Beltrami County Historical Society Celebrates Director's Five-Year Anniversary Saturday

Five years into leading the Beltrami County Historical Society, Executive Director Emily Thabes will be honored Saturday at a free public celebration that also offers Bemidji residents their first look at the History Center's next major exhibit.

The event begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at the Beltrami County History Center, 130 Minnesota Ave. SW, located in Bemidji's historic Great Northern Depot building. No RSVP is needed and cake will be served.

During her tenure at the 1952-founded society, Thabes strengthened collections stewardship, broadened community partnerships, launched new public programming, and secured a series of grant-funded projects that expanded BCHS operations and outreach. She also earned the Small Museum Pro! credential from the American Association for State and Local History, a nationally recognized certificate covering collections care, financial management, and public engagement.

"The past five years have been filled with meaningful work — connecting our community to the history that shaped it," Thabes said. "This event is a chance to celebrate together, look ahead and share some of the exciting things coming for the History Center."

Saturday's program includes an advance viewing of design plans for the Carson Family Gallery, an interactive permanent exhibit currently under development and scheduled to open in late fall 2026. The gallery is part of a broader effort to bring more of BCHS's collection out of storage and into public view, creating flexible exhibition spaces that represent more voices from Beltrami County's past.