COMMUNITY For the Love of History Crystal Nelson has been with the Dakota Territorial Museum since May 2007. In her short time there she has begun taking on the monumental task of cateloging the many collections. She has also been busy recruiting volunteers to help at the museum. Crystal Nelson has been interested in history for as long as she can remember. “I have a photo of me wearing a pioneer dress at the age of one,” she says, walking with her mom doing reenactments. By the time she was six, Crystal says her father had purchased a 1916 Case steam engine. “Ever since then we have done historical reenactments and demonstrations.” When it was time to go off to college, Crystal says she didn’t know what she wanted to do, so she got a degree in business. But after jumping from job to job because she got bored when a task was completed, she sought something new. So back to school Crystal went. And this time she was put in touch with the Dakota Territorial Museum. Being from Freeman, she knew of the museum in Yankton, but not much else. She ended up doing her internship under former director Doug Sall. Now she has degrees in history and museum studies, with minors in history and archeology, as well as her business degree. It was during her internship that “I had realized that I had all the making to help with the directorship here. So I applied — and here I am.” 18 ■ HERVOICE MARCH/APRIL 2011 Proud New Owners of Juliana Boutique relax and rejuvenate in our tranquil salon & quiet day spa 11th & Broadway,Yankton ~ 664-0135