MONDAY MORNING MUSEUM UPDATE – June 17, 2024 – Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum

In this week’s update: pathway to $238,000 for Pavilion repairs, Midsummer’s Festival review, and more!

In our weekly 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 last week and looks ahead at what’s coming.

For June 10-16, 2024:

We are very excited to announce that we now have a clear pathway to funding critical structural repairs on the 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion!
Announced today, the museum has received $166,600 in Community Service Program (CSP) Tax Credits through the Kansas Department of Commerce. The available tax credits will be used to enhance fundraising efforts for the Pavilion Restoration & Improvement Project. The credits are expected to raise $238,000 in donations, which will fully cover critical stabilization repairs to prevent collapse of the historic structure. Visit HERE to learn more about the tax credits program and how you can help contribute to the project!
During Midsummer’s Festival last Saturday, we had about 450 festivalgoers tour the museum or attend festival events on museum grounds – including the Lindsborg Folk Dancer’s Bake Sale, Kubb Tournament (see the finals at the link!), Viking reenactor encampment, Swedish pancake demonstration, mini-workshops on Swedish genealogy and language, and – in the evening – raising of the Midsummer’s Pole and Swedish dancing! Thanks to everyone who came and made the weekend such a great success!
Museum staff attended the online panel meetings for the Kansas Arts Commission General Operating Support grants last week. The panelists had an opportunity to ask questions on the museum’s $25,000 grant request, and all applicants had their submission scored live during the public hearing. The Old Mill Museum scored 94 out of 100 points, and we will learn of final decision on any grant award in late June.
The Museum Handy Crew continued restoration work on the 1908 Dempster No. 9 windmill on Heritage Square last week, as well as helping to move tables and chairs to set up for Midsummer’s Festival events last Saturday.
Summer 2024 newsletters were finalized and sent to printer last week. If you’re a museum member watch for it coming to you mailbox or inbox soon!
Registration is open for an hourlong genealogy workshop on July 13 on the FamilySearch tool! Sign up for this great opportunity today!
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Sunflower Summer is here! Now through August 11 with the Sunflower Summer app, Kansas students and their parents/guardians can get free admission to the museum! While you’re at it, use the app to also get free admission to more than 220 attractions and events across the State of Kansas!
NOW OPEN: “Skeleton-Of-Dog… Selected Geology & Natural History Artifacts from the Bethany College Collection Archives” is a temporary mini-exhibit at the museum featuring some unique artifacts not seen in public for decades!
Our Endowment Campaign 2025 is ongoing to add $1 million to our endowment in supporting our annual operational budget to make sure that not only do we preserve these historical treasures, but we can also “keep the lights on.” Read more on the flyer and giving form below, or visit to www.oldmillmuseum.org/donations to learn more!