Edmond Life and Leisure - October 31, 2024

Machines Exhibit: Hosted by Edmond’s visiting extra-terrestrial

Greetings Earthlings! I’ve come from Planet Heflin to learn about America’s machines. This building has marvelous inventions--but I can’t figure out what all of them do. Maybe you can help me?

Your Space Friend, Milty Milty accidently arrived at the Edmond History Museum instead of his planned destination in New York City—but this friendly Extra-Terrestrial is fascinated by the 20th-century machines currently on display in the museum. He is baffled by the railroad switcher, the car cooler, and even the early washing machine. He has printed out his best guesses, which museum visitors might find amusing. (No, Milty, that firefighter backpack is not a proton pack!)

The exhibit, Mysterious Machines: Hosted by Edmond’s Visiting Extra-Terrestrial, sponsored by Weathers TV & Appliance, will be on display through next summer. Some of the artifacts, dating from the early 1900s to the 1980s, might look familiar, while others will not. Museum visitors are invited to muse over Milty’s guesses before reading the true history of each machine in an answer binder.

“Museum staff thought the machine exhibit would be more fun and relatable if we added a scifi element, because some of the machines have a space-age look,” said Amy Stephens , museum director. “Our character, Milty, thinks these are modern machines, not realizing that a museum might show primitive forms of technology.”

“Before writing Milty’s labels, we invited children to look at the artifacts and guess what each machine might do--which was funny, because they didn’t recognize most of them at all,” said Michael Cavazos, exhibits coordinator. “We took their answers and incorporated some of them into Milty’s labels.” (No, Milty, that is a battery tester, not a hand-held weapon).

Milty from Planet Heflin was named to honor Milt Heflin, the graduate of Edmond High School and Central State College (now University of Central Oklahoma) who worked at NASA from 19662013, including mission control, during the Apollo moon landing. His distinguished career earned him a place in the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame.

As an addition to the Mysterious Machines exhibit, Milty has a lab in the gallery where his spaceship landed. In Milty’s Lab, visitors can help the visiting Extra-Terrestrial learn about Edmond geography, landmarks, and machines through activities, appropriate for both adults and children. The Museum will also host a variety of programming to compliment the exhibit. Programs details will be added to the EdmondHistory.org website as they develop.

Milty was designed by local artist, Forrest McKinley.

Museum Information:

Edmond History Museum is open 10:00-5:00 Monday – Friday and 1-4:00 Saturday. Please visit the museum website at www.EdmondHistory.org or by calling the museum at 405-340-0078. Admission is free.