Water / Ways is a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit about the ways water shapes our lives, and it’s coming to the Geary County Historical Society from Jan. 6 to Feb. 18, 2018.

The Water / Ways grand opening will be held Saturday, Jan. 6 at 1:30 p.m. at the Geary County Historical Museum at 530 North Adams. The guest speaker will be Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, who will talk about “Kansas Weather in Life, Literature and Photography.” There will be a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m.

The exhibit focuses on the numerous relationships between people and water. Photographs, hands-on components and audio and video clips from the Smithsonian Institution explore how water has shaped history and traditions, how it impacts daily life, and what the future holds for water.

This interactive exhibit will be open for free to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 1-4 p.m., from Jan. 6 to Feb. 18. Junction City is one of just seven cities in Kansas selected to host the Smithsonian traveling exhibit.

The museum’s own Submerged exhibit will also open Jan. 6. Submerged dives into the history of water in Geary County, including a mock flood zone with a description of major floods in Geary County and a 20-foot-long historical timeline about the events leading up to the construction of Milford Dam.

Geologist Rex Buchanan will give a free program entitled “Water in Kansas: Past & Present” at the C.L. Hoover Opera House on Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. about the importance of water to Native Americans, early pioneers & Kansans today.

On Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m., the Milford Nature Center will present a free public program about “Reptiles and Amphibians” at Starcke House at 5th and Adams. Featuring live animals and interactive demonstrations, this kid-friendly program will explore the natural science of aquatic ecosystems.

The Water / Ways Smithsonian exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Kansas Humanities Council. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. Water / Ways was adopted from an exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

For more information about Water / Ways, including how to book a private tour, schedule a program for your community group, or learn how you can help, contact the Geary County Historical Society at 785-238-1666 or email GearyHistory@gmail.com. The museum will be closed from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1 for the holidays. Regular hours resume on Jan. 2.