Arabian Horse Trust Museum Vault Shipment

To see the vault's content in shipping boxes and crates made me emotional. On one hand, it was the end of an era; on the other hand, it was the beginning of a very grand destiny.

Rolls and rolls of original archived historic films were preserved but dangerously close to going bad (notice the "Van Vleet" film in the turqouise box near the top of the picture). Thankfully, they are set to go through a digitizing process to make sure they aren't lost forever.

I loved looking through the horse names that are part of the Trust's videotape collection. It was amazing to me that they had horses from decades ago to our present generation now. Just look at what this box contained. And it was just one of dozens of them. It was like seeing our North American history from a bird's eye view.

One of the most moving things I ran acros were things from the original Arabian Horse Club of America, the first association and registry of Arabian horses in North America, primarily started by W.R. Brown after he was moved by the Arabian horse exhibit at the 1912 Chicago World's Fair and proceeded to import Arabians to the United States.

More horse videos, including several greats such as the illustrious Ibn Morafic and the great Khemosabi.

Look at this rundown of history that shaped who we are today. This is part of the Arabian Horse Trust's Heritage Video Collection, which highlighted legacy farms and programs that were influential to the journey of the Arabian horse.

How do you ship millions of dollars worth of art, sculptures, painting, rare artifacts and historic tack? In large wooden crates with layers of intricate padding. Notice the *Bask bronze awaiting its shipping crate toward the right of the picture. This is a smaller replica of the famous lifesize bronze by Edwin Boguki that sits in the lobby of the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park. Funny how things wind up finding each other...

Items that needed special attention or that were in a compromised state will be forwarded on to a special, climate-controlled freezer where they'll be safely preserved and looked after by museum curators until the Arabian Horse Galleries are ready to open. One such item is a real Middle Eastern black tent used by desert bedouins.

Fascinating examples of the ancient bedouin artifacts that will be displayed in the Arabian Horse Galleries.

Another beautiful winter day in Denver, looking out the back door of the Arabian Horse Center where the Arabian Horse Trust vault is located.

A view of the semi truck in the loading dock, awaiting its precious cargo.

There were some wet eyes that day as Debbie Wilson (left), past Executive Director of the Arabian Horse Trust, her assistant Linda Gruver (center), and moving help from Debbie's step-son Cordan Wilson (right) said goodbye to the Arabian horse heritage as its caretakers for so many years. Debbie started at the Arabian Horse Trust in 1978.

Finally, a room full of history leaves the vault its been locked in to travel to its new home: the Kentucky Horse Park. There it will be appreciated by over 1 million park visitors annually.

Wooden crates and palette loads are carefully moved into the truck before its three-day journey to the Kentucky Horse Park, where museum curators anxiously await its arrival.

On February 23, 2008, the first of two shipments arrives at the Kentucky Horse Park, and is unloaded behind the International Museum of the Horse (Draft Horse Barn in the distance).

A private space in the museum is cleared to take inventory of items, check for any shipping damages (none were found), and find temporary storage until the Arabian Horse Galleries are ready for move-in. Scheduled date is February 2009.

It has been a long journey from their beginnings in the Arabian Horse Trust Museum, storage in the downstairs vault, preparation and shipment to Kentucky, and arrival at the Kentucky Horse Park, destined for the Arabian Horse Galleries. Many people poured blood, sweat and tears toward the preservation of this precious history. Now, it is positioned in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunitty to be once again shared with the world... and this time to millions for generations to come.