Action coordinates historical activities

Douglas County commissioners unanimously agreed to provide $18,000 in funding to a new historical tourism group that will provide management services to the Watkins Community Museum of History.

Commissioners approved a joint request from the Watkins board of directors and from Destination Management Inc., the new organization that is managing the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.

The funding will allow DMI to begin overseeing management activities at the Watkins Museum, 1047 Mass. Judy Billings, president of DMI, said the funding is the first step toward coordinating the activities of the various historical societies in the county to make them more visitor-friendly. County commissioners were on board with the idea, which has been previously discussed.

“If we want to do a Civil War event, for instance, it could be helpful,” County Commissioner Charles Jones said. “In 2011, we’ll be commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. It would be nice if all the different historical groups could be telling a little different part of the story.”