DULUTH — The St. Louis County Historical Society welcomed a new member to its leadership team this week, as Wayne Gannaway stepped into the role of executive director on Monday.
Gannaway comes to the job on the heels of serving 5 1/2 years as the head of the History Center of Olmsted County, based in Rochester, Minnesota.
ADVERTISEMENT
He is no stranger to Duluth, however, having lived in the community from 2009-2012, during which time he worked as a scenic byways specialist for the Arrowhead Regional Development Center.
Gannaway said he has always admired "the historic preservation ethic" of St. Louis County, along with the region's appreciation of its rich cultural and ethnic heritage, as well as its vibrant art scene.
"So, moving back to Duluth was a real draw for me," he said. "And the St. Louis County Historical Society itself has such a strong collection and some really terrific exhibits that helped make me really want to take on the challenge of leading this organization in its next chapter."
Gannaway described being inspired by the many narrative threads that weave the region's historical fabric, including the role that abundant natural resources — from timber to iron ore — played in the county's economic growth.
As he seeks to chronicle the nation's largest county by land mass east of the Mississippi River, Gannaway expressed his eagerness to get out and explore the countryside, learning more about the unique communities that make up St. Louis County.
"Working with affiliated historical organizations is critical to us being able to share those stories with the public," he said. "I want to see how we can knit this organization together with the entire county."
Gannaway acknowledged that's "a tall order" but a worthy endeavor.
ADVERTISEMENT
The opportunity to work with veterans was another draw to the job in St. Louis County for Gannaway, who served as a Minnesota Army National Guard military police officer in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War. He is a member of the VFW and the Rochester chapter of the Disabled American Veterans.
Gannaway said he is interested in sharing the ordeals of military service members in uniform and upon their return to civilian life.
"I also want to help close the gap between people who have not been in the armed forces and the veterans who have been. I think it's important that all of us sort of bridge that gap between those two groups. And one way to do that is through storytelling, through history and forums where people who have and have not served in the armed forces can come together and learn from each other," he said.
The Veterans Memorial Hall at the St. Louis County Depot is still undergoing final repairs following water damage it sustained in July. But Gannaway says it is nearing completion and views the honoring of area military service members — including five who earned the Medal of Honor — as a key role of the historical society.
Gannaway said one of the other strengths of the St. Louis County Historical Society that truly impressed him was its commitment to recognizing the significant hand American Indians have played. He praised the Native American advisory committee used to inform local exhibit decisions.
"I think it's really something for the historical society, its members and the county to be proud of," Gannaway said.
Gannaway envisions the local historical society striving to engage people and help them see the connections between challenges past and present.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maintaining and building support for the historical society will be another key objective for Gannaway as he steps into his new role.
Toward that end, he said he aims to work closely with the board of governors and the supporters of the St. Louis County Historical Society.
"The executive director doesn't wear a superhero cape. It really does take a community of supporters to diversify the organization's revenue sources and help strengthen the financial future of the historical society," he said.
But Gannaway says he's eager to get to work strengthening those ties.
Gannaway's credentials seem to indicate he's well-equipped for his latest job. In addition to his time in Olmsted County, he also has worked at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest historic site in Lynchburg, Virginia, as a curator for the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, and began his career working for the Minnesota Historical Society's historic sites division.
The Trust Project
