Dustin Heckman is likely more excited than most people for next Tuesday.

It’s then that the Mower County Historical Society’s executive director and volunteers will unveil their newest exhibit, Ghost Towns of Mower County. It’s a moment they have been waiting for since last fall.

“We’re working on the last phase where we just need to put a few artifacts in place and put a few panels up on the wall and we’re ready to go,” Heckman said.

The exhibit — directly across the street from the historical society office and in the original fair building — will open officially during a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The exhibit was supported with a grant from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, administered through the Minnesota Historical Society.

“I think it’s a big project that our organization is very excited about,” Heckman said, and added that visitors will get to “see how much our expertise is coming around with designing more professional-looking exhibits.”

Ghost Towns will share the story of small communities scattered across Mower County that did their best to survive various challenges but now have become a faded memory in the historical record. Visitors will learn how community leaders attempted to adapt or gave up altogether. The stories portrayed in this exhibit will provide a small context to similar experiences throughout the United States in boomtowns and as a result of other economic or natural events.

The reception is open to the general public and is free to attend. Light refreshments will be served to guests. Visitors may view exhibit buildings near the Original Fair Building during the reception. For more information, contact the Mower County Historical Society at 507-437-6082.