The Polk County Memorial Museum broke attendance records for the months of November, January and February, Curator Betsy Deiterman said as she presented her annual informational report to the Polk County Commissioners Court Tuesday.
“Fiscal year 2025 has been a full, productive year at the museum. We have had record-setting months for attendance, added new exhibits, accepted new donations and entertained lots of talk about construction projects. I appreciate all the efforts at improving services for visitors and enhancing the facilities so that we can continue to protect the history, stories and artifacts of our corner of East Texas,” Deiterman said.
“Throughout fiscal year 2025, the museum continued to show stable visibility and visitor attendance, with an expected positive trajectory to continue through the foreseeable future. Attendance has stabilized post-COVID, holding at an average of 755 visitors annually,” Deiterman said.
Temporary exhibits during fiscal year 2025 included “Urban Legends? Bigfoot, Black Panthers and Haunted Places in East Texas,” “Native American Heritage Month: Photography by Victoria and Aaliyah Johnson,” “The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: Establishing the Border Between the United States and Mexico in 1848” and “Mardi Gras 2025!”
In addition to those exhibits, Deiterman also produced and presented the following exhibits: National Custodial Workers’ Recognition Day in October 2024; National Medal of Honor Day in March 2025; Two Lights for Tomorrow: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of Paul Revere’s Ride in April 2025; and Livingston Art League in June 2025.
Permanent exhibits were cleaned and reorganized and enhanced labeling was added to the following: The War Years; Local Heroes; Civil War kiosk; Pioneers display; and Native Americans display. Additionally, a new permanent exhibit of a previously stored item – a model of a dogtrot cabin created by Quinton Ray “Cooter” Duff was added.
As for facilities, throughout fiscal year 2025, the Polk County Historical Commission worked with Architect Clifton Thomason on renovations and expansion. The new parking areas were completed in August. “Thank you to Polk County Maintenance Superintendent Grady Woods and everyone involved in this first phase of construction,” Deiterman said.
