LANCASTER - In honor of the city government's 40th anniversary, the Lancaster Museum of Art and History is showing "Celebrate Lancaster: An Exhibition of History and Diversity," a display of photos, archival records and objects depicting the community's growth from a small western town.
The exhibit, in the MOAH:CEDAR Galleries, will have a free public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, preceded at 4 p.m. by a session in which people can tell their stories and family histories.
People will be able to tell their stories in three ways during the exhibit, which runs through Jan. 6, said Andi Campognone, museum curator and executive director.
On Saturday, people can tell their story on video camera, Campognone said. They also can write out their story on a postcard available at the gallery, or use a pin to mark on a world map where their family is from originally, she said.
After Saturday, gallery visitors can still fill out a postcard or mark their family's origin on the map, but they will have to take a cellphone selfie video to tell their story and email it to moah@cityof lancasterca.org.
The display highlights features of culture throughout the region's existence, spanning from prehistory to contemporary times.
Themes include paleoindian and prehistoric archaeology; early pioneers and colonizers; local industries such as mining, railroads, and agriculture; traditional fairs and festivals; and the distinctiveness of the High Desert settlement.
Historic photos on display will include depictions of aerospace, mining, railroading and downtown.
The historic objects on display include a city flag that bears the Lancaster municipal logo and was flown after citizens voted to incorporate the city government on Nov. 22, 1977.
Other objects include prehistoric Native American arrowheads and shell beads, gold nuggets from Tropico Gold Mine west of Rosamond, milk bottles from early 20th century dairies, and postcards from the 1950s.
MOAH:CEDAR, at 44857 Cedar Ave., is open 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Admission is free.