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World-Class Exhibit Still Here! By David Borlaug, President
12/2/2009
This past year, we’ve had over 25,000 visitors coming from Washburn and all around the world. It’s been a great “bounceback” year from high gas prices and economic uncertainties of a year ago, which impacted museums and historic attractions everywhere. It’s been a very good year!
Of the many great stories that we tell at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan, one that has especially attracted visitors this year has been the 175th anniversary of the expedition of Prince Maximilian of Germany and his Swiss artist Karl Bodmer. Our exhibits—including Maximilian artifacts on loan from Germany; letters of correspondence between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander von Humboldt; and all 81 of the Bodmer aquatints—have fascinated visitors from near and far.
In fact, you may recall the news in September that Dr. Klaus Schariot, the German Ambassador to the United States, flew into Bismarck just to come see the exhibits for himself! The Federal Republic of Germany’s Chicago Consulate General was among our sponsors, making these displays possible.
Unfortunately, these exhibits will not be with us for long, as the terms of our loans from Germany stipulate that the artifacts must be returned in early January. The good news is that you have through the holiday season to still make it to the Interpretive Center and see them! We are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day but Sunday, when hours are noon to 5:00 p.m.
As we bring another successful year to a close, we thank you, as members of the community and of our Foundation, for supporting our work. We are welcoming the world to Washburn, North Dakota, with your help. Thank you, and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, from all of us at the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation!
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