Help Shape Our Future Permanent Exhibit: Join the Community Advisory Committee
- Emily Thabes
- Nov 14
- 2 min read
Big news from the Beltrami County Historical Society: we’ve received private grant funding to redesign and rehabilitate our permanent museum galleries! This is one of the most ambitious projects in our 70-year history — and it’s all about creating a museum that feels relevant, accessible, and rooted in the people and stories of Beltrami County.
A Museum for Everyone
Our new permanent exhibit will open in late 2026 and completely reimagine how visitors experience our region’s history. We’ll be creating interactive, family-friendly spaces that invite curiosity, conversation, and reflection — spaces where everyone can see themselves represented and connected to the land and people of this place.
The redesigned galleries will draw on the extensive research and interpretation developed by generations of local historians and scholars, while also integrating new voices and perspectives from our community. We’re enriching, correcting, and refining what we know — and then paring it down to the essentials that people care about most: the shared moments, challenges, and triumphs that define Beltrami County.
“This is an incredible opportunity to reimagine how we share Beltrami County’s history with current and future generations,” says Emily Thabes, BCHS Executive Director. “By creating flexible, community-informed exhibit spaces, we’ll make sure that the stories we tell continue to reflect both historical integrity and community values.”
Your Voice Belongs in This Story
To make sure the exhibit truly reflects our community, we’re forming a Community Advisory Committee — and we want YOU to be part of it.
Committee members will help shape exhibit themes, ensure inclusive representation, and provide feedback on aspects ranging from accessibility to visitor experience. You don’t need museum experience — just curiosity, care, and a connection to Beltrami County.
We’re looking for a diverse group of 10–12 people, including:
Dakota and Ojibwe community members and cultural knowledge keepers
Local historians, educators, and students
Descendants of settlers, loggers, and railroad workers
Accessibility advocates and inclusion leaders
Environmental experts, youth, and long-time residents
What You’ll Gain
Community Advisory Committee members will serve from December 2025 through November 2026, meeting about five to six times (two hours each). You’ll receive:
💵 A $500 honorarium for your participation
🎨 Behind-the-scenes access to professional exhibit design
🎟️ Recognition in exhibit materials and invitations to exclusive previews
💬 A genuine opportunity to help shape your community museum’s future
How to Apply
Send a one-page letter of interest by November 30, 2025 to ethabes@beltramihistory.org.Tell us:
Your connection to Beltrami County
Why you’d like to serve on the committee
What perspective or experience you bring
When you’re generally available for meetings
Questions? Reach out to Emily Thabes, Executive Director, at (218) 444-3376.
This is your chance to help shape a museum that balances historical depth with community voice, ensuring that Beltrami County’s story continues to be told with accuracy, empathy, and heart.
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