The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival celebrates Butler’s role as the birthplace of the Jeep.

At last year’s festival, an exhibit detailing how the Bantam Reconnaissance Car was born was unveiled. It features a timeline, little known facts, photography and details about the men behind the creation of the vehicle.

This year, the history of the Jeep will be told in a display of more than 15 Jeeps that showcase some of the major models and body styles of Jeeps during the past 71 years. Vehicles are being provided by Jeep collectors.

The display includes five Jeeps from the 1940s and from every decade through today. If new 2013 models are delivered to dealers in time, those Jeeps also will be included.

This display will be available at the festival on Saturday and Sunday at the Big Butler Fairgrounds.

Festival committee members John Pro, Bill Ringeisen and John Hollibaugh have been instrumental in locating and providing Jeeps for the exhibit, which is sponsored by 84 Lumber.

Last year’s exhibit again will be on display this weekend at fairgrounds.

Jeep historiansVisitors to the festival also can learn about the historical aspects of the Jeep from several speakers who will be at the Big Butler Fairgrounds.Butler’s Bantam Jeep historian Lee Bortmas will present “Butler’s Proud Moment in History: The Bantam.”He will discuss the conception, invention and development of the world’s first jeep at a presentation at 10:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.Larry Johnson, 26-year veteran of Chrysler and an avid Jeep history buff, will discuss “The History Leading up to the Development of the Military Jeep.”He will go into detail about why the Army needed a small universal vehicle, how Bantam, Willys and Ford were involved, the original testing, how the Jeep got its name, and why Willys was able to sell the vehicle after World War II.He will talk at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.Jeep historian Julius Lorentzson will present “A Visual Historical Review of the Jeep” at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.Lorentzson will narrate a movie about the development and testing of the Aberdeen Jeep and other early prototypes.Author and WWII historian David. R. Hustler will present “Keeping History Alive 1939-1945.”He will discuss his book on WWII reenacting and display WWII equipment.His presentations will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.