History Is Not Optional: Why Beltrami County Must MAINTAIN Funding for Our Historical Society

Emily Thabes
Sep 8
3 min read

The Beltrami County History Center, before its preservation and transition into our County museum and archives. We must continue to work together as a community to keep history alive.

The Immediate Challenge

The Beltrami County Historical Society is facing the loss of its annual $7,500 allocation from the County. In dollar terms, this might sound modest. In reality, it represents about 7.5 percent of our annual operating budget. For a small nonprofit museum and archives, that share is critical.

We receive no operational funding from the state or federal government. Our budget is sustained by memberships, donations, admissions, gift shop sales, program fees, and meeting room rentals. The county’s allocation is one of the only consistent public commitments to our work. It is also a powerful signal to funders, volunteers, and community members that preserving history is a shared responsibility.

👉 You can help today by reaching out to the Beltrami County Commissioners. Three votes can restore this vital support.

Why Local History Matters

Since 1952, the Historical Society has preserved the artifacts, stories, and traditions of Beltrami County. We operate in the Great Northern Depot, a landmark building owned and maintained by the City of Bemidji at its expense. The County does not fund the building itself. Its allocation supports programming, preservation, and services that directly benefit people.

This year alone, we are offering 100 programs, most free of charge. Volunteers have contributed over 6,000 hours of service—time spent preserving fragile artifacts, digitizing records, and conducting research not only for community members and visitors but also for government offices. That level of service is equivalent to three full-time employees donated to the community.

We also provide meeting space for nonprofits and small groups who need a place to gather. In short, the Historical Society is more than a museum. It is an anchor for education, civic life, and community connections.

A Longstanding Minnesota Commitment

Minnesota has long recognized that historical societies are part of civic infrastructure. State law (§ 138.051–138.052) gives counties explicit authority to fund their local societies, to levy taxes for history, and to provide public space. This has been true for nearly a century. The logic is simple: history belongs to all of us, and counties have a role in ensuring its care.

A Broader Pattern

What is happening here is not unique. Across the country, historical societies, museums, and cultural institutions are being asked to do more with less. Funding that once signaled shared commitment is being reconsidered or withdrawn. Local allocations may be small, but they are often the bedrock that allows organizations to leverage grants, secure donations, and keep the doors open.

At the state level, Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment and cultural heritage funds remain crucial. At the federal level, agencies like the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provide lifelines to small organizations. Each of these funding streams is under constant pressure. When local commitments falter, the strain only grows.

What You Can Do

Locally: Contact the Beltrami County Commissioners and encourage them to restore this funding.
Statewide: Urge your Minnesota legislators to continue supporting Legacy and cultural heritage funds.
Nationally: Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and remind them why IMLS matters.
Personally, consider becoming a member, renewing your membership, increasing your donation if possible, and inviting friends and neighbors to do the same. Volunteer your time and talents—every hour and every gift makes a difference.

The Stakes

Every dollar the County invests is multiplied by grants, donations, and volunteer work. The $7,500 allocation is not charity. It is an investment in cultural infrastructure, in community pride, and in the stories that help people understand who they are and where they come from.

If we fail to preserve these stories now, we risk losing them forever. Once lost, artifacts cannot be replaced, memories cannot be reconstructed, and voices cannot be recovered.

Beltrami County deserves a future that remembers its past. So does Minnesota. So does the nation. Together, we can ensure that history is not treated as optional, but recognized as essential to civic life.