FORT RECOVERY, OHIO: The public will soon have an opportunity to tour the restored Morvilius Opera House in Fort Recovery.

A grand-opening celebration is planned for Wednesday, July 29, marking the completion of the restoration and renovation of the historic venue originally built in 1883.

An invitation-only dedication ceremony will be held from 2 until 3 p.m. for state and local officials, contractors, donors, committee members, members of the news media and opera-house performers.

A free public open house will follow from 5 until 7 p.m. Visitors will be able to take self-guided tours of the building at 201 North Wayne Street.

The opera house contains 11 life-sized, hand-painted murals and four ceiling cameos.

It also preserves 35 original scenic flats dating to 1883. The 14-foot-tall pieces were used as backdrops for plays presented at the opera house for nearly 50 years.

Scenery preservation specialist Wendy Waszut-Barrett determined the flats were created by the Chicago scenic studio Sosman and Landis. The company supplied scenery to thousands of theaters during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Preservation experts have described the Fort Recovery collection as one of the finest surviving groups of original theatrical scenery in the country.