With Easter behind us, it’s full speed ahead with an extremely busy April at the museum. We are preparing for Discover History as the 11th grade students are well into their research on their assigned subject areas, and before we know it we’ll be in full swing for our spring school tours.

Today through 18 is National Volunteer Week.  We would like to say a special thank you” to all of our 150 plus volunteers that help us at the museum. Last year we logged 7,700 hours, or an average of 151 hours per week, in volunteer help. Thank you again to all our dedicated and much appreciated Freeborn County Historical Museum volunteers! You are all very special individuals.

We have a special volunteer project coming up from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. It is our annual village clean-up.  We provide the cleaning supplies. If you have a few hours free to help us give us a call this week and RSVP at 507-373-8003. If interested, you may leave your name, phone number and if you are available to help all morning or what hours you’re able to be here. The more help we have the faster we get done. We appreciate any amount of time you are able to help.

We are hosting a Timeless Tea at 2 p.m. Saturday in the museum meeting room. Tickets are $7.50. They are available at the museum or the Mary Go Round Shoppe and must be purchased in advance. Join us for a relaxing afternoon with tea, refreshments and entertainment by Joan Muschler. Get your ticket soon as seating is limited.

Our April defensive driving class is full, but we have a four hour refresher class scheduled from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. May 12. Call the museum for details.

Both of our April library lock-ins are also full, but if you would like to get your name on the list for the next lock-in, please call the museum to do so.

Artist Susan Weinberg will be giving a special presentation from 10 to 11 a.m. April 25 in the meeting room at the museum. The program is “Telling Your Family Story with Collage” and admission is free.

At 2 p.m. on the same day we have a photo presentation, “Freeborn County, You Tell Us.”

This program will also take place in the museum meeting room and will show a sampling of the photos we have received through our grant project to continue preserving the history of Freeborn County and its people.  Admission to this program is also free.

Both of these programs are made possible with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the people of Minnesota for Library Legacy Activities.

The annual tour guide orientation will be at 2 p.m. April 23. If you would like to become a tour guide, please contact the museum to sign up for our orientation. Most of our school tours take place during the month of May and every tour guide brings different insights and experiences to their tours. These personal traits bring variety to our tours.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar and plan to attend our annual Taste of Heritage event from 1 to 3 p.m. May 2 at Northbridge Mall. This is a great family event and is free. There will be numerous children’s activities, exhibits and entertainment for all to enjoy.

 

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village, 1031 Bridge Ave.