Savannah River Site's valuable history is best collected while the people who lived it are still around to share the details, according to the director of the SRS Heritage Foundation.

The nonprofit organization will hold a heritage day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11, during which volunteers will record oral and video histories and scan and return old photos and documents.

The event will be held in conjunction with the New Ellenton Atomic City Festival Oct. 9-11, and heritage collection efforts will be centered on New Ellenton City Hall on Oct. 11.

Mr. Joseph said the history of the 310-square-mile facility is a vanishing resource as more of its original workers -- and families displaced from their ancestral homes -- are lost to time.

"The foundation is collecting this history and plans to use it to inspire young people to pursue careers in engineering and the sciences," he said in a news release. "These careers are particularly important if the South is to lead the nuclear renaissance toward improving national energy security."

The foundation held a similar event in 2006, during which eight video interviews were recorded and numerous photos, documents and artifacts were received.

For more details, call (803) 648-5634.