Waddell & Reed’s “Honoring Our History” Traveling World War I Exhibition has rolled into Salina for its 47th stop on a national 75-city tour. The exhibit is located in the parking lot of the Smoky Hill Museum on Wednesday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the World War I Exhibition and Smoky Hill Museum is free.
Today, visitors can experience the sites and sounds of World War I – and honor World War I veterans and all veterans since. Visitors can experience the tight conditions of trench warfare, see the relatively primitive tools, weapons, equipment and uniforms of a war from 100 years ago.
This is all a part of the Waddell & Reed “Honoring Our History” Tour. To celebrate its 75th anniversary, Waddell & Reed – working in partnership with the National World War I Museum – developed a 18-wheel traveling World War I museum that will visit 75 cities from coast to coast in 2011/2012.
The tour is designed to raise funds and awareness for cultural institutions across the country during tough economic times. Funds raised at this stop will be divided between the Smoky Hill Society Museum and the National World War I Museum, based in Kansas City, Mo. After touring the exhibition, kiosks will allow the public to make donations to support the Smoky Hill Museum and the National World War I Museum, the first and only WWI museum designated by U.S. Congress.
The event is being coordinated by Waddell & Reed in Salina, KS. The two founders of Waddell & Reed – Chauncey Waddell and Cameron Reed – were WWI veterans. The exhibit includes Chauncey Waddell’s flight gear, his flight suit and log book. The Honoring Our History Traveling World War I Exhibition and Smoky Hill Museum will be open free to the public on:
· Wednesday, May 23, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Smoky Hill Museum closes at 5:30)
· Located in the parking lot of the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Ave in Salina
· Admission is free to both museums on May 23, 2012
· A Veterans Breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m., with a flag raising ceremony at 8 a.m.
In addition, the Traveling World War I Exhibition will travel to two other Kansas locations in May and June, 2012:
May 30: Wichita at Exploration Place
June 5: Topeka at the Museum of the Kansas National Guard
More information about the traveling exhibition’s visit to Salina is provided below (and attached). For details about the national tour, visit www.honoringourhistory.com.