Fort Museum & Frontier Village
People Dedicated to Preserving Our History
Behind every preserved building, meaningful exhibit, and welcoming visit is a team committed to the Fort’s future. Our staff, volunteers, and board members help connect our community with the stories of Iowa’s frontier.
Caring for the buildings, artifacts, and stories entrusted to us.
Creating opportunities to learn, gather, and experience local history.
Supporting the daily work that keeps the museum moving forward.
Leadership & Daily Operations
Meet Our Staff
Our team brings together museum leadership, visitor service, event coordination, and hands-on care for our historic grounds.
Jen Fitzgerald
Executive Director
Jen oversees the museum’s overall management and direction, working with staff and the board to advance its mission and long-term goals. Her responsibilities include fundraising, community relationships, and support for the museum’s educational and cultural work.
She helps connect the needs of daily operations with the broader work of preserving the Fort for future generations.
Matt Caruth
Museum Site & Facilities Manager
Matt oversees the upkeep of the museum’s indoor and outdoor spaces, including facility maintenance, grounds, and landscaping. His work supports the preservation of the museum’s physical assets and a safe, welcoming environment for visitors.
By coordinating maintenance needs across the property, he helps keep the Fort ready for tours, community gatherings, and special events.
Sean O’Connor
Museum Assistant
Sean welcomes visitors and helps them explore the museum’s exhibits, programs, and events. He supports daily opening and closing procedures, exhibit upkeep, administrative tasks, and transactions for admissions, gift shop purchases, and donations.
His role also includes event setup and cleanup, helping provide an organized and enjoyable experience at the Fort.
Alli Berger
Wedding Liaison
Alli serves as the dedicated contact for couples planning their wedding at the Frontier Opera House. She helps coordinate date reservations, event details, special requests, and communication between couples and the museum team.
Her attention to planning and logistics helps couples create a celebration in a setting rich with local history.
Willis Van Sickler
Museum Grounds Maintenance
Willis helps care for the museum’s buildings, grounds, and outdoor spaces. His work supports the upkeep and functionality of the property while helping maintain an attractive setting for visitors.
This hands-on care contributes to the longevity of the museum’s facilities and the daily preservation work that keeps the Fort welcoming.
Artifacts & Interpretation
Caring for Our Collections
Curatorial work preserves, documents, and researches the artifacts in our care. Through exhibit preparation and interpretation, this work connects individual objects with the people, places, and events behind them.
Service & Community
Our Valued Volunteers
Volunteers support bingo, event setup and teardown, cleaning, inventory, and community activities. Their time and effort help care for the property and make museum programs and events possible. We are grateful for their continued support.
Fort Dodge Historical Foundation
Our Board of Directors
Our board helps guide the museum’s mission and future, supporting the continued stewardship of Fort Museum & Frontier Village.
Christine Tiernan
Board Chair
Gerri Dunn
Board Vice Chair
Annette Mackay
Secretary
Mindy Derrig
Treasurer
Jeana Becker
Frontier Days Chair
John Simpson
Board Member
Bob Younie
Board Member
Leif Glesne
Board Member
Greg Baedke
Board Member
Travis Klemp
Board Member
Help Carry Our History Forward
Your Support Makes a Lasting Difference
Historic places need ongoing care. Your gift supports museum operations, historic preservation, facility improvements, and the continued stewardship of Fort Museum & Frontier Village.
Whether you make a donation or discuss a lasting partnership with our team, you help preserve a place where our community’s history can be experienced and shared.