Andrea Johnson/MDN Ward County Historical Society’s Pioneer Village Museum is located near Burlington.

Plans are underway for a historic summer at the Ward County Historical Society’s Pioneer Village Museum at Burlington.

Site director Sue Bergan said the historical society plans to open the museum to the public for the 2021 season on May 22. The museum was relocated to Burlington from the North Dakota State Fairgrounds a couple of years ago and volunteers have spent that time getting the village museum established in its new settings.

Buildings, including handicapped accessible restrooms in one of the school buildings on the village site, should be ready for visitors. The museum obtained some grant funding to install the bathrooms.

Historical society president David Leite said in the historical society’s newsletter that the bathrooms were half complete as of the end of March.

“We’ve got most of (the building interior displays) ready to roll,” said Bergan.

Historical society members are readying a military exhibit that will be on display in the Eureka school house building.

The Harmon House will serve as the museum’s visitor’s center and it is where people will register when they arrive. The Samuelson House, the big white farm house, will also be ready for interior viewing.

Bergan said the historical society is also planning for its annual car show and flea market on Aug. 7-8 at the museum.

Admission will be free to the public on May 22 but there might be an admission fee charged at a later date, said Bergan.

Leite said in the newsletter that work continues on other areas at the museum.

“We have installed our washing machine displays back on the Sameulson House porch,” said Leite. “The Blacksmith shop machinery is returned from storage and being put in place and our military collections are being arranged in the Eureka school house. We have recently acquired some antique horse drawn implements and salvaged some cedar siding to be used to repair a couple of buildings.”

The historical society is also undertaking landscaping on the museum grounds.

“Besides all of the work going on, we are undertaking an ambitious plan for planting trees, bushes and flowers. Lowe’s nursery in Minot has graciously made a planting plan for our houses and the village square that we are more than happy with,” said Leite.

The plantings will include large trees such as a Weeping Birch, Royal Raindrop Crab, Bur Oak and Prairie Expedition Elms.

The museum is seeking donations from individuals or businesses to help pay for the landscaping. People who donate more than $200 will have their names and a message inscribed on a plaque that will be on display at the museum.

Summer opening hours at the Pioneer Village Museum at Burlington will be noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, said David Leite, president of the Ward County Historical Society.

Planned events include the Pioneer Village Spring Fling on May 22, a rummage sale on June 4 and 5, and the annual car and tractor show and flea market on Aug. 7 and 8.

“Our team of volunteers and supporters continue to rebuild and make improvements to the Pioneer Village Museum,” said Leite. “The move to Burlington has allowed the Museum, which has been loved by the community for over 70 years, to become an even better destination attraction. We are proud of what has been accomplished and look forward to showing it off to your family.”