To the editor:

The question for Friday’s On the Street was “Should Watkins Community Museum of History support an exhibit on the Underground Railroad?” Of course it should! Does the museum already have an exhibit on the Underground Railroad? Of course it does. There is one exhibit case dedicated to the Underground Railroad. Does our present exhibit need to be improved? Definitely, as part of our overall improvement of exhibits.

Our new director, Rebecca Phipps, is designing a comprehensive gallery plan for the entire available exhibit space and, of course, the Underground Railroad will continue to be an essential part of our interpretation of the last 150 or more years of Douglas County history. Our existing exhibit on this subject and all of our other exhibits need modernizing to improve their interpretation and appeal. This is a five- to eight-year project and is under way. In addition, Ms. Phipps has devised a way to convert a whole large room from office space into a new area for fresh new exhibits. The board of directors is charged with the responsibility to see that these overall plans for the museum can be implemented and financed within available and solicited resources.

Phillip Godwin, president,

Douglas County Historical

Society, Lawrence