This Is the Place Heritage Park launched its new education institute Friday night with an open house and the unveiling of the C.C.A. Christensen Panorama exhibit.

The panorama, based on the original created by C.C.A. Christensen, a Utah pioneer artist, depicts scenes from the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Paintings measuring 6 feet tall and 9 feet wide were stitched together to form one continuous canvas.

The canvas was then wound from one upright spool to another, allowing painted scenes to scroll horizontally and give the illusion of passing scenery. This was a popular form of entertainment in the 19th century, said Nicole Martin, public relations director for This Is the Place Heritage Park.

The park's new This Is the Place Institute is meant to provide a variety of educational outreach programs and activities to explore aspects of Utah in the 1800s, organizers said.

During Friday's open house, descendents of Christensen were invited to a viewing of the panorama, which was narrated by Paul Anderson of the BYU Museum of Art. The script Anderson used comes directly from the actual script Christensen originally used when he presented the show himself.

Becky Barlow, one of Christensen's descendents from Bountiful, said she was grateful for the exhibit. "It was very meaningful to us as his family members."

The open house also featured a meet and mingle session that allowed attendees to meet with six authors from the institute's upcoming summer lecture series.

"What I hope to do is to give people an opportunity to have their vision expanded and broadened by people who have expertise and to whom they wouldn't normally be exposed," said Jan Harris, director of the park's new education institute.

Martin said the lecture series also will give people unique insights into LDS Church founder Joseph Smith.

"We hope to give a really nice introspective look into Joseph Smith beyond his leadership into his life as a man," she said. "We hope to help people gain insight into his life from other aspects."

The lecture series will take place in the park's Social Hall every Friday night. Admission cost to the park is $6 for adults and $4 for children and seniors.

Lecture series: Honoring Joseph Smith

This Is the Place Institute's summer lecture series will feature various speakers who will address LDS Church founder Joseph Smith's life and death. Here is a schedule:

• June 10 — Scot and Maurine Proctor

• June 17 — Shannon Tracy