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Preserving Local History

By Beacon Staff

Maybe it’s not so much of a change as an enhancement: the Bigfork Museum of Art and History, (formerly the Art and Cultural Center,) will still hold art exhibits, they’re just beefing up their historical emphasis.

“Any little community ends up sometimes loosing their history because they have no center for it,” says Museum Director Marne Forbis.

Right now, Forbis is initiating changes to the museum’s original plans, and putting together the displays. With the failure of the high school bond, the library is staying put. The Museum had planned to expand into the library’s space if it became vacant. Forbis is also looking for sponsors for the displays.

“Museum’s weren’t built in a day,” says Forbis, and this effort involves setting up sections detailing Bigfork’s agricultural and logging heritage, as well as the connection with Flathead Lake, the Jewel Basin and Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

“We’re really going back to our roots,” says Forbis, “we’re preserving as much of Bigfork’s past as possible.” The Museum will provide a resource for area schools, as well as a destination for tourists.

Forbis hopes to have a section done by the end of the year with the help of local businesses. The Museum’s new logo, as well as the design for the display panels, are coming from Sago Designs, Sandy and Monte Sanford.