The signs were up. The tent was nearly up. The building was nearing completion.

And Lawrence on Friday braced for what could be tens of thousands of visitors, including two former presidents, who will be in town for dedication of the Dole Institute of Politics.

“It’s very busy,” admitted Bill Howell, assistant dedication coordinator. “It’ll be busy right up until the last minute.”

The building, which will hold exhibits and papers from the life of former Sen. Bob Dole, opens for tours for the first time at 5 p.m. today. Howell said the building would be complete, even though crews were expected to work through the night.

Terry Hall, lead builder for Split Rock Studios, the St. Paul, Minn., company installing the exhibits, said he had been working on three to five hours of sleep a night to complete the project.

“I just want to pack up the tools,” he said. “Then I can have a beer.”

Four panels containing 960 8-by-10-inch photographs of World War II veterans from Kansas — a display dubbed the “Memory Wall” — were hoisted to their locations Friday afternoon, one of the last major steps toward building completion.

Meanwhile, outside the Dole Institute, a handful of workers were transforming Kansas University’s west campus to a reunion site for the thousands of World War II veterans expected to attend events that run through Tuesday.

Gary Peck of Split Rock Studios, St. Paul, Minn., helps carry a panel with images of World War II veterans to its installation location in the main foyer of the Dole Institute of Politics. Institute staff and others were putting the final touches Friday on the Memory Wall and other exhibits for the Dole Institute dedication extravaganza.

Howell said the “Memory Tent” — the 100-by-120-foot, air-conditioned tent where veterans will recount their war experiences — had been partially constructed Friday and would be fully erected today.

A two-story video screen also will be delivered today.

“We’re excited and a little stressed,” Howell said. “When it gets stressful, you remember why you’re doing it — not only for Senator Dole but for all the veterans.”

No estimates

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It’s anybody’s guess how many people will come to Lawrence for the Dole events, which climax with a dedication ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Dole Institute officials initially said they expected 50,000 to 70,000 people during the four days, but later backed off that estimate, saying it was impossible to predict.

“We don’t know what type of crowd we’re going to get to this event,” said Lt. Schuyler Bailey of the KU Public Safety Office. “This is a first-time event.”

Judy Billings, director of the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, said all hotels but the Lawrence Holidome — the official hotel of the events — still had rooms available for the weekend and early next week. They ranged from having 10 rooms to 55 rooms available during the events.

“I don’t think that means we’re not getting as many people as we predicted,” she said. “It’s that a lot of people will be driving in for a day from places like Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita.”

Beth Morrison and her husband, Matt Hoey, of Kansas City, Mo., watch a World War II Navy SNJ airplane depart the Lawrence Municipal Airport. Hoey was waiting his turn Friday to take a ride in the plane with the organization North American TopGun, which will be at the airport throughout July and will be participating in the Dole Institute of Politics dedication celebration that starts today.

Excitement builds

People who expect to attend the events said they were excited, despite the parking and traffic hassles.

Julie Proffitt, Lawrence, said she was planning to bring her 82-year-old father on Monday. He was a pilot for the Navy during World War II.

“I think it’s just a concentration of memories and people instead of having them spread out,” she said of the event. “Think of how many vets we are losing every day.”

Aldean Banker said she wouldn’t even think of missing the dedication events. She’s one of 37 residents of Russell, Bob Dole’s hometown, who have chartered a bus to attend.

“A lot of them are long-time supporters,” Banker, who is a former pitch partner of Dole’s first wife, Phyllis. “Several were from his graduating class. We’ve supported him for many years. He’s given almost 50 years to public service in office. We’re proud of that.”