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Historical Society reports rising visitors and pushes for more display space
Summary
Jer Holm, president of the local Historical Society, told the DuPont City Council the museum’s visitor count and volunteer hours rose this year and urged the council to help address storage and display shortages that limit rotating exhibits and educational outreach.
Jer Holm, president of the Hittepahann Historical Society, told the DuPont City Council on May 20 that the museum’s visitor counts and volunteer hours have increased and that the society is planning new exhibits and outreach.
“Good evening, mayor, city council, and staff. I’m Jer Holm, president of the Hittepahann Historical Society,” Holm said as he opened the society’s annual report. He said the museum’s visitor count is up “71 visitors” (as shown in the presentation slide) and that volunteer hours have risen by an estimated “over 200 hours.” Holm described recent activities — digitizing the 1966–1976 local weekly newspaper, hosting a Buffalo Soldier traveling display in coordination with the Tacoma museum, a Boxcar ribbon-cutting, and a Cherry Blossom Tea — and said the society cleared more than $4,000 at the pancake breakfast fundraiser.
Holm and board members outlined priorities for the next 6–12 months, including a planned America250 exhibit case, expanded Hudson’s Bay programming and a touch-screen exhibit. Board members said the museum lacks display space and that gaining roughly 40% more exhibition area would allow more rotating exhibits and reduce reliance on storage.
Council members asked about the effects of recent road work and local construction on visitor patterns and about school partnerships. Holm said school outreach has continued — the Buffalo Soldier program visited Pioneer Middle School and staff participated in a Chloe Clark STEAM night — and that many museum visitors come deliberately rather than by chance. Council members thanked the volunteers and urged the society to pursue grant and partnership opportunities.
The society asked the council to consider space and storage needs if the city pursues facilities projects that affect the museum’s current site. Holm said the board prefers to be a partner with the city and would discuss relocation or renovation options with the council and staff as opportunities arise.
The council accepted the report and moved on to the next agenda item.
