Boston Marathon bombing exhibition to include shoes, bibs and messages

After the Boston Marathon bombing killed three and injured more than 260 last April, mourners began leaving thousands of items at a makeshift memorial near the finish line of the race.

Some left teddy bears, signs and marathon bibs while others draped running sneakers. A cross was set up for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer who was fatally shot three days later, amid a search for the bombing suspects.

To mark the anniversary of the bombings, the material will be curated into an exhibition called Dear Boston: Messages from the Marathon Memorial. It will be hosted by the Boston Public Library from 7 April to 11 May.

Among the heartfelt messages left at Copley Square was one from a Sandy Hook mother that reads: "We understand. Sending love and support." Other notes urged resilience: "Don't let this stop you. Stay Boston Strong" and "We will run again".

One colourful sign had more than 10 towns in Massachusetts forming the shape of a heart, saying "Stands with Boston!!!" underneath. And multiple messages of "I love my city" and "Boston Strong" memorabilia were scattered throughout the square.

Messages were sent from across the world, including Israel, South Korea, Turkey and Venezuela.

But a long-term home for these artefacts is still in flux. Until then, any paper tributes will be held in the Boston archives and the other artefacts will be kept in storage.

An online catalog called “Our Marathon” is hosted by Northeastern University and features 18,000 cards addressed to the mayor's office. Photos of other objects that cannot be scanned will also be included. The city has also lent out a few of the items for exhibits at the Cambridge Public Library, Northeastern University and the mayor's office.

The centrepiece of the memorial will be four white crosses commemorating those killed: 8-year-old Martin Richard; 23-year-old Lu Lingzi, a Boston University graduate student from China; 29-year-old Krystle Campbell; and 26-year-old MIT officer Sean Collier.