Volunteer Spotlight: Bob Peterson
Bob Peterson has had an interest in History his entire life. He has memories from a young age where his parents would buy him book after book on American history and he would read them all day in day out. When it came time for him to retire he came across a question that man before him and after him will come across. What now? Bob decided to get involved in his passion and love of history. He now volunteers as a museum assistant here at MNHS and at the American Swedish Institute. When asked about what keeps him coming back to MNHS to volunteer for the past three years. He said as a museum assistant he gets to speak with dozens of people but every once in a while he will be able to speak with a guest and see a spark in their eyes. Being able to ignite the spark in children or even restore that passion for history is a worthwhile task. It might not be a daily or even weekly occurrence but when he is able to build a connection with a guest Bob says that it makes volunteering that much better worth it.
You can see Bob's love for History not only in his volunteer work but also in his travels. Bob loves to travel with his wife not only across the globe but also across the country. His most recent trip was a road trip with his wife across the country. They went through several states and were able to see many different museums and historical sites. One of the places that stuck with him is Charlotte,South Carolina where they visited the Old Slave Mart Museum. A place of great tragedy but a place that holds a substantial portion of American History. He found the Old Slave Mart to hold so much emotion and vital knowledge. Their next stop was at Shiloh,Tennessee which was a major battleground during the Civil War. The final stop of this trip was the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and museum in Springfield, Illinois. Bob said that while this order was not originally planned he is glad that the trip went in this sequence because he was able to see the order of a major part of American history chronologically. Bob said it felt as if they were walking through the flow of time and the course of history with each stop. Being able to experience this trip allowed for them to get a better understanding of a crucial portion of American History.
Bob not only has a love for history but a passion and enthusiasm that can not be replicated. When speaking with him you are able to visually see and experience his zeal for history and learning. It entices you to do your own research and reading. It makes you want to learn more about the world that surrounds you. A conversation with Bob is not one you will forget for a long time to come. It's a conversation that will be written in the history books!