Balaton Area History Center launches new site in hopes of inspiring kids
It took a near family tragedy to start Steve Torkelson’s path to starting his own freelance web design company, and his talents are being put to good use locally.
In 2002, Torkelson’s then-7year-old daughter, Haley, was accidentally shot in the chest with a .22-caliber rifle. That part of the story has a happy ending, as Haley is now 31 years old and living a good life in the Twin Cities. And her father’s story has worked out well, too.
After Haley’s recovery, Torkelson decided to go online and write about it.
“I wanted to write her story and share what she went through with people, so I made a website and told her story,” said Torkelson.
The rest, as they say is history, and Torkelson now designs websites for Steves Web Studio, based out of Balaton. And one of his latest creations was for the Balaton History Center. This partnership has turned out to be a perfect match, as Torkelson is big into history.
“I’ve done a lot of genealogy research; I think it’s interesting,” he said. “For small businesses, it’s hard enough to run a small business with trying to be a web developer. That’s where I come in. I work directly with businesses on a personal level — they’re not going through an agency where they’re just an account number.”
The History Center’s website went live on Aug. 4, and an open house is planned for Aug. 25 that will provide a chance to explore the History Center, view its displays and learn more about the stories preserved within the museum. The project brings together historical information, visitor resources, community stories and interactive activities in a modern, easy-tonavigate online experience.
The website gives residents, former residents, families, researchers and visitors an opportunity to learn more about Balaton’s past from nearly anywhere. Visitors can explore topics such as railroad heritage, agriculture and prairie life, historic photographs and artifacts, and stories about the people and families who helped shape the community.
The website is also intended to grow along with the History Center. Additional features are planned, including expanded membership information and opportunities for community members to support the museum and its preservation efforts.
The Balaton Area History Center plays an important, smalltown role in preserving photographs, artifacts, documents and personal stories connected to the community. By making more of that information available online, the organization hopes to reach people who may not yet have visited the museum, as well as former residents and families with connections to the Balaton area.
While there is a misconception that museums are an adultsonly destination, it is Torkelson’s hope that the History Center can become an attraction for the little ones, too.
One of the new website’s family-focused features is a collection of History Center scavenger hunts created especially for children, designed to turn a museum visit into an educational and entertaining experience for both children and their parents. Separate activities are available for children ages 4-7 and ages 8-12, allowing younger visitors to explore museum displays at an age-appropriate level.
“I hope kids will be interested in this kind of stuff,” said Torkelson. “If we don’t preserve these stories, they could be lost. Documentation is important, but I want to get the kids involved.”
Torkelson’s idea came from when he and Haley visited a Colorado Springs museum that featured a scavenger hunt.
“It was a family thing, and it was just a lot of fun,” he said. “I thought, ‘What can I do to bring kids into this museum.’ I wanted to make it for young kids.”
Kids in the younger age group hunt for random items in the History Center, while the older kids face a bit bigger challenge, as they will have to answer questions about the items. Kids receive a personal certificate for finishing their hunt, and also an ice cream cone, donated by Balaton One Stop.
“We want to get them into the museum,” Torkelson said. “And then we want them to look around the museum — what better way to do that than a scavenger hunt?”
