Steps Through Time exhibit today through Sunday at public library

The Steps Through Time history exhibit today through Sunday at the Bartholomew County Public Library Plaza will allow people to do precisely that — to step through time and be able to see local historical developments, ranging from vehicles to furniture.

Exhibit hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at the library, 526 Fifth St. in Columbus. Displayed throughout the library, indoors and on the plaza, will be hands-on history and exhibits from local collectors, area museums and nonprofits. The event is free.

Many of the exhibits are from private collections, according to organizers.

A special exhibit will be the 1896 Reeves Motocycle on loan from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. This was the first car built by Milton Reeves, of Reeves Pulley Company in Columbus. It was the first car to use his invention of the variable-speed transmission.

People can also see historic automobiles from Cummins, aerial maps showing the growth of Columbus from 1937 through 2014, Columbus racing history and furniture made by Orinoco and Lincoln furniture companies.

Children can ride the “Ottaway Pump-It Train,” a 1950s vintage ride that is self-propelled around a track by the pumping action of a “T” bar mounted in the middle of each handcar.