In this week’s update: Dr. Richard Nelson memorial; Museum membership updates; Swedish Pavilion tax credits final results; Harvest of Giving and more!
In this update, keep up to date on what staff and volunteers at the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum are working on to lift up the history of Lindsborg and the surrounding region. This weekly update both looks back at what happened and looks ahead at what’s coming.
For December 29, 2025 – January 4, 2026:
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We are taking a moment to note the the passing at 89 of Dr. Richard Elliott Nelson of Lawrence, Kansas, on Dec. 28. Dr. Nelson graduated from Lindsborg High School in 1954.We are also so honored and humbled that his family has asked for memorial contributions to be made here at the Lindsborg Museum in lieu of flowers. We thank Dr. Nelson and his family choosing such a special way to memorialize him.Dr. Nelson lived a life devoted to education and faith. During his life, he served as a guidance counselor, principal, and professor at many locations in Kansas, including Tonovay, Towanda, Hutchinson, the Kansas State Department of Education, and the University of Kansas School of Education. He retired in 2007.Proud of his deep Swedish heritage, he held a special place in his heart for Lindsborg.We thank him and his family for continuing to support that history and heritage here at the Museum.
- Adam processed 8 renewing and 4 new memberships last week!
Even so, we are currently showing about 90 recent membership supporters who are overdue on renewing.
Have you renewed your museum membership? (Are you sure?)
By board approval, membership rates have also increased in 2026 to $50 for an individual membership, $70 for a family membership, and $135 for a business membership to help keep pace with inflation and to help offset the significant reduction of government support from the county. This is the first increase to museum membership rates since the membership program was established in 2022.
Memberships are a critical source of reliable support for the museum!
Give us a call at 785-227-3595 or email at oldmillmuseum@gmail.com, and we will be glad to check on your status. It’s also a great time to think about becoming a new member if you’ve never been one before, or to purchase a gift membership for someone special in your life! See www.oldmillmuseum.org/members for details!
Museum staff is also working on the details of a new membership option. Stay tuned!
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Final results are in for the tax credits grant in support of restoration of the 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion!
We are now in our third round of tax credits under our Community Service Program grant for the historic building!Overall, this opportunity has raised $257,931.15 designated specifically for repairs and improvements to the Pavilion.
Contributions under the grant paid for critical structural repairs (costing $151,500), allowing us to safely reopen the Pavilion to the public in summer 2025. We are also more than halfway toward the funds we will need under the “Raise the Roof” campaign to repair the Pavilion’s roof in a more durable and historically accurate way, with $106,431.15 going to the roof phase of the project. More will be needed to be able to complete this phase 2.
If you would like to help with Raise the Roof, you can learn more at www.oldmillmuseum.org/raise-the-roof. Contributions made now will not be eligible for the special tax credit opportunity, but may have tax benefits as a qualifying donation to a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization charity.
We have several recognition reward levels available: These include recognition on our website and an invitation to a special VIP event once all of the funds needed for the roof (at $100 or more) and opportunities to have a “roof tile” with custom wording added to a permanent honor wall (at $1,000 or more)!
- We are continuing our critical Harvest of Giving fundraising event into 2026 as our topline goal in $50,000 in unrestricted donations – to keep the museum lights on and the doors open in 2026 – has not yet been met. Currently, this effort is at about $40,000.
In the space of four years, a major source of public funding has gone from covering half of our annual expenses to less than 8% and is not showing any signs of returning. Because of this, it is more important than ever for generous private donors, businesses, and organizations to step in and ensure that the rare experiences at the Museum continue to be available in 2026. Learn more and make your charitable donation today at www.oldmillmuseum.org/harvest-of-giving.
- Adam added options to donate by debit or credit card to the website, expanding one-time donation options beyond PayPal.
- Sponsorship opportunities for Millfest 2026 are now open and available! Already we have had $2,850 in event sponsorship dollars come in!
Scheduled next year for Saturday, May 2, this is the one time annually that our visitors can take guided tours of the 1898 Old Mill IN OPERATION! The festival also includes, music, entertainment, arts & crafts, antique tractor show, games, demonstrations and face painting!
Giving levels to sponsor run from as little as $25 to get your name in the program to $5,000 or more to secure topline “Brought to you by…” overall event sponsorship. You can also choose to direct your donation to specific Millfest attractions, including face painting, tractor show, Old Mill tours, or music performances! See full details including how to arrange your sponsorship with the forms included below.
- Adam worked on the winter newsletter for publication coming soon.
- Lenora attended coffee at Sunflower Terrace in this continued community outreach opportunity.
- Lenora continued working on cataloguing newly donated artifacts.
- Lenora continued indexing work under the museum’s agreement with ArkivDigital.
- Lenora and Tyler continued working on scanning historical publications for the Historic Image Database project.
- Adam backed up the shared museum server to a removable disc drive.
- We are excited to offer the first “Discover Your Past” Virtual Genealogy Workshop, set for Saturday, January 31, 2026!
Rather than the usual focus on Swedish genealogy research resources, this time the sessions will be able to apply to ANY genealogy or family research, regardless of country background! Museum members register with a $20 discount. We hope you can join us!
We also recently added a half-day Beginning Swedish Workshop for February 21, 2026. It will cost $20 or just $10 for members.
Thank you to our weekly volunteers!