Local News
Sawmill museum gains executive director
By Elise Loyola
Herald Staff Writer
CLINTON — As the Kiwanis Foundation works to open the new Clinton Sawmill Heritage Experience, it has selected Mark Wahlert as the museum’s executive director.
Wahlert, hired in March, has experience behind him as he steps into the new position. With a master’s degree in museum administration, Wahlert has spent the past eight years working as the director of operations for the Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque.
Prior to that, Wahlert worked for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and also worked for the Minnesota Orchestra.
Now, Wahlert’s new position involves fundraising, building partnerships and writing grants.
“Currently we’ve raised over $4 million in cash, land and buildings (for the museum),” Wahlert said.
The building that will house the museum is located on the corner of 23rd Avenue North and Grant Street.
Wahlert indicated that he is now working to raise funds to finish building the exhibits within the museum.
As for when the museum will open its doors, Wahlert said that depends on fundraising.
“If (fundraising) is successful, we’ll open within about two years,” Wahlert stated.
According to Wahlert, the museum will guide visitors through the history of the lumber industry as it follows the life span of a tree. It will begin with a representation of the forests in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The museum will teach visitors about the harvesting of lumber and how it was transported.
“We’ll also have an historic sawmill do a living exhibit,” said Wahlert.
The museum will include a history of Clinton’s lumber barons and sawmill workers, as well as the involvement of the railroad.
Wahlert indicated that the museum will end with an exhibit on the lessons learned from the lumber industry. It will teach visitors about modern forestry and good stewardship of the environment.
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