“I had realized that I had all the makings to help with the directorship here. So I applied — and here I am.” ~ Crystal Nelson Director, Dakota Territorial Museum Crystal started at the museum in May 2007. She worked under the guidance of Sall for a few months, but when she felt comfortable in the position, Sall was ready to move on. Then the fun for Crystal really began. One of the first things she wanted to do was recruit volunteers. “There was so much around here that could be done and needed to be done — just to bring it up to current professional museum standards,” says Crystal. Currently, Crystal says, she has about seven consistent volunteers. She gives them great praise because they do more for her than she could possibly imagine herself doing. “A lot of collections are being cataloged and documented that never have been.” Then a little over 6 months ago, Crystal received even more help in the form of an assistant. She has been a blessing, Crystal says, because she helps with the bookkeeping, cataloging, and paperwork necessary to keep the museum running smoothly. With all this help, Crystal has been able to split her time between the museum and the Mead Building Project. For those who don’t know, the Mead Building is over 100 years old and located on the south side of the Human Services Center campus. Over the past several years the Yankton County Historical Society has been working hard to preserve and restore the old building. The project is being funded by grants and private donations. When everything is said and done, the Mead Building will become the home of the Dakota Territorial Museum. But that will be no small task, says Crystal. “We have a lot of things that need to be in place here (at the museum), as far as the collection, before we move it,” she says. HISTORY continued on page 20 GESHUNDHEIT! That stuffy nose might be more than a pesky cold. If you’ve had cold symptoms for longer than a week, you might have a sinus infection. Dr. Jeff Liudahl, a sinus expert at Avera Yankton Ear, Nose and Throat, offers treatment in a caring, family-friendly environment. No referral is necessary, so call (605) 665-6820 today for an appointment. Jeff Liudahl, MD HERVOICE MARCH/APRIL 2011 ■ 19