Smoky Hill Museum opens "America's 250th: Connecting a Nation" exhibit

Museum issues call to capture untold community stories for the future

Smoky Hill Museum opens "America's 250th: Connecting a Nation" exhibit

SALINA, Kan. — The Smoky Hill Museum has opened its "America's 250th: Connecting a Nation" exhibit, a display tied to the nation's upcoming semiquincentennial. The new gallery exhibit, sponsored by local telecommunications company Nex-Tech, aims to connect Salina's local history with the broader national narrative surrounding the United States and its 250 years of development.

Despite not being geographically located on the East Coast during the Revolutionary War, Salina's local history is presented as part of the nation's 250th anniversary story. Museum materials emphasize that the national milestone is built from millions of local stories, including those of people who lived, worked, dreamed and struggled in places like Salina. The exhibit's framing also acknowledges that many people's stories are absent or underrepresented in the historical record, suggesting that history should better reflect the full community and not focus only on the powerful.

Museum issues call to capture untold community stories for the future

SALINA, Kan. — Looking ahead, the Smoky Hill Museum's exhibit encourages residents to help preserve untold stories from across the Salina community. Championed by supporters from the Friends of the Museum, the underlying message is that future historical collections should become more inclusive and representative of the city's full population.

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