WICHITA, Kansas - For the fifth consecutive year, Exploration Place is partnering with The Kansas African American Museum to commemorate Black History Month with a large-scale outdoor display.
Each night during February, Exploration Place will honor African American scientists and STEM leaders by projecting giant portraits onto the side of its iconic island building. The display will be freely viewable from the path along the Arkansas River. Visitors also may take in the display from inside Exploration Place on Thursday nights, when the museum is open until 8 p.m. Admission is not required to view the display from the Exploration Place promenade.
Changing weekly throughout the month, the display will honor Wichitans’ contributions to Black history:
- Week 1: Harold Miller is a U.S. Navy veteran who in 1970 became the first African American to serve as an air traffic controller in the Wichita tower. Eventually, he was promoted to supervisor in the central region.
- Week 2: Charyl McAfee-Duncan is a licensed architect who is a committed mentor to girls interested in STEAM and an advocate of public art programs. McAfee-Duncan is the first African American woman Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in Dallas and the second in the state of Texas. Charyl, her sister Cheryl and their father Charles F. McAfee are the only known father-daughters and sister sibling fellows in the history of the AIA.
- Week 3: Dr. Donald Jackson was a World War II Tuskegee airman who trained on the B-25 bomber. He later became a veterinarian. In 1957 he opened his own practice, becoming one of the few African Americans to own a business in Wichita. Dr. Jackson cared for animals at his All Pets Clinic until his retirement in 2001.
- Week 4: Col George Boyd served for nearly three decades in the U.S. Air Force, first in World War II and later in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He served as an all-weather jet fighter radar intercept officer, squadron commander and combat management engineer. Eventually, he served as the commander of the Kansas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
“As we enter our fifth year of this project, our building continues to serve as a powerful canvas for honoring African Americans’ achievements in STEM,” said Adam Smith, Exploration Place president and CEO. “Wichita has a wealth of accomplished leaders who deserve greater visibility.”
Added Shane Carter, executive director of The Kansas African American Museum: “By honoring the accomplishments of those who came before us, we create a foundation for the future. We are incredibly proud to recognize each of these STEM trailblazers and hope this display inspires the next generation in our community to build upon their legacy.”
The mission of Exploration Place, Kansas' premier science center, is to inspire a deeper interest in science and technology through creative and fun experiences for all. Exploration Place is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and through 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings.
