STRATACA
At Strataca, we like to say we’re more than a museum, we’re a place where imagination lives 650 feet underground. Every day, our team brings history to life in ways that spark curiosity, joy, and wonder. And for more than a decade, one of the brightest sparks in our creative world has been longtime staff member Rebecca Harris.
Rebecca is not just part of the Strataca family; she’s the beating heart behind some of our most beloved treasures. She is a true creative force, and has handcrafted countless one of a kind items for our gift store making everything from salt crystal jewelry and whimsical snow globes to intricate, hand painted ornaments, many visitors come down just to see what new piece of magic she’s made.
During the Christmas season, her workspace takes on a whole new glow. Around here, we lovingly call it “Santa’s Workshop” just without the elves. Rebecca spends the holiday months crafting items so charming and imaginative that you’d swear they came straight from the North Pole.
When people ask where she finds her inspiration, she lights up. “I find inspiration all around me, and I love creating something from nothing,” she says. What might seem like an ordinary object to most, becomes a masterpiece in her hands.
Her love for repurposing unexpected materials began in childhood. She fondly remembers the day her grandmother gifted her a baby doll cradle that was made entirely from an oatmeal canister. “I was in awe,” Rebecca recalls. “She made something beautiful out of what most people would consider trash. It inspired me and made me realize you can create art out of anything.”
It’s a lesson she carries with her into the mine every day. “That’s exactly what I’m able to do here. Strataca gives me a purpose, a place where I can use my creativity and even turn something as overlooked as salt into art.”
Rebecca approaches every new idea with the same fearless excitement. “Whenever I see something I like, I just think, ‘I think I can do that.” And she means it. After the director showed her a set of giant, glowing Christmas balls, she made it her mission to bring them to life. With determination, a bit of sweat, and a whole lot of chicken wire, her 4- to 5-foot illuminated creations are now a stunning new addition to the Season of Lights holiday display.
Rebecca reminds us that Strataca isn’t just a place to explore,it's a place where creativity thrives, where ordinary materials become extraordinary memories, and where people like her can turn imagination into magic.
This season, when you visit Season of Lights, take a moment to admire the glowing brilliance she helped bring to life. It’s a testament not only to Rebecca’s talent, but to the spirit of creativity that runs deep in Strataca and in our community.