The Nolan Center is so much more than a museum, though it certainly excels in its historical role.
It’s the center of activity in town.
It’s a meeting place, a conference center, movie theater, visitor information center. It’s something for everyone, all under one roof.
And it’s 20 years old. Actually, 20 years and 3 months old, but Nolan Center staff figured they couldn’t very well manage a big community birthday party for residents in the middle of the visitor season, so the celebration was moved to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14.
A birthday cake couldn’t hold enough candles to light up the importance of the multi-purpose facility to Wrangell. Besides, no flames around all those historical items. But that shouldn’t deter anyone from coming to the center to share in the party.
The downtown waterfront building opened its doors to the public on July 1, 2004. It’s named for the late James and Elsie Nolan, who owned Wrangell Drug for decades. James was a member of the territorial and state Legislature, and served a term as state Senate president from 1955-1957. James Nolan lived in Alaska 71 years and his life was as varied as the building named in the couple’s honor: Wrangell city council member, fisherman, U.S. deputy marshal, head of the Wrangell chamber of commerce.
The bulk of funding to build the center came from the Nolan family trust and the Rasmuson Foundation, established by the Alaska banking family who helped build the state at the same time James Nolan was doing his part.
Today, the center “is really the cultural hub for our community,” said Jeanie Arnold, director of the operation.
But at its core is the museum, telling the story of Wrangell’s past from the Tlingit heritage through hundreds of years to mining, timber and fishing. Its collection of cultural artifacts, memorabilia, hands-on displays and photographs provides a fitting background for its 20th birthday party.
Besides for bringing foods for the potluck event and participating in the champagne toast on Monday, residents — and any visitors in town — are encouraged to walk through the museum and tour the gift shop. The evening will be “a bit of a membership drive” for the Friends of the Museum, Arnold said. The nonprofit helps with activities and fundraising at the center.
In a variation of birthday invitations that say, “no gifts, please,” partygoers can buy a Friends of the Museum membership as their gift toward the next 20 years.
- Wrangell Sentinel
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