Choosing an Expanded Mission versus a Managed Decline

A Small Town Nonprofit Provides History to Millions

At the height of the bicentennial commemoration of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, over 50,000 visitors a year were streaming through Washburn’s Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan. The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, which maintains both historic attractions, was enjoying enormous national, even international, media attention. Visitors were coming from all 50 states and as many foreign countries.

Ubl Design Group, Architects

Before the closing bicentennial events in 2006, the Foundation’s board and management was asking hard questions of itself. Could these visitation levels be sustained? Could the remarkable combination of media attention and donor generosity continue?

Before the effects of the bicentennial’s ending could be determined, gasoline prices suddenly spiraled upward, putting a dampener on “over the road” tourism all across the country. Historic attractions, in particular, were adversely impacted. Visitation to Washburn, while still excellent for a historic site, dropped to 25,000 per year.

At a board retreat in 2007, the future of the Foundation and its sites were contemplated. Three possibilities were presented:

1. “Managed” decline (leading to eventual demise)
2. Status quo, trying to get by for now
3. Serious expansion of the Foundation’s mission

Without hesitation, the board was unanimous in its choice of the third option. Within a year, the Foundation announced the formation of The Dakota Institute, led by humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson. Book publishing, documentary films and symposia were to be the three primary functions of this new Institute, along with production and distribution of Jenkinson’s popular public radio program “The Thomas Jefferson Hour.”

Now approaching in its third year the Institute has already established itself as among America’s leading historical institutions, ensconced within the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation. Since its launch, the Institute’s accomplishments are noteworthy:

Staging four symposia, two on the 175th anniversary of the Maximilian/ Bodmer Expedition of 1833-34, and one on broadcast legend North Dakota native Eric Sevareid, and another on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.

Releasing of two documentary films, the national award-winning “When the Landscape is Quiet Again: The Legacy of Art Link,” and “The Charisma of Competence: The Achievement of William Guy.”

Production begun on two more films, one focusing on the Schafer family and another on Sevareid.

Establishment of a marketing and distribution agreement with the University of Oklahoma Press and the release of the first book from The Dakota Institute Press “River of Promise: Lewis and Clark on the Columbia.”

Listeners to “The Thomas Jefferson Hour” eclipsing the one million mark, thanks largely to internet downloads of the program. “Our Institute’s success is gratifying for so many reasons,” said President David Borlaug. “And it’s important to note that this success does not come at the expense of our core institutional strengths – Fort Mandan and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center – which are now seeing solid growth in visitation,” he adds.

In fact, with the support of a $1.5 million grant from the North Dakota Legislature, the Foundation is in the midst of an ambitious $6 million capital campaign. The funds will be used primarily for a $4.2 million expansion and exhibit makeover at the Center and enhancements to the Foundation’s endowment trust.

Over $2 million has been raised privately to match the state funding, bringing the campaign to the halfway mark as it now begins to become more public, according to Borlaug. “We are just now reaching out more broadly to individuals, companies and associations, to join with us on this grand venture,” says Borlaug. “Exhibit and gallery sponsorships are available for donors to consider, along with more nominal levels of support,” he adds.

Taking advantage of a world-class collection of Lewis & Clark era artifacts recently acquired by the Foundation, all of the Interpretive Center’s exhibits will eventually be remade in an exciting, interactive way, says Foundation Vice President Wendy Spencer, who is overseeing the capital project. “Visitors will not only see incredible artifacts, they will also learn things about Lewis and Clark and our Native Peoples that they couldn’t have imagined,” she says. “Interactive digital technology will be put to use in a very creative way, creating a world-class interpretive environment,” Spencer adds.

An expansion of the theme of discovery has been underway at the Center for several years, and will now be enhanced with the makeover, according to Visitors will not only see incredible artifacts, they will also learn things about Lewis and Clark and our Native Peoples that they couldn’t have imagined. – Wendy Spencer, Foundation Vice President Spencer. “We are taking ‘Our First Farmers’ to a new level of interpretation by adding the North Dakota Centennial Farms exhibit in a new gallery.” The Foundation recently assumed responsibility for this program from the North Dakota Agriculture Department, which honors North Dakota farms that have remained with the same family for 100 years.

A 9,000 square foot expansion of the Center will provide a 175-seat events center with panoramic views of the Big Bend of the Missouri River; a multi media production studio; and a rare book/resource library, according to Spencer.

The project’s architect is Jeff Ubl of Ubl Design Group, Bismarck. The general contractor is Missouri River Contracting, Bismarck. Exhibits are being developed in consultation with the Foundation’s staff by Taylor Design Studios of Chicago. Spencer expects the addition and exhibit installation to all be completed by March of next year.

“All of our Foundation’s accomplishments would not be possible without the continued support of our members and donors,” stresses Borlaug. “Now, as we launch ourselves into an exciting new phase, we welcome the support of those who share our vision,” he adds.

Five years after its board contemplated what sort of future was in store for this foundation, located in a small town with a big heritage—in a sparsely-settled state with a fascinating multi cultural history—things could hardly appear brighter. “Arts and culture are alive and well on the northern prairie,” says Borlaug.