Topeka to be site for Smithsonian effort

? Topeka has been selected as a site where officials from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will come to show people how to preserve historic treasures in their homes.

James Gordon, spokesman for the museum, said Topeka was a natural pick because of the Brown v. Board of Education site and other African-American historic drawing points, such as the state’s part in the Underground Railroad.

The Smithsonian experts will be at Washburn University this coming weekend. The event is open to the public.

Participants can bring as many as three items to have a one-on-one consultation with museum experts for 20 minutes to learn how to care for them.