“The Learning Tree” Film Scene Sign Trail has garnered the Award of Excellence for the Gordon Parks Museum.

The award is presented annually by the Kansas Museum Association during the organization’s yearly conference to an institution whose project or achievements are worthy of special recognition.

“This is an amazing honor for us to receive such a prestigious award from the KMA,” said Kirk Sharp, director of the Gordon Parks Museum, housed on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. “This award is something that not only both of the communities of Fort Scott and Mound City can be proud of, but also the entire state of Kansas.”

The film trail is a series of signs situated at the different filming locations for “The Learning Tree,” written and directed by Fort Scott native Gordon Parks. The signs also include QR codes along with a virtual tour of the identified scene locations for the film.

The project received funding from Humanities Kansas and the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.

“The Learning Tree” film trail is also part of the National Humanities Alliance Foundation’s initiative, NEH for All (https://nehforall.org/projects/gordon-parks-fort-scott).

NEH for All spotlights more than 260 projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities through its website NEHforAll.org. Established in 1965, the NEH recognizes the unique role the humanities play in fostering the wisdom, vision and knowledge required to participate in a thriving democracy.

To this day, the NEH supports excellence in humanities research, teaching and lifelong-learning opportunities that provide millions of Americans the knowledge of their history and culture. NEHforAll.org highlights that excellence. Visit the website at http://nehforall.org/.

Sharp poses with Jane Campbell, left, president of the Gordon Parks Museum board, and Alysia Johnston, president of Fort Scott Community College

A ribbon cutting was held Oct. 7, 2021, for “The Learning Tree Film Scene Sign Trail during the annual Gordon Parks Celebration.