WPCVB and Dorcheat Historical Association Making More Progress in 2011

 Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Inc. and Webster Parish Convention and Visitors’ Bureau are working together to create a jewel in the Parish.  “Since we began this project the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau has stood behind our efforts with the Dorcheat Museum projects.” Museum director, Schelley Brown Francis stated, “Without the WPCVBs support and help the museum would not be the showplace that it is today. I am proud to say that this organization since 2007 has seen the benefit of having a parish museum of outstanding quality. The museum has been visited by visitors from all over the world in the last few years. These visitor not only find out about history while they are taking a tour, but also what to see and do in the area while they are visiting the northern part of Louisiana. We sometimes recommend help with hotels, camping sites, restaurants, parks, and shopping or just a good spot for a family picnic and photo taking. That is why it is so great to have tourism director, Lynn Dorsey just a phone call away when I have a question or need help with a project or a visitor.  Lynn and I work very well together and have really enhanced the visitor experience over the last few years.  We have even given several driving tours of our historic districts to bus loads of visitors!”
         

   In 2011 a grant award of $7,500 will be given with half the funds presented recently. The current projects in the works for the museum are the military exhibits located in the back part of the museum.  This project is a big project and with the help of Larry Milford and Terry Snook should be a wonderful tribute to the armed forces of Webster Parish past and present.  The museum also has plans for a KASO radio/ St. Jude exhibit that will tell the history of what Minden has done thru the years for St. Jude and the beginning days of the radio auction and the Treat family.

The museum is free admission with free tours given Tuesday-Friday. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., closed 1-2 for lunch, Saturday: 10 a.m. – noon.  Special history gifts are given to each child visiting the museum.  Large tours are welcome, by calling ahead and booking the date and time.  The museum is up to date with social media, by being on Facebook and with email blast for those that have signed up thru the www.museuminminden.blogspot.com web site.  Everyone is urged to visit the website and sign up for these email blast to find out what is going on at the museum.  This is the best and fastest way you can find out about all the latest happenings.

The learning center and meeting room is now open and available for rent for meetings, reunions, parties etc. This part of the museum will be made available to outside groups for gatherings as well as a place to hear special speakers and programming at the museum. A state of the art sound and projection system was installed last year.
          

  Francis closed by stating, “The board members for the museum are so grateful to have WPCVB behind us.  The fact that they believe in what we are doing and have the vision to see how important we have become to our parish is so important. We look forward to our future of preserving our past for many years to come. We also look forward to the years ahead of us and our lasting relationship with tourism in our parish.”