PULASKI -- Artrain USA, an art museum that moves across the country by train, will pull into the town's station this week with a contemporary American Indian exhibit.

Pulaski has the distinction of hosting two Artrain visits since 2000 and is touted as the only small town in Virginia to do so. When the train visited Pulaski seven years ago, its exhibit looked to the future through art depicting the exploration of space.

This time, its "Native Views" exhibit will feature 71 works by 54 American Indian artists. While the artists are contemporary, their work often shows clear links to the cultural past of the people who were here before Columbus arrived.

The town and the New River Valley Fine Arts Center have lined up sponsors for the visit.

"The town of Pulaski, as well as the arts center, have been phenomenal to work with," said Nathan Zamarron, an Artrain representative now in Pulaski. "We're looking forward to a fun week."

The train will be open for visitors at the Pulaski station at 20 S. Washington Ave. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Admission is free, although contributions are accepted.

The Fine Arts Center has its own exhibit of American Indian items on display, many of them made by crafters such as Mike Jarrells and Barry Lane, who specialize in American Indian work. That exhibit is also free for visitors to the center's gallery at 21 W. Main St. in Pulaski.

Zamarron said activities for youngsters such as scavenger hunts are planned. There will be displays outside the train as well. Special visits will be scheduled for students from area schools.

The exhibit is divided into three categories: How American Indians have melded popular culture with their cultural traditions, the strong relationships artists have with land and nature and new technologies bringing together the traditional and the modern.

The art comes from different tribal backgrounds. Interpretive statements by the artists are included on text panels and in the exhibit catalog. The exhibit has been designated an American Masterpiece by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The exhibit's train, with its five restored stainless-steel rail cars, is expected to draw railroad buffs to Pulaski, too.

The cars were made by the Budd Co. between 1946 and 1949. Artrain acquired them in 1999 and renovated them for their current uses.

Besides the three traveling exhibits, the cars hold an artist studio and gift shop. An observation car houses administrative space for the Artrain staff.

Artrain does not own a locomotive but hitches rides on freight trains belonging to Norfolk Southern and other rail companies that donate crews, equipment and services to haul it.

A group of arts activists came up with the Artrain concept more than 30 years ago. It was the first program of the Michigan Council for the Arts and was known earlier as the Michigan Artrain. Within two years, the council was getting requests from other states for visits. Artrain's first tour outside of Michigan came in 1973, with funding assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts.

It incorporated in 1975 as an independent nonprofit corporation.

Since 1971, it has visited more than 800 communities and hosted some 3 million visitors.

On the Web: www.ArtrainUSA.org