Stratica museum asks Hutchinson leaders for letters of support as it seeks Smithsonian affiliation

Rachel Terry, director of Stratica, told the Hutchinson City Council on Feb. 4 that the museum saw “remarkable growth in 2024” and is finalizing an application to become a Smithsonian affiliate, and she asked council members and community leaders for recommendation letters to strengthen the submission.

The request came during the public comment portion of the meeting. Terry said Stratica added two exhibits and a new tour last year, saw rising visitor numbers and community engagement, and plans to open a virtual-reality exhibit this summer. “We are currently in the process of finalizing our application for Smithsonian affiliation,” Terry said, adding that recommendation letters from local leaders would “elevate the museum status and bring even more opportunities to our community.”

Terry offered several ways the council and residents could support the museum beyond letters: volunteering, attending events, memberships, donations and online reviews on platforms such as Facebook or TripAdvisor. When asked how to submit letters, she provided an email address and invited council members to tour the facility.

The council did not take formal action on the request during the meeting; Terry presented the update and solicitation during the public forum. The remarks were informational and intended to solicit community support prior to the formal Smithsonian affiliation process.

Stratica’s request for letters and invitations to tour can inform future local support discussions, but no city funding or formal endorsement was discussed or proposed at the Feb. 4 meeting.