attraction.
Remaking Beamish
This is the name of the £20m project which is currently underway and has been made possible with the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of just under £11m. It amounts to the museum's biggest ever development to date.
Where is the new Welfare Hall?
The newly-opened hall currently stands alone a short walk from the top end of the 1900s Town. As visitors follow the street around from the bakers, they will pass hoardings covering the site of the rest of the 1950s Town development of which the hall will form part.
From the main museum entrance, it's about a 15-minute walk - or just catch a tram or bus from there.
What's inside?
It's a replica of a hall built from miners' subscriptions at Leasingthorne and, save for the small difference of its kitchen being sited at the opposite side, it is an authentic recreation of the original from its arched ceiling and stage to its 1950s-style Formica-clad interior which also includes an NHS mother and baby clinic. Even the bricks were colour-matched.
The hall will host daily activities of the kind popular at the time: think coffee mornings, friendship clubs, record hop and music afternoons.
What's around it?
There is to be a bowling green behind the community hall which will eventually join up to the growing 1950s Town.
What is the 1950s Town and how will it look?
It's an exciting and hugely ambitious development which will create the look and feel of a post-war community to give visitors a realistic idea of everyday life at the time.
And that means that some buildings' architecture will actually reflect an earlier period as would have been the case then.
The buildings will be a mix of replicas and faithful recreations of real properties that existed in the fifties - created with help of some who actually lived and worked in them who were tracked down and invited to share their memories.
The town's cinema actually be a complete rebuild. Read more about that below.
What is happening now?
Foundations already have been laid and building work is now taking place on the main terrace which will comprise the Norman Cornish's House; a fish and chip shop; a hairdresser's and a cafe.
Norman Cornish's House
This is based on the famous miner artist's former home in Bishop's Close East in Spennymoor where he lived with his family from 1953 until 1967.
The end-result will help tell his story and that of the Spennymoor Settlement of artists in the town where he lived all his life.
Before his death in 2014, Cornish donated his studio and its contents, including sketches and furniture, to Beamish and his son and his daughter-in-law - who is a volunteer at Beamish - were among the family members who laid its first brick on site.
Fried fish shop
This is to be a recreation of one in Middleton St George which was known locally as Doreen's, after Doreen Middleton who, from 1950, owned it and lived there. Her daughter donated its 1952 gas-fired range to the project.
Hairdresser
A recreation of a hair salon from Bow Street, Middlesbrough, this had its first brick laid in the company of one of its former hairdressers who recalled the popular hair-dos of its heyday, such as the the forties 'Victory roll' and fifties bouffant.
John's Cafe
The original cafe was opened in Wingate in 1957 by John Parisella and it was said to have formed the very heart of the village.
It closed on the death of its owner in 2005 and John's family donated its interior to Beamish and his daughter and grandchildren were there to lay its first brick.
The Grand Electric Cinema
The site for this faces the terrace and building has yet to start on it.
It will involve the original 500-seat cinema at Ryhope, Sunderland, which last year offered last tours of the building , being rebuilt brick by brick.
Once complete, the intention is for it to show short films and newsreel during the day-time with the possibility of evening features to run during evenings in the future.
What else will be in the 1950s Town?
There will be corner shops and houses; allotments and sheds, and lock-up garages and playgrounds.
Houses will include examples of social housing and semi-detached properties as well as aged miners' homes where Beamish plans to extends its work with dementia sufferers.
Another biggie to look out for will be a recreation of the famous Westoe Netty and on the cards for future development will be a bomb site.
When will these open?
The various buildings in the 1950s Town development are set to open in stages, as and when they are finished.
Keep fingers crossed that building on the terrace will be complete later this year and for the results of their subsequent interior work to be revealed next summer.
The expansion is set to be complete around 2021.
Is there anything else in the pipeline at Beamish?
Yes. The museum seems to be constantly expanding and ensuring that there is something new even for frequent visitors.
Other major upcoming Remaking Beamish developments include:
1950s Upland Farm
Besides the 1950s Town, this farm dating from the period will involve moving Spain’s Field Farm from Eastgate, near Stanhope, in Weardale, County Durham, and again rebuilding stone by stone.
Georgian Coaching Inn
This exciting addition will recreate The Three Tuns, a coaching inn dating from the 1820s which once stood on the Great North Road at Scotch Corner.
Here, visitors will be able to experience a forgotten way of life which included the rather complex business of coaching as well as droving; horse-keeping and hospitality. The inn offered a postal service too.
And the best bit is that visitors will be able to check in to the inn for an overnight stay.
