Indiana Library Showcases Rare Star Wars and Indiana Jones Props

A new exhibit featuring "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" costumes, props, models, and memorabilia is now on display in Indiana, but only for a limited time.

I've loved Star Wars for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I watched the movies, collected the toys, and even played the LucasArts console games. As an adult, not much has changed, other than the fact that I can drive myself to collector stores and events. In fact, I even attended my first Comic Con in 2018, where I got to mingle with an abundance of Star Wars fans all dressed for the occasion. It was a ton of fun.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I'm really excited about a new exhibit here in Indiana. It's called "Star Wars Meets Indiana Jones: The Hero’s Journey of Dr. David West Reynolds," and can be found at the Floyd County Carnegie Library Cultural Arts Center. According to the Center, the exhibit follows the life of David West Reynolds, who is a New Albany, Indiana native, archaeologist, and New York Times #1 bestselling author. The limited time exhibit opened on May 11, 2024, and will run until Aug. 31, 2024.

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According to Wookieepedia, Reynolds is a longtime Star Wars fan who, upon earning his Ph.D. in archeology from the University of Michigan, set out with a friend to discover shooting locations for the "Tatooine" sequences from the original 1977 film. He later found several of the locations and even wrote about the experience in Star Wars Insider Magazine. Around this time, George Lucas was planning the prequel trilogy and learned the details of the original shooting locations had not been recorded. Lucas then ran across the article and hired Reynolds as a film scout and, later, as a full-time employee. Reynolds would go on to help design Yoda's lightsaber. (This guy is literally a real-life Indiana Jones.)

WLKY reported that the new exhibit showcases character costumes, movie props, models, and other film memorabilia. It's safe to say that I will definitely be making the drive to New Albany before Aug. 31. If you'd like to plan a trip as well, the Cultural Arts Center is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is free for all ages.