Los Alamos Historical Society donor tree. Courtesy photo

BY HEATHER MCCLENAGHAN
Former Executive Director
Los Alamos Historical Society

How fun to see the long line of people getting old pieces of flooring from the Oppenheimer House last weekend! My husband and I recently had the privilege of touring the house with Todd Nickols and Kristen Hollis, executive director and associate director, respectively, of the Los Alamos Historical Society. As the former executive director of the organization, I am thrilled to see the progress on the house and other programs within the society.

Congratulations to the Historical Society, Enterprise Bank & Trust, and the community of Los Alamos for stepping up to preserve this historic gem. I would like to remind everyone, though, that the work if far from over. Once construction is done, exhibits need to be created and installed. New volunteers will need to be brought in, and new staff hired when the house is open to the public.

This effort will be sustained by the community’s continued giving (https://losalamoshistory.networkforgood.com/projects/22122-everyday-giving). In addition to membership or direct gifts, consider supporting the long-term sustainability of the Historical Society as well. Thanks to Dean Decker for creating an endowment fund at the Los Alamos Community Foundation to support the society’s work, (https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1773)

Finally, consider a gift to the Los Alamos Historical Society in your estate planning. So many community leaders such as Art Freed and Ron and Sally Wilkins did just that. Their legacies live on in the society’s work with the archives and collections, educational programming, exhibits, and much more. Spots are still open on the “donor tree” outside the Hans Bethe House on Bathtub Row. You, too, can be part of Los Alamos history!