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Prairie Education Lab
The dugout is a replica of the first house built in Salina. It was recreated from photographs of the original by members of the Museum staff. Click on the image to see the full picture. The Prairie Education Lab (PEL) is the area surrounding the dugout, featuring a “dirt” floor, two large trees, new “old” furniture, and a large wall mural. Thanks to the extraordinary talents of several individuals, mostly local, the space really does take visitors back to the 1860s. Local photographer George Jerkovich took the photograph which provides the mural used as a backdrop while local artist, historian, and carpenter Jimmie Lewis has made hand-hewn furniture and tree stump seating for the area. Clarke Design from Lincoln, Nebraska produced a leaf covered tree and a "dirt" floor which makes visitors feel that they really are sitting outside a pioneer family’s dugout.
Also in the tree trunk is "Seasons of the Smoky Hill." Using pictures taken by George Jerkovich, local author Lori Brack developed an activity which gives children (and adults) the opportunity to interpret our landscape through visualizing, writing, and drawing. She has also produced a series of educational programming and teacher resource kits for elementary age students dealing with such varied subjects as grasshoppers, prairie games and prairie shelters. These will be great activities for visiting school children as well as families and individuals.
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James Muir |
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In the trunk of one of the new trees, children will find several interactive displays. There they will find materials and information about building log homes, books dealing with life on the prairie, stuffed toy prairie animals and lots of other fun things to do. 
