📜 Despite Last Year’s Vote, Mat-Su’s Traveling History Exhibit Still Needs Community Funding

The Dorothy Swanda Jones Building was originally built in 1935 as Palmer’s Central School before being repurposed as the borough’s administrative headquarters.

By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | November 2025

PALMER, Alaska – It’s been more than a year since the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly passed Resolution RS 24‑105, approving a plan for a public display of historic documents, but the project still hasn’t reached its funding goal. The initiative, now called , aims to highlight eight foundational documents that shaped U.S. and Alaskan law. (matanuska.legistar.com)

What’s in the Exhibit

The display will feature eight documents in chronological order:

• The Code of Hammurabi
• The Ten Commandments
• The Magna Carta
• The Mayflower Compact
• The Declaration of Independence
• The United States Constitution
• The Bill of Rights
• The Constitution of the State of Alaska (matsugov.us)

The plan is for a traveling exhibit, not just something static in the Dorothy Swanda Jones Building lobby. Once completed, it could move to schools, libraries, and other community spaces around the borough. (matsugov.us)

Funding & Donation Details

The Borough estimates the full cost of producing the exhibit, including banners and lighting, at $4,000. Because the Assembly specified that no taxpayer money could be used, the project relies entirely on community donations. Residents can contribute online, by mail, in person, or via drop-boxes at multiple locations:

• Online: Credit Card or ACH
• Mail: Checks to 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer, AK 99645
• In-Person: Cash, check, or credit card at the same address
• Drop-Boxes (check only): DSJ Building in Palmer, Station 6‑1 (101 W Swanson, Wasilla), Station 6‑5 (680 N Seward-Meridian Pkwy, Wasilla) (matsugov.us)

If you have questions, Collections can be reached at (907) 861‑8610. (matsugov.us)

What Happens Next

The exhibit can only move forward once donations reach the $4,000 target. After that, the Borough will produce the banners, add lighting, and start the traveling portion of the project. The exact timeline isn’t set yet. (matsugov.us)

Why It Matters

The exhibit is more than just pretty banners on display. It’s a chance for residents, especially students, to see in one place the historical documents that shaped American and Alaskan law. Making it a traveling exhibit means more communities can see it, and more people can learn from it.

But the key point? The community needs to step up. Every donation brings this traveling journey through history closer to life. Without support, it will remain on hold despite the Assembly’s approval more than a year ago.

For more information or to donate, visit the Borough’s webpage: matsugov.us/historic-docs (matsugov.us).