Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Dakota County Historical Society Museum - 2/8/2016. _ SPOF,TS,
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Historical museum has eye on future
Dakota County's Lawshe Memorial could be other issues, the study found a
need for more exhibit space and
renovated or moved to a new central site room for social and educational
events.
"Everyone has an interest in his -
By Tory Cooney have room for one more filing cabi- tory; we just need to find a way to
tcooney@pioneerpress.com net would be wonderful." let them see that they do, whether
And the space crunch isn't the that's a children's program, a lec-
Rebecca Snyder is running out of museum's only concern. ture, or a book signing," society
space. There's its dim lighting and its executive director Matt Carter
More precisely, the Dakota Coun- limited parking. Handicap accessi- said.
ty Historical Society museum, bility is a problem. So is the lack of "We want to let people experi-
where she is director of research, exterior signs indicating the build- ence history and have fun with it."
is running out of space. ing's purpose. From the sign marking the stock -
"We're jam-packed," said Snyder, As for its location near the coun- yards that once defined South St.
who keeps her research materials ty's northernmost tip? Some say Paul to vintage computers show -
in five locations scattered around that's a problem, too. ing the progress of the region's
the 37 -year-old Lawshe Memorial The concerns emerged last year tech industry, the museum holds
Museum in South St. Paul. in a space -efficiency study of Dako-
"Just walking in and knowing I'd to County's properties. Among MUSEUM, 5A >
> CLASSIFIED, 5-6C * * FEBRUARY 8, 20161
PIONEER PRESS: JEAN PIERI
Matt Carter, executive director of the Lawshe Memorial Museum in South St.
Paul, walks through the museum's Great Hall on Thursday. Carter said the
space would be reworked if the museum's current site is renovated.
TwinCities.com St. Paul Pioneer Press
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PIONEER PRESS: JEAN PIERI
Since the 1970s, the Old Town exhibit has been in the Dakota County Historical Society Lawshe Memorial Museum in South
St. Paul. "It's outdated but non -flexible because each building in the exhibit is thematically designed and not easy to rotate
out. A renovation would change the space," said Matt Carter, executive director.
CONTINUED FROM 1A
> Museum
more than 20,000 artifacts that
tell the story of Dakota Coun-
ty's history. From 2,500 to
3,000 people visit each year.
Built in 1978, the two-story
brick building across the
street from City Hall has had
no major renovations since.
The county's space -efficien-
cy study found massive reno-
vations were needed and
came up with two options:
e A $3.3 million plan that
would address the concerns
raised in the study.
e A $3.7 million plan that
would address those con-
cerns, as well as provide a
children's area and flexible
exhibit space.
"If it's done, it will enhance
everything," Carter said of
the renovation. "But we don't
have the capability to do
something like that, just
financially."
Then, another option was
suggested: Move.
In a Dec. 18 letter to county
commissioners, the museum
board said renovations are a
good idea, but it asked that
relocation be considered, too.
The board said a move to a
home somewhere in central
Dakota County could improve
parking, increase visibility
and make the museum more
accessible to those in the
southern part of the county.
The society estimated the
price tag of a new building at
$5.3 million, plus the cost of
the land.
"There's so much potential
in the space we have, but (the
county) needs to explore just
to make sure that, in the
future, this going to be the
best option," Carter said.
Although Carter didn't move
into his position until Jan. 4,
the letter said he had input on
the issue.
Opposition was swift to
news of a possible move.
State Rep. Rick Hansen,
DFL -South St. Paul, privately
suggested a bill barring the
society from receiving Min-
nesota Historical Society
funding if it were to leave
town.
"I just think there needs to
be a conversation about this,
more than what's happening,"
Hansen said, acknowledging
that a move was far from a
uncertainty.
"Obviously, we want to keep
the facility there and find out
if things can be done to
improve it. We can't let that
go. It's an important part of
the history of South St. Paul."
Director Steve Mielke of the
county's physical develop-
ment division has been asked
to lead a study of the options
— renovations vs. relocation
— and report to the board of
commissioners in April or
May.
But the delay on a decision
on how to proceed doesn't sit
well with county Commis-
sioner Kathleen Gaylord.
"It's almost as if we've start-
ed over," said Gaylord, who
opposes moving the museum
when the current one can be
Renovations sought
The Dakota County Board
of Commissioners is
considering renovating —
or possibly relocating —
the county historical society's
Lawshe Memorial Museum in
South St. Paul.
South St. Paul
High School
Marie Ave.
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1,000 FT.
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PIONEER PRESS
renovated.
"It would be nice to see this
renovation go forward more
quickly, but we're in a holding
pattern."
While the county society
operates the museum, the city
owns the land and the county
owns the building. The deci-
sion ultimately rests with the
county, Mielke said.
He said county commission-
ers have not yet discussed
funding options.
If the historical society
moves, ownership of the
South St. Paul facility would
go to the city, Mielke said.
The Dakota County Histori-
cal Society operates with an
annual budget of about
$275,000. In 2015, it received
$104,400 in county funding
and up to $25,000 in matching
grants.
Funding from the state His -
THE LAWSHE
MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Where: 130 Third Ave. N.,
South St. Paul
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday;
9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday;
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Admission: Free, but
donations are accepted
Highlights: A giant map of
Dakota County painted on
the floor of the Great Hall
and a new display showing
all the antique devices
needed to rival a
smartphone.
Little-known resource:
Public research room with
genealogical information,
maps and more.
ly, Carter said. According to
the state society's website,
grant funding has helped the
county group to develop
exhibits, inventory and cata-
log collections, develop and
implement visitor's guides,
and send people to a confer-
ence.
Besides the museum, the
county Historical Society
owns and runs the LeDuc His-
toric Estate in Hastings and
manages the Sibley Historic
Site in Mendota with the state
group.
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