Some collections of the Koochiching Museums are moving into their new home.
Activity seen at the former Minnesota Department of Transportation travel information center at 715 Fourth Street in International Falls involves moving items from the museum into storage at the building.
According to Ed Oerichbauer, museum director, the Koochiching County Board in November 2010 acquired the building after seeking ownership of the structure with the intent to give it to the museum.
“We bought (the building) from the county for $1,” Oerichbauer told The Journal.
Now, the process of moving the museum’s archives and library are underway and Oerichbauer is relieved to have the additional space.
“It was getting too tight in here,” he said of the museum’s current storage situation.
The 5,000-square feet at the new site will also provide for additional storage for the museum.
Because Oerichbauer is the only person staffed at the museum, he said access to the new library and archive site, once it is ready, will be available by appointment only.
“It’ll be a challenge to manage two buildings at once,” he noted.
Nonetheless, Oerichbauer said he was very excited about the opportunity for the museum to occupy the 25-year old building and was thankful for the county’s effort in the process.
“If we would have had to raise money to construct a facility like this, it would have been a tremendous endeavor,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for us to move on and continue to develop.”
