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From the desk of the
director With the immortality of his
railroad in mind, and known for his quotes, empire builder, James J. Hill,
often reminded the public that, ''the sun will still shine, the rain will
fall and this railroad will run as usual.'' The same stick-to-itiveness
allowed the Beltrami County Historical Society to stay on track, as the
completion of the Great Northern Restoration Project became a reality in
2001! Preservation of historic
buildings has brought about a rejuvenation of ''Main Street America,'' which
helps revitalize older neighborhoods. Preserving and enhancing the supply of
historic places is a way of meeting the increasing demand for that
"historical experience." Recent studies on the effects of historic
preservation indicate that preservation stimulates investment of private
funds, retail sales, new jobs, new businesses, increases heritage tourism and
reduces crime in historic districts. Special attention was
considered in the design of the new three-gallery museum to accommodate
children, senior citizens and the handicapped with interactive exhibits, easy
flow of traffic and benches placed throughout for rest areas. The building is
also served by a public transit system. The current exhibit of Paddle, Ride or Fly – It's History In Motion , captures the
sights, sounds and romance of early transportation throughout The history center, in the
restored depot, is truly an educational and historical experience for the
entire family. These are exciting times for BCHS, residents of See you at down at the depot! Wanda Hoyum
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