This is a big year for the Lewis and Clark Trail Museum in the McKenzie County town of Alexander.

It is celebrating 40 years in 2009 and one man has set the goal of refurbishing it now that he is back in his hometown.

Ben Novak recently finished up his college work at Montana State University, and it now preparing for graduate school.

But before he begins that phase of his life he's taking a year off to work here.

Novak says this small museum holds arifacts that tell an amazing story of what life was like decades and centuries ago on that land that is now western North Dakota.

The goal of his work this summer is to make sure those artifacts stay in good condition...

There are standards when it comes to preservation...and he wants them implemented.

(Ben Novak - Alexander) "The light is not being controlled in the museum. Artifacts are degrading...so it would be nice to remodel the museum to give it better flow and organization and give it a sense of community because it has been in a state of neglect for about a decade now."

The Lewis and Clark Trail Museum is open through Labor Day. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list