NEW ALBANY, Ind. — A former library, the Carnegie Center for Art & History offers an important view into the past through the eyes of one of its most popular permanent history exhibits, titled Grandpa Makes a Scene: The Yenawine Dioramas.

“People come back each year to see this exhibit,” Laura Wilkins, director of Marketing and Outreach, said.

The artist, the late Merle Yenawine, hailed from nearby Georgetown, Ind. His dioramas became part of the Carnegie Center in 1972. The carvings he created are based on memories from Yenawine’s life and offer visitors a glimpse into the past.

The museum shares: “He created each tableau based on his childhood memories of Floyd County, Ind. The dioramas show small-town life in the years before and after 1900. Made more than 50 years ago, this folk art exhibit enchants visitors of all ages.

“Merle was born in Georgetown in 1887. He lived there until age 20, soaking up the memories and adventures he would later show in his dioramas. He did not have formal art training, but very early in life he found he liked to whittle. His talent grew with practice and soon he was an expert at carving figures.

“As a boy, Merle dreamed of one day working on the railroad. So when he grew up, he became a fireman and engineer for the Southern Railway. He worked there for more than 40 years, retiring in 1953. Then he had more time to work on his dioramas.”

Not only are the carvings fascinating, but they include hundreds of moving objects. The dioramas reflect more than 50 community, work, home and farm activities. Buildings are made of plywood and figures are carved from poplar and pine. Human figures are about two inches tall. Each took Yenawine about 15 minutes to carve. Many of the human and animal figures are articulated and animated, according to the museum.

When visiting it is possible to acquire a full-color take home gallery guide with writing activities, projects and even recipes from the museum. To keep the younger generation interested, the museum also offers a scavenger hunt of the Yenawine.

This is just a small portion of the items to see at this wonderful museum. There is a permanent exhibit, the award-winning Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad, which profiles how enslaved fugitives used the loosely woven Underground Railroad. There are also revolving exhibits.

The Carnegie Center for Art & History is located at 201 East Spring St., New Albany, IN 47150. Call 812-944-7336 or log onto www.carnegiecenterorg for more information.