Exhibit at Sikeston depot to detail 1950s

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The birth of rock 'n' roll and space exploration, fallout shelters and coonskin hats, transistors and the polio vaccine.

The 1950s exhibit put together by Joan Cowell and Marilyn Grant, now on display at the Sikeston Depot, is a part of the "Our Town" series of exhibits by the Depot that not only show what Sikeston was like during a particular decade, but also serve as microcosms of what was happening around the nation and the world at that time.

"For example, Elvis Presley was here twice in the '50s," said Judy Bowman, Depot board member. She predicted the unpublished locally taken photographs of the King of rock 'n' roll will be among the more interesting exhibits.

The 1950s were about more than just sock hops and rock stars, however. The most significant historical event of the decade -- the Korean War, which was fought from 1950-53, receives special attention in the main exhibit hall beginning this week.

Bowman said she and Angela Gilmore will finish setting up the Korean War exhibit in time to open Wednesday in the main hall where it will remain until Nov. 28, but they will continue to add material as it becomes available.