(Carlisle) -- A midstate military facility has marked its tenth anniversary, despite an Army panel's recommendation earlier this year to close the campus. The US Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, Cumberland County held a ceremony yesterday to celebrate the occasion. Jack Giblin, with the facility, says the center originally began as a military history institute on the grounds of the Carlisle Barracks in 1968, before relocating and increasing its services a decade ago. "While we were on Carlisle Barracks, as an archive, we had maybe 15 to 17,000 visitors each year that used the facility," he says. "This year, with our move out to the Interstate 81 area and our expansion, we will have over 100,000 visitors to the facility." The facility currently has 15 million historical artifacts in its archives and library as well as a walking trail with outdoor exhibits. A new conservation center is expected to open on the grounds next year.