Merced, CA - Merced County Courthouse Museum will open the “UC Merced at 10: A Decade of Building, Developing, and Contributing to Our Community” exhibit on Thursday, October 15 at 5:00 p.m.

From a rangeland to a university campus, the University of California, Merced broke ground on October 25, 2002 and the campus opened on September 6, 2005. As UC Merced turns 10 this fall, history majors from the University have collaborated with the Courthouse Museum to compile the history of this young campus and assess its presence in the San Joaquin Valley.

This joint exhibit will cover five themes: Planning and Construction, Environmental Conservation, Academic Development, Student Life, and Economic Impact. Highlights of the exhibit will include community members lobbying the UC Regents to select Merced as the future home of the 10th University of California campus, Merced County students and residents’ postcard campaign, Founding Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey’s clever political maneuvering for funding, Governors Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s involvement, and First Lady Michelle Obama’s 2009 commencement address.

At the opening reception, Bob Carpenter and UC Merced students will give a PowerPoint presentation at 6 p.m. The exhibit will run through February 28, 2016. Admission is free. For more information, please call Courthouse Museum at 723-2401. Follow us at Facebook.com/mercedmuseum.