Let's Make History - Together, Today!

For years the Bowman Museum has been poised to expand. And we don't just mean because of the wonderful collection of artifacts we have acquired from our generous community.

We are also a favorite place for people to volunteer, people who want to make a difference in their community and to feel good and have fun while they are doing it. They volunteer, yet we have them work in halls and cubbyholes, overlapping with other activities in the museum. This not our choice. We are reaching our capacity to offer people the satisfaction of helping us preserve our history. More space would provide opportunities for multiple, simultaneous volunteer projects and programs.

Our local students are coming to the museum, full of energy, full of curiosity. We view ourselves as an important part the community's educational infrastructure. These are kids of the 21st century that want to touch, want to experience, and want to feel a part of their history. We have a great time telling them what we know, showing them what we have, and leading them on history scavenger hunts. However, one class fills the museum to the brim, both upstairs and down. More space would allow us to do more to give these students a sense of place and a sense of their own role in our shared history.

We have an opportunity to create a museum that is a vibrant and thriving resource for volunteers, students, and researchers; a lively and active hub for community gatherings and events; and a cultural and recreational destination for residents and visitors to Crook County.

The Bowman Museum expansion also enables us to address these long-standing priorities:

» making our collection more accessible;

» increasing the variety of our exhibits and programming;

» creating interactive learning spaces.

Now is the right time to act on these priorities. In the past decade, we have witnessed the growth of community, collection, and participation in the museum and historical society. The Internet and new Web tools enable us to share our collection with people near and far. And, last but not least, the Simmonses are willing to sell us their building.

Yes! We are in the process of purchasing the Simmons Building, which is the adjacent building directly south of the museum. With that space, the museum's square footage will double. Over the past year the Board of Directors has been developing plans for the new space. They have also created a capital campaign committee to raise the money needed for the purchase and renovations. The committee includes several board members, museum staff, and other members of the community. They have developed a strategy to raise the money needed for the project and are working hard to make the vision of a beautiful new addition to the museum a reality.

Stay tuned!