BATTLE MOUNTAIN - The Lander County Historical Society in Battle Mountain is working hard to preserve local history and present it to the community in the new Battle Mountain Cookhouse Museum which has been in the works for around the past nine years and is slated to be completed this year.
The museum and the surrounding property, which will contain additional buildings, landscaping, a walk of names and possibly a pavilion, is the main current project of the historical society, said President Lori Price.
"The museum will provide a cultural focal point and access to the humanities and a means to promote tourism," she said.
The historical society became incorporated in 1979 and was re-established in 1989 after it briefly disbanded. Price has been a member for 23 years and is the only original member. She has been the president for a total of 13 years. The organization is run by a board with officers. The other officers are: vice president, Roger McIntosh; secretary, Lois Erquiaga; and treasurer, Salle Lemaire.
There are about 13 active members and meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the museum. Those who would like to join can just show up or call Price at (775) 635-8581 or the museum at (775) 635-8548. Price encourages people to join.
"We would appreciate any person that wants to help complete the museum project to become an active member of the historical society," said Price.
In addition to working on the museum, the historical society aims to educate and preserve regional history. Price said once the museum is open, she is hoping that local school students will come and take tours.
Price said the museum has been a huge project and said the work has been done solely by volunteers. She said it has taken a long time because the volunteers usually have jobs and other obligations and some of the grant funds have only allowed for a certain amount of work each year.
"I feel like some day we are going to make a difference in the community," she said. "We are doing this because we want to improve our community and because we care about the community."
Price said she and the board members are passionate about the museum and committed to seeing it completed and open to the public.
"We are not giving up," she said. "It is going to happen."
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