Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Dennis and Kathie Born donated a $1,000 to the city to assist with the digital inventory of the artifacts at Riverside Environmental Learning Center. Frpom left, Tom Schmitz, Mayor Robert Beussman, Ron Bolduan, Kathie Born, Dennis Born and Cheryl Beussman.

NEW ULM–The Riverside Park Environnmental Learning Center received a $1,000 donation from Dennis and Kathie Born, Wednesday. The donation will assist in the digital inventory of the learning center’s natural history artifacts.

Dennis Born said he and his wife have both been through the center many times and they realized it had many artifacts the city did not know existed. There was a strong need to hire a person to conduct the inventory. The donation would help with the process and the digital inventory would be a part of New Ulm’s history for many years.

Park and Recreation Director Tom Schmitz said a local firm has been hired to conduct the digital inventory. All artifacts will be documented with photos. The photos will be made available on a website for the public to see. The inventory process will begin at the end of April.

Environmental Learning Center Curator Ron Bolduan said he could not hazard a guess at the number of artifacts in the center. It was in the hundreds and the list of items continues to grow. He said it was amazing how many people have donated items.

A virtual tour of the learning center is already available on the city’s website.

Bolduan said if anyone is interested in a tour of the center, he can be reached at 507-766-5770. He is available at most times.