Feb. 9, 2016 meeting

Posted by Katie Rohman

on Feb 22, 2016

History in the making

Speaker: Julie Ashton, Washington County Historical Association

Julie Ashton, executive director of the Washington County Historical Association and Fort Atkinson board member, talked about her effort to promote the Washington County Historical Museum — the state's oldest museum — as well as the Fort. Founded in 1925, the WCHA has modified its mission to include the history of the whole county.

The museum is currently working to renovate one of its galleries for a Lewis and Clark exhibit using funding from the Blair Area Community Foundation, Hugh Hunt and various grants. "Tourism fuels economic development," Ashton said.

The county needs to package, brand and market its historical sites, she said — Washington County is one of just two counties in Nebraska without a tourism bureau.

The WCHA is seeking sponsors for a March 11 fundraiser dinner at Boys Town for Barry Jurgensen, an Arlington High School history teacher who is walking from Nebraska City to Chicago to raise awareness of human trafficking.