Evolution exhibit opening in Oelwein

OELWEIN — A small piece of the Smithsonian has arrived in Fayette County.

The traveling 'Exploring Human Origins' exhibit, which focuses on evolution, will open with a program Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Oelwein Public Library with Rick Potts, curator of anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History. Potts' research focuses on environmental change and human adaptation.

The Oelwein library is one of 19 public libraries across the country, and the only one in Iowa, that will display the traveling exhibit.

Susan Macken, the Oelwein library's director, said she is most looking forward to giving people of all ages a chance to interact with the exhibit. One of the displays, she said, is a table of skulls.

'It's all touchable, so the kids can touch it, it's OK to touch it,' she said. 'Another one of the displays is a picture of the earliest known human footprints that they discovered, and there's a rollout mat that goes on the floor that goes with it so kids can walk on those footsteps.'

There also will be interactive computer kiosks.

Macken said she is excited to have Smithsonian scientists visit Oelwein. The goal is to reach out to people who may not be able to otherwise experience such an exhibit, she said.

'They may not be able to go to Washington, D.C. to the Natural History Museum to see this,' she said. 'This is going to be a great opportunity for people in the Midwest to see a part of that exhibit and to hear these people from the Smithsonian Institution come and speak.'

One of those conversations will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday. The talk, 'Exploring the Meanings of Human Evolution,' will be led by co-chairs of the Smithsonian's Broader Social Impacts committee.

Living History Farms also will host 'Farming and the Human Experience' at 6 p.m. Sept. 15. The presentation will feature its education director, Dan Jones.