Museum board plans for full slate of spring events

The H. Earl Clack Museum board discussed a busy spring schedule during its monthly meeting Monday, planning for events that start in two weeks and run through the end of June.

The museum is hosting the annual conference of the Museums Association of Montana, titled "High Hopes on the Hi-Line: Preparing for a Brighter Future," March 21-23.

Board members at Monday's meeting discussed which events they might attend during the annual conference, and board Chair Judi Dritshulas starting a discussion of what the museum board might be able to put together with donated items to present for the association's live and silent auction fundraisers during its banquet Friday, March 22.

The conference will include tours of local attractions, the Clack Museum, Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump archaeological site, Havre Beneath the Streets and Emily Mayer's Highline Heritage House Museum as well as a bus tour of the Blaine County museums in Chinook and the Bear Paw Battlefield south of the town.

The next item on the agenda was the annual Clack Museum foundation fundraiser, Hands on History, scheduled for Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..

Foundation Chair Elaine Morse said at least 30 events are being planned as hands-on activities for children in the area, including outdoor activities like horseback riding and branding demonstrations.

She said the organizers are still looking for volunteers to staff the stations at Hands on History, which is held at the Holiday Village Mall. People wanting to help can contact her at 265-1376, Wahkpa Chu'gn manager Anna Brumley or the Clack Museum at 265-4000, email [email protected], Morse said.

Then the next event is a couple of weeks later, with the Montana Dinosaur Trail annual meeting sponsored by the Rudyard Depot Museum, with the events being hosted in Havre.

Then, Saturday, June 1, the Clack Museum is holding a special event in conjunction with Havre's Living History event to welcome another of its newer tenants, tea with Lady Grace.

The lifelike doll, made by local dollmaker Bernice Pyette, depicts a woman in high-fashion dress from the turn of the last century and is displayed by the museum with dolls representing some prominent women of the area early last century, also made by Pyette.

The final event discussed Monday was an event in the Wahkpa Chu'gn bison kill site in celebration of the summer solstice.

Dritshulas said she would like to hold a special evening event, and the board discussed several possibilities of activities or special speakers or presentations they could schedule for the night.