For the week of September 18 - 24, 2002

Historical society extends invitation to get involved

Guest opinion by STEVE SLIVINSKI and CHRIS GERTSCHEN

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Recent events and comments surrounding the placement of the historic Congregational Church have made it clear that the goals and objectives of the non-profit Ketchum-SunValley Historical Society are misunderstood. Further, it seems that many valley residents are completely unaware of the role that the society and its management of your museum at Forest Service Park plays in serving the public.

An agreement between the City of Ketchum and the society made it possible for the use of the four museum buildings. The park committee is responsible for the grounds upon which the buildings sit—but not in anyway for the programs and projects that take place in the museum buildings. So far, the society has raised more than $250,000 to renovate three of the museum buildings representing many hours, weeks and months of donated time. Aside from grants, membership dues, a small contribution from the city and donations, we continue to struggle to fund the many projects and programs to save our cultural history. Just keeping the museum doors open to the public alone requires a yearly budget of $50,000. That's a lot of fund-raising.

To date, many hundreds of artifacts have been donated to the society in the expectation that they will be cared for in an ethical manner and displayed in a museum-type setting. In order to accomplish this, the historical society has managed to maintain, renovate, and create exhibits to display these items. In addition, and in partnership with the non-profit Sawtooth Science Institute, we have conducted two four- and six-week lecture series, hosted more than 500 Blaine County school children and their teachers in natural history programs, and offered a classroom for nearly 300 teachers from all over the state of Idaho in credit-carrying workshops in regional cultural and natural history.

While we have one part-time employee, we are a small volunteer board of directors responsible for fund-raising, acquisition, conservation, maintaining and designing exhibits, refurbishing buildings and artifacts, keeping the museum open, and in general to serve you the public.

We continue to seek new partnerships and ways to serve and to increase the public's knowledge of the historical society and its programs. We cordially invite everyone to visit the museum; we feel certain that you will appreciate the many, many volunteer hours that have gone into our cultural and natural heritage exhibits.

Without exaggeration, it may be said that each and every one of us has made our home here because of the natural beauty of our mountain community. But as our open space is replaced with homes, businesses and people, it will become more and more critical that we keep track of our natural and cultural beginnings. Your historical society extends a standing invitation to visit, to donate, and to get involved in preserving the Wood River Valley’s colorful and fascinating heritage.

Steve Silvinski is KSV Historical Society president and Chris Gertschen is Sawtooth Science Institute director.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.