For those who have never visited the Dowagiac Area History Museum, you’re missing out.

The downtown institution, located inside the former Behnke Paint store on Railroad Street, is home to some really amazing local treasures. From its extensive collection of old Round Oak Stoves to the hundreds of one-of-a-kind photographs of the events and festivals from days long past, there is bound to be one thing or another that will draw your interest.

Unfortunately, keeping these precious artifacts from Dowagiac’s and Cass County’s history in pristine condition does not come cheap.

That is where you come in.

The local museum is organizing its first-ever “Keep History Alive” fundraiser. The event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Dowagiac Elks Lodge. Tickets are on sale now at the museum, and cost $30.

Attendees will enjoy a barbecue dinner served by Cassopolis’ Smokin’ Good BBQ, and will have a chance to bid on a variety of valuable items in live and silent auctions throughout the evening. Among the prizes up for grabs are tickets to Notre Dame and Michigan State Football games, a Mexican vacation package through Niles’ Signal Travel and a bath and shower from Dowagiac’s Lyons Industries.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward paying for the museum’s general operating expenses, said Director Steve Arseneau.

For the chance to enjoy good food, win great prizes and support one of the city’s most valuable assets, $30 seems like a bargain.

We believe strongly in the mission that Arseneau and his group of dedicated volunteers have undertaken to preserve our region’s history and to share the many stories from its past.

Of course, the museum is so much more than a simple repository. Since moving from its old location at Southwestern Michigan College to downtown, it has become an anchor for the central business district, and the community as a whole.

It is a destination for visitors stopping by the city and who are looking for something to do while downtown. It is a place for residents to check out in order to learn more about their hometown and to become more well connected with its past. It is a resource for students and researchers who are working on projects related to Dowagiac’s and Cass County’s past.

All you need to do is check out how packed the museum is during its spring and fall lecture series. One hundred or more people come out to the institution during the talks, where they learn interesting facts about the people and events that shaped Dowagiac, the county, southwest Michigan and beyond into the place we know and love today.

The museum is also currently lending a major hand to the Orphan Train mural project, which is currently being painted on Pennsylvania Avenue downtown. Arseneau has provided the lead artist on the project, Cassopolis’ Ruth Andrews, with a wealth of information to make her work as historically accurate as possible.

It’s hard to imagine where the city would be without the museum. As long as we continue to support it, thankfully we will never have to, either.

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of General Manager Ambrosia Neldon and editors Scott Novak and Ted Yoakum.