2018 is Whitley County’s Bicentennial, for the month of April the City government has a calendar full of activities planned celebrating the unique history, people and places. For the past year the Whitley County Extension Fine Arts Agent Cortney Moses worked with the city government, city council members, tourism and community volunteers to help plan events for the celebration. The Extension Community Art Center is located on main street of Williamsburg city across from City Hall. Fine Arts Agent suggested to host an Exhibit for 3 months that would display artifacts of Whitley county spanning over the past 200 years.

Mrs. Moses put out a call for submissions of artifact throughout the county asking for unique items that had a history in Whitely County and told a story. This could include relics from old businesses, family treasures that have been passed down through generations and collectors’ items. This call for action was broadcasted over radio, newspaper, and social media for a month. Extension Fine Arts accepted submissions for two weeks and received 135 items from 30 individuals. The artifacts were then artistically and intentionally displayed throughout the art center. A reception was held to kick of the opening of the exhibit ARTifacts: 20 Decades of Whitley County. At the reception over 70 people shared stories and reminisced while they enjoy live bluegrass music and refreshments from local coffee shop.

The ARTifacts exhibit is a unique exhibit in that it is all inclusive it something everyone can find a connection to. Its brings new people to the extension office and encourages cultural appreciation. The museum atmosphere exposes people to a new environment and experience that is unavailable to many residents. When walking through the exhibit each item has a label that has the time period of the artifact and tells its story. Participants are engaged in the life of the artifact through its history in a Whitley county family’s, businesses and individuals.