photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

The Lawrence Lookback Machine, a new element of an exhibit about businesses in Lawrence, is pictured on Sept. 9, 2022. The machine allows people to look back at what was located at various Massachusetts Street addresses throughout history. The exhibit is one of several new or updated exhibits on the third floor of Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St.

One of the two core exhibits at Watkins Museum of History is getting a major update, including several new exhibits and new audio and visual components for existing displays.

Many artifacts and clips are on display for the first time, including old KU basketball video clips, panels about the Native American tribes that first inhabited the area, a plow from when Kansas was still a territory, clips from “The Day After” movie that was filmed in Lawrence, old public school books and old clips from Channel 6 News. Will Haynes, director of engagement and learning for Watkins, said the hope is that the exhibit provides a dynamic set of encounters with the history of the area and the forces that have shaped that history.

“Everything from settlement, to agriculture, to business, to public education, even Hollywood — lots of different themes,” Haynes said. “And it’s sort of an immersive experience, because it includes interactive stations where people can really engage with the past and learn stories in more detail, as well as traditional exhibit components with artifacts on display.”

Museum staff have spent eight years researching, designing and installing the new core exhibit for the third floor of the museum, and it will officially debut this weekend. Apart from the newly displayed materials, the exhibits also include new interactive components, and Haynes said those who have visited before will definitely notice changes.

“If folks haven’t visited the museum in a year or so, they definitely want to come back and see the third-floor core exhibit, because it’s just about all new displays,” Haynes said. “Using some old items to tell fresh stories about our history.”

Haynes said the new exhibits are located in what used to be a large, open area on the third floor that was previously used as meeting and event space. The third floor now has 12 exhibits total. The other core exhibit is on the museum’s second floor. Some information provided by Haynes about the new or updated exhibits follows:

·Molding Minds, Making Memories: The Universities of Douglas County: The exhibit covers the history of the three universities in Douglas County: the University of Kansas, Haskell Indian Nations University and Baker University. The exhibit includes highlights from the universities’ scholastic achievements and sports championships. The exhibit has an interactive component that allows visitors to smell specific smells — such as a library book and a pizza parlor — and another that lets them leave a card with a personal memory.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Part of the exhibit, “Molding Minds, Making Memories: The Universities of Douglas County,” is pictured on Sept. 9, 2022. The exhibit includes a peg board where people can share their personal memories.

· Jayhawk Spirit: KU Basketball: The long-running KU basketball exhibit remains, but with a few updates. The exhibit includes a desk owned by basketball inventor and coach James Naismith, a backboard from the original Robinson gym, a uniform worn by KU women’s basketball standout Adrian Mitchell and a statue of legendary coach Phog Allen. New to the exhibit are video clips from the 1940s showing Allen, Naismith, and players practicing.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Part of the exhibit, “Jayhawk Spirit: KU Basketball,” is pictured Sept. 9, 2022. An update to the exhibit includes video clips of basketball practices from the 1940s.

·Engines of Diversity: The Impact of the Railroads: The exhibit includes a bench from the Lawrence Union Pacific depot and luggage that was used at the railroad stations in Lawrence. Haynes said audio clips detailing the experience of taking the train in previous eras would soon be added to the exhibit.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Part of the exhibit, “Engines of Diversity: The Impact of the Railroads,” is pictured Sept. 9, 2022. The exhibit includes a bench from the Union Pacific depot and luggage that was used at the railroad stations in Lawrence. The exhibit is one of several new or updated exhibits on the third floor of Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St.

·The Power of Education: Public Schools: The exhibit tells the history of the development of public schools in the 19th and 20th centuries. It includes a recreation of an old school room and displays with old school books, an early computer and a Lawrence High School marching band uniform from the early 1980s. The panel information also discusses the effects of segregation on the Lawrence public school system.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Part of the exhibit, “The Power of Education: Public Schools in Douglas County,” is pictured on Sept. 9, 2022. The exhibit tells about the development of public schools in the 19th and 20th centuries and includes old school desks and other classroom materials. The exhibit is one of several new or updated exhibits on the third floor of Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St.

·Big Ideas on the Prairie: Innovators and Entrepreneurs: The exhibit is housed in what was originally J.B. Watkins’ office — the museum is in the former Watkins Land Mortgage and National Bank Building — and tells about technological and economic changes in Lawrence. The exhibit includes a desk owned by J.D. Bowersock of the Bowersock hydroelectric power plant, a typewriter owned by Lawrence Journal-World newspaper co-founder W.C. Simons, and an interactive kiosk where people can watch video clips from former local news provider Channel 6. The exhibit also includes audio clips from Watkins and panels about the Native American tribes that first inhabited the area.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Part of the exhibit, “Big Ideas on the Prairie: Innovators and Entrepreneurs,” is pictured on Sept. 9, 2022. The exhibit includes a kiosk where visitors can watch clips from former local news provider Channel 6.

· Reel Lawrence: Our Town in the Movies: The exhibit includes various artifacts related to movies that Lawrence has been featured in, including the 1940 film “Dark Command” and the 1983 television movie “The Day After.” The exhibit also includes an old projector from a former downtown movie house, a cupola from a church that was built for one of “The Day After” sets, and an interactive component that allows visitors to view clips from Lawrence-based Centron films.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Part of the exhibit, “Reel Lawrence: Our Town in the Movies,” is pictured on Sept. 9, 2022. The exhibit tells the history of film in Lawrence and allows people to push a button to play various clips from Centron film. The exhibit is one of several new or updated exhibits on the third floor of Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St.

·Changing Times: Living Lawrence History: The exhibit includes an 1878 Victorian playhouse, a shoe shine stand from the early 20th century and displays with toys from different eras. Haynes said a 1960s-era switchboard would soon be installed that will allow visitors to simulate making phone calls.

The new third-floor core exhibit will debut on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10 and 11, at Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.