Otter Tail County Historical Society Unveils Military Veterans Exhibit in Fergus Falls

Kathy Evavold was watching visitors move through the new exhibit when several of them stopped and began to read.

"I've watched a few people interact with the exhibit and I was so happy to see some people reading some of the letters, letters home that servicemen sent that we have in our collection. They're really interesting," said Evavold, Curator of Collections at the Otter Tail County Historical Society.

Those letters, written by Otter Tail County service members and sent home from war, anchor "A Legacy of Service," a temporary exhibit at OTCHS in Fergus Falls that opened March 19 and runs through December 31. More than 160 items, their artifacts curated over decades, trace local service from the Civil War through Desert Storm and into present-day conflicts.

The timing is deliberate. Evavold said the exhibit was created to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. "We thought, what could be better than highlighting our military? We could do that at anytime, we think. It's always appropriate to honor these servicemen and women. I think for the 250, it's just even more poignant."

Beyond uniforms, flags, photographs, and a case of memorabilia from the 1976 Bicentennial, the exhibit includes a station where visitors can write letters to active service members on-site. The Daughters of the American Revolution will collect and mail them.

The collection has gaps OTCHS wants the community to help fill. The museum is seeking photographs of service members who lost their lives in war, and additional items from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Those with items to donate can call 218-736-6038 or email otchs@prtel.com. The museum is at 1110 Lincoln Ave. W. in Fergus Falls, open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from June through August, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $2 for ages 5 to 11, and free for children 4 and under. A concurrent Norwegian heritage exhibit runs through July 11; details are at otchs.org.

"It's important that we remember," Evavold said. "Remember the servicemen and women and their families.