Savannah River Plant exhibit has been expanded
The Aiken County Historical Museum has expanded its tribute to the history of the Savannah River Site.
The Savannah River Plant exhibit now takes up three rooms on the museum's main floor. The rooms cover the construction of the nuclear facility, the plant and its staff's involvement with Aiken County civic organizations and the future outlook for the Savannah River Site.
"When I got here in 2006, this exhibit was downstairs in a tiny, dark room," said the museum's Executive Director Elliott Levy. "For something that had more effect on Aiken County than any other industry, that just seemed wrong. We wanted to give the Savannah River Plant exhibit the location it really deserves."
Paul Sauerborn, who manages the Savannah River Site Cold War Historical Preservation Program, helped Levy collect many of the artifacts, photographs and information used in the exhibit redesign.
Levy pointed out that the redesigned exhibit is a precursor to the planned Savannah River Site Heritage Center, which Sauerborn's program will also help stock.
"We think it's appropriate that the Savannah River Site Heritage Center will be owned and operated by the Savannah River Site Heritage Foundation Inc., which is a nonprofit foundation. We have the artifacts, but the Center is going to curate them," Sauerborn said.
The Heritage Center is still in the planning stages, according to Walt Joseph of the Heritage Foundation, who hopes to have the Center open to the public in four to five years.
Savannah River National Laboratory spokesperson Bruce Cadotte provided much of the information on the facility's long-range plans for the exhibit. The third room gives an overview of SRS' MOX facility, research into nuclear energy sources and radiation decontamination techniques.
"We were delighted to supply Elliott with what he needed to make this happen. We certainly recognize the impact the plant had on Aiken County," Cadotte said.
Sauerborn said, "I think we've supplied the artifacts and materials to support Elliott's vision for this. I think it looks very nice."
For more information about the SRS exhibit, call the Aiken County Historical Museum at 642-2015. For information about the Savannah River Site Heritage Foundation, e-mails can be sent to qualityprt@aol.com.
Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.