Center plans time capsule for state?s 150th

To mark the Kansas? 150th anniversary and commemorate the Flint Hills Discovery Center, a region-wide, 50-year time capsule project is underway and Marion County cities are invited to participate.

According to Teresa Huff?man, director of Marion County Economic Development, every Flint Hills county is invited to become a part of the center?s institution by collecting aspects and expressions of life in their communities.

?Each county will be given an archival box and materials to safely store the items collected,? Huffman said. ?The boxes will be placed inside a space in the building, and then physically sealed shut with a plaque acknowledging the participants.?

But the collection of objects is just part of this project.

For the 2061 Kansas Bicentennial, the capsule contents will be opened and interpreted as a special exhibit at the Discovery Center.

The center is an interactive science and history learning center intended to educate and inspire visitors of all ages of the importance of our rare and fragile Tallgrass prairie eco-system, Huffman said.

?It is their hope and goal that this project will give future audiences an insight into the opportunities, inspirations,challenges and adversities that mark our region now,? she said.

Huffman said the center has offered a few content ideas to help with item selections. They include:

? photographs, local newspaper copies, community-specific prints;

? unique tools and objects that are a reflection of your community;

? household/business items which are essential to everyday life;

? cultural objects associated with important community events;

? contemporary ephemera which highlight the year 2011;

? children and youth ephemera (toys, music, etc.).

?This year of celebration and reflection provides us with a unique opportunity for the Flint Hills region to capture our way of life for future generations,? she said.

For more information about this project and a list of harmful materials, call Huffman at 620-382-8830 or stop by the Marion County Economic Development office at 200 S. Third, Suite 4, Marion.

The deadline to submit items is July 1, she said.

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