The New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF) gave a $10,000 donation to the Brown County Historical Society (BCHS), Friday, Aug. 28. From left, Gene Clark, Lauri Stark, Rick Jensen, Amy Johnson, Kathleen Backer, Ryan Harren, John Illikman, Shannon Hillesheim and Pat Herzog.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF) gave a $10,000 donation to the Brown County Historical Society (BCHS), Friday, Aug. 28.

The donation will be used to fund a new exhibit on early Brown County at the BCHS museum, BCHS Director Kathleen Backer. The new exhibit would explore the prehistory of Brown County, including early human habitation and European settlement. Specific topics will include geographical formations and Native American culture before and after European contact.

The exhibit will be part of the museum for at least 10 years. This display has been in the planning stage for three years but was delayed due to needed repairs at the museum and the recent COVID pandemic. Backer said the exhibit should be in place by spring 2021.

NUAF Executive Director John Illikman said the foundation has four pillars they support: arts, education, economy and history. This donation has direct ties to history, but also education and economy. Illikman believes this exhibit would attract people to New Ulm.