photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

The Watkins Museum of History is pictured Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.

A new exhibit opening Friday at the Watkins Museum of History will celebrate the museum’s half-century of sharing Douglas County’s heritage.

The temporary exhibition, The Watkins at 50: Making History With Our Community, will showcase photographs and documents from the museum’s institutional archive for the first time. It will also explore how the museum grew in the past 50 years, including celebrating previous staff members, volunteers and partners who set the foundation for the museum’s present.

The exhibit also provides an insight of how the museum acquired some of the memorable items in its permanent collection, like the Milburn Electric Car — an electric car that was produced over 100 years ago — which was one of the Watkins’ first major artifacts. The exhibit will be on view on the museum’s third floor changing exhibit gallery from March 7 to Sept. 27.

photo by: Bremen Keasey

A Milburn Electric Car, first produced over 100 years ago, on display at the Watkins Museum. The museum will have a new exhibit opening Friday celebrating 50 years of its existence that also provides context on how it got some of its artifacts, like this car.

This exhibition is part of a special 50th anniversary series of programs for the Watkins. As the Journal-World reported, the museum will feature four special exhibitions this year thanks in part to Lawrence law firm Stevens & Brand who will sponsor and financially support the four exhibitions.

Steve Nowak, Executive Director for the Watkins Museum, said in a press release the 50th anniversary gives the Museum a chance to celebrate and highlight the partners and collaborators who helped share the stories of Douglas County, but it also allows the museum to “chart (its) future.”

“As we mark this milestone, we are expanding the stories we tell — embracing new voices and diverse perspectives to deepen our connection to the past,” Nowak said.

Museum members will also be able to attend an exclusive exhibit reception on March 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. The museum’s curator of exhibitions Andrew Stockmann will lead members through the exhibition and explain its creative process.

Additionally, as part of the anniversary series, the Museum will host a free 50th birthday community celebration on Saturday, April 26th from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.

The future exhibitions planned for the 50th anniversary include exhibits that commemorate the 75th anniversary of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, and an exhibit that explores the rivalry between Kansas and Missouri athletics.

The Watkins Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. Admission to the museum and these special exhibitions are free.