MONDAY MORNING MUSEUM UPDATE – July 22, 2024 – Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum

In this week’s update: Track daily progress on Pavilion tax credits, restoration progress, Magic at the Mill, 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 July 15-21, 2024:

- We now have a great “landing” page where you can read up-to-the-minute updates on fundraising progress under the Community Service Program (CSP) Tax Credits through the Kansas Department of Commerce: www.oldmillmillmuseum.org/save-the-pavilion!
  We now have received commitments on 41% of the available credits! We’ve had 26 individuals, families, and businesses contribute to this progress to the tune of $97,300.
  Have we heard from you yet?
  Any Kansas resident can qualify to receive back a 70% fully refundable tax credit on their Kansas return with a donation of $250 or more to the project! 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 and will partially cover installation of a new, more historically accurate roof.
  This will be a successful initiative only if individuals, families, and organizations step forward to give under the program’s tax credit opportunity. Please carefully consider your own ability to give to this project, and to share this opportunity with your own friends and family!
- Museum staff met with several area contractors for their advice on upcoming restoration projects.
- Staff ordered samples of potential new roofing materials for a new Swedish Pavilion roof. The new options should be lighter and more durable than the current asphalt roofing, as well as more historically accurate.
- Mid Kansas Construction worked last week on installing new guttering on the south side of the main museum building.
- Wheat State Paint Co. started painting the Lindsborg Train Depot. This is part of the many projects funded under the museum’s $250,000 SPRINT grant.
- The Museum Handy Crew continued restoration work on the 1908 Dempster No. 9 windmill on Heritage Square. They’ve now laid down flooring for the structure’s upper platform.

We are expecting visitors today as part of “3D Con 2024” from the National Stereoscopic Association (NSA) – taking unique stereogram photos with a 3D effect. We might have the opportunity to share several after the visit, but in the meantime, check out several examples that an NSA member has already shared with us HERE!
Lenora helped a researcher from Nebraska on Saturday, who was looking into her Swedish genealogical history.
Adam completed a grant application to cover several technology needs.
We finalized a first-of-its-kind event: “Magic at the Mill” on September 21! In partnership with local gaming and comic book store Spelbok, players of the popular trading card game Magic the Gathering will have an opportunity to play a pre-release tournament in the unique environment of the historic 1898 Smoky Valley Roller Mills! Learn more and sign up today HERE.
We’ve arranged to appear on AdAstra Radio’s “Chamber Chat” in August. Stay tuned for more details to come!
Sunflower Summer is still here – but not for much longer! 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!