Watkins Museum to open traveling Smithsonian exhibit exploring American Indian impact on culture; extended hours announced

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

The Watkins Museum of History

A traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution about American Indians’ impact on U.S. culture will have its opening reception next week at the Watkins Museum, which has announced extended hours for viewing due to expected high interest.

The Watkins Museum and the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum are inviting the public to an opening reception of the exhibition, titled “Americans”, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug, 22 at the museum, 1047 Massachusetts St., where refreshments will be served and attendees will be among the first to view the exhibit, according to a news release from the Watkins Museum.

The reception will also feature remarks by Julie Mulvihill of Humanities Kansas; Travis Campbell and Eric Anderson of Haskell Indian Nations University; and Steve Nowak of the Watkins Museum.

The free exhibit explores how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the history, pop culture and identity of the United States.

The Watkins Museum will offer extended hours as part of its Special Hours Saturdays initiative during the run of “Americans.” From Aug. 23 to Oct. 4, the museum will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Additionally, it will be open on Sunday, Oct. 5, its final day in Lawrence, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. as part of the Kaw Valley Farm Tour.

As the Journal-World reported, the exhibit was originally supposed to debut at the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum at Haskell Indian Nations University, but after federal cuts, the groups decided to shift the exhibit to the Watkins Museum. The Watkins will also be partnering with the Haskell Cultural Center on a companion exhibit called “A Question of Representation,” and events related to the exhibit will still take place at Haskell’s campus.

The exhibit’s tour through Kansas was made possible by a partnership between Humanities Kansas and the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program. In addition, support for “Americans” has been provided by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation and the Sunflower Foundation.