Submitted photo The Stirrup Gallery at Davis & Elkins College attracts visitors of all ages who are interested in unique collections of treasures and artifacts that span more than 100,000 years of history.

ELKINS — The Stirrup Gallery at Davis & Elkins College will soon have in place new display stands and brochures, thanks to a $1,500 grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council.

The funds were awarded to the college recently for the Gallery’s Damage Mitigation and Marketing Initiative, which focuses on protecting items from damage.

Located in Myles Center for the Arts on the D&E campus, The Stirrup Galley houses more than 10,000 North American treasures of The Darby Collection, along with the Howard-Sudbrink Collection, Foster Collection, Senator Davis Collection, Swezy Collection, Gary North Collection, J. Richard & Dotty S. Kendig Collection and Reckling Collection. Together they span more than 100,000 years of history.

A portion of the grant will be used to purchase more than 50 acrylic stands for a variety of firearms on display, which will protect the items and showcase them in a professional manner.

Mark Lanham, D&E coordinator of special collections, said the grant will also help the Gallery attract more visitors.

“Brochures and rack cards will be distributed to bus tour companies, local hotels and restaurants and tourism conventions,” Lanham explained. “It is our hope that this will increase bus tour traffic, foot traffic and make the gallery a destination.”

In connection with the grant, D&E Assistant Professor of History Dr. James Smith will provide oversight on facts related to the collections in the gallery.

With a pursuit to educate visitors about the heritage, tradition and history of each collection, The Stirrup Gallery offers tours for schools, and tour and community groups, as well as individuals and those who would like to peruse the displays at their leisure.

The Stirrup Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and evenings and weekends by appointment. Anyone interested in additional information can call Lanham at 304-637-1980 or 304-642-6705 or visit www.dewv.edu/arts-entertainment/stirrup-gallery.

The West Virginia Humanities Council, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, serves West Virginia through grants and direct programs in the humanities.