May has arrived and our historic village is open.

We are open on Saturdays May through September from 1 to 5 p.m. and our regular hours, Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We want to thank everyone who participated in the Discover History program on May 2 and 3; Jim Haney, his humanities classes, the volunteer mentors, the staff, other volunteers who made the day happen and run smoothly, and the fifth-grade classes who attended the program and now have a better understanding of what it was like in pioneer days.

The rain held off during both days and I think all who attended enjoyed their travel back into a time when life was quite different.

It was refreshing to see the village come alive and the interpretation of the times through the eyes of the 11th-grade students.

School tours began on Friday, May 5, and will continue through the end of the month, with a total of over 1,200 students enjoying our facilities during the month of May.

Some classes just tour the village while others cover areas both in the museum as well as the village.

We had our Sesquicentennial Education Open House last Sunday with a slide presentation presented by Roger Lonning.

I want to thank Roger and all the volunteers and staff from the schools that brought items to represent their schools to be displayed in our heritage hall.

The displays will be up through the month of May, so if you were not able to attend the open house, please stop by during the month to see the educational displays.

May 18 is International Museum Day.

We will have free admission that day and coffee and cookies will be served during our regular business hours.

Please join us to celebrate our history in one of the best museums in the state.

We had a visit from the Winnipeg Free Press travel editor and he mentioned our museum in his article about travel in Minnesota.

I understand he was quite impressed with our Eddie Cochran Display and was surprised that we also had another star, Marion Ross, who grew up in Albert Lea.

A special &8220;thank you&8221; to Mike Woitas for including the museum as part of his tour of Albert Lea with the visiting travel editor.

Work has begun in the village as the Daybreaker Kiwanis Club has

started its work on the general store.

We have many plans for repairs, improvements, and changes in the village and grounds as the season progresses.

Today is Mother’s Day and what better chance could you have to tell your mother how much you appreciate all she has done for you throughout your life? Has she made an impact on who you are today? I’m sure she has in some way.

Have you told her that you love her and showed her that you care in the last few months?

Sometimes we think we have forever to do that and sometimes we wait until it’s too late. Don’t let the latter happen; call or see your mother today and make a happy memory to cherish for years to come. Laugh and enjoy each other’s company, even if she won’t remember it; you will and that memory is yours to cherish even when she’s gone.

I have attached a picture of my mother, myself, my daughter-in-law, my granddaughters, grandson and great granddaughter.

There’s only one thing more precious than being a mother, and that’s being a grandmother.

Have a great day with your family.

(Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.)