The Journey Museum announced today the merger with the Black Hills Historical Society (BHHS).
For almost thirty years, the Journey Museum has been Rapid City’s premier museum and the steward of Black Hills history. The Black Hills Historical Society (formerly the Minnilusa Historical Association) has been located in the Journey Museum since it opened in 1997. During that time, the two organizations worked closely together to preserve the history of the Black Hills and present educational programs and exhibits to the Rapid City community. This merger of these two
closely aligned organizations will usher in a new era of growth and development for the Journey Museum while preserving the legacy of the BHHS.
According to a news release, the merger results in a strong financial position for the museum and an increased efficiency to better serve the Rapid City
community.
With the completion of the merger, Mark Slocum, the Executive Director for the Black Hills Historical Society will assume the position of Deputy Director of the Journey Museum. He will also serve as the Director of Collections for the new organization, overseeing the growing collection of Black Hills historical and cultural artifacts. Conor McMahon will continue to serve as the Executive Director of the Journey Museum.
The new board of the Journey Museum is made up of equal representatives from both the Journey Museum and the Black Hills Historical Society. Stacie Granum serves as the Board Chair and Pat Roseland as the Vice Chair. The new leadership of the Museum Alliance of Rapid City, the nonprofit that operates the Journey Museum, looks forward to opportunities to expand the museum audience and programs while working closely with all members of the community.
The Journey Museum will host a special Summer Festival on June 21st in celebration of the merger.
Admission to the museum will be free all day. The event will include educational activities for all ages that celebrate the unique history, science, and cultures of the Black Hills.
