New Director Has Plans, Goals For Mills County Historical Museum

A change in directors is happening at the Mills County Historical Museum.

Lauren Culp, a Glenwood native and recent graduate of Cornell College, is taking over the role from Stephen Hunt.

Hunt is a former chef who began his work at the museum as a volunteer and museum board member, eventually converting to a paid role after taking over operations. Hunt has described himself as an “out-of-the-box thinker” who worked to expand the museum’s role in the local community during his tenure.

“Boxes are constricting, you can’t see what’s on the other side. So I’m a big thinker. If I’m going to do a project, I want it to be huge,” Hunt said.

This mindset led him to create the museum’s annual Heritage Car Show and the event venue “The Zeum.” As Culp takes over museum operations, Hunt will continue to manage “The Zeum” and serve as a resource for any questions or concerns of Culp’s.

Culp has a bachelor’s degree in archaeology and previous experience working at the Mills County Historical Museum as an intern. As director, she will have a variety of responsibilities including cataloguing, cleaning, and storing artifacts.

Furthermore, she will create museum displays and coordinate communication with the board and volunteers. She credits redoing the museum’s military room as an intern with building her confidence for this role.

“It was a project where I had more independence, because I was just on my own for that, but it really helped me see what it’s like in a role with all that responsibility,” she said.

Culp appreciates the opportunity to serve as museum director, acknowledging the difficulty that often comes with finding jobs in museum-related work. Upon taking the lead, she has immediate goals for museum improvement.

“I’m starting with engaging the community and enhancing our collection, making it easier for people to come in and understand what we have,” she said.

Additionally, Culp plans to improve museum organization.

Both Hunt and Culp have high hopes for the future of the museum and want it to serve as a draw for visitors to the community. This means expanding the museum’s research capacity and innovating displays through new technology. They also hope to harness local talent through volunteers.

Hunt stressed the effort that goes into maintaining the museum and grounds, noting that the job would be impossible alone. Nonetheless, he and Culp will keep working to ensure that stories of this community are told.

“We don’t sit back and do nothing. We’re obligated to tell the history of this area,” Hunt said.