Journey Stories, a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution, opened at Durant’s Three Valley Museum Saturday morning.

State Sen. Jay Paul Gumm emceed the event during opening ceremonies and Mayor Jerry Tomlinson read a proclamation.

Durant Main Street Program Manager Donna Dow, who is the project coordinator for the exhibit, spoke during the ceremony and credited the museum with improving Durant.

“Durant is best because we have wonderful facilities like this,” Dow said.

The Three Valley Museum and Durant Main Street have been working together for more than two years to host this exhibit. The museum was chosen by the Oklahoma Humanities Council to host the exhibit.

The exhibition will tour six communities in Oklahoma that began in June 2009 and continues through April 2010. A committee has come together to help prepare for the exhibition, which will be in Durant from through Feb. 19.

Journey Stories is an exhibit fabricated by the Smithsonian Institution that examines the human drive for freedom. The story is diverse and focuses on immigrants coming in search of promise in a new country; stories of individuals and families relocating in search of fortune, their own homestead, or employment; the harrowing journeys of Africans and Native Americans forced to move; and, of course, fun and frolic on the open road.

It uses engaging images with audio and artifacts to tell the individual stories that illustrate the critical roles travel and movement have played in building a diverse American society. Communities are encouraged to tell their own special journey story through exhibits and other public programming thus customizing the national theme to Oklahoma’s unique history.

“The Three Valley Museum is a tremendous asset for our downtown, and we are pleased to be working with the Durant Historical Society to host this event,” Dow said.

Events are planned throughout the event at the Upper Crust, located behind the museum at 113 S. Fourth Ave. The “Topics” will begin at 5:30 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday throughout the tenure of the exhibit.

A chronological listing of special activities planned follows:

• Tuesday, Jan. 12, Dr. David L. Norris on “Establishing Durant”

• Wednesday, Jan. 13, Children’s Storytelling by Ernest Hooser (10 a.m. Robert L. Williams Library, host and sponsor)

• Thursday, Jan. 14, Judge Joe Taylor on “Colbert’s Ferry” and Margaret Taylor “Crossing the Border from Texas”

• Tuesday, Jan. 19, Ken Rainbolt on “Butterfield Trail”

• Thursday, Jan. 21, Dr. Terri McKinney Baker on “Pioneer Women”

• Tuesday, Jan. 26, Barbara and Bill Grant on “Crossing the Mountain Fork River into Oklahoma”

• Thursday, Jan. 28, John Davis on “Steamboat Travel Along the Red River”

• Saturday, Jan. 30, Saturday Seminar (details follow listing)

• Tuesday, Feb. 2, Dennis Miles on “The Armstrong Academy”

• Thursday, Feb. 4, Kate Plunkett on “Carpenter’s Bluff Bridge”

• Tuesday, Feb. 9, Dennis Miles on “Three Valleys Overview”

• Wednesday, Feb. 10, Children’s Storytelling by Dottie Davis (10 a.m. Robert L. Williams Library, host and sponsor)

• Thursday, Feb. 11, Dr. David Norris on “The History of Southeastern” (5:30 p.m. at the Southeastern Library housing an extensive Native American Collection)

• Thursday, Feb. 11, Friends of the Library host Book Talk on “Red Dirt, Growing Up Okie” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (7 p.m. at the Robert L. Williams Library)

• Saturday, Feb. 13, Saturday Seminar (details follow listing)

• Tuesday, Feb. 16, Sharon Morrison on “Journey of the Magnolias”

• Thursday, Feb. 18, Chris Lynch on “Building of Lake Texoma”

The Saturday Seminar on Jan. 30 is a ticketed event. Tickets must be obtained from the Main Street office at 110 N. Second by Monday, Jan. 25. Lunch is $8, and seating is reserved. Those not wishing to purchase lunch are still required to obtain a free admission ticket in advance.

Three Valley Museum is located at 401 W. Main St The exhibit can be viewed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. For more information, call Durant Main Street at 924-1550.