
A Legacy in Bloom: How Local Giving Shapes Pella’s History
At Pella Historical Museums & Tulip Time, history isn’t just something we preserve; it’s something we live, experience, and share with our community every day. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the successful completion of our On Track For Success fundraising campaign. Thanks to the generosity of local families, individuals, and foundations, we now have the resources to continue preserving Pella’s heritage and building experiences that inspire residents and visitors alike.
One of the most meaningful gifts came from Jim and Marilyn Dean, who contributed $250,000 in memory of Jim’s mother, Ada Dean. The Wynberg and Dean families have been part of Pella’s story for more than a century. John and Cornelia Wynberg immigrated from the Netherlands in 1907, and their daughter Ada grew up in homes that are now part of the Historical Village, like the Boyhood Home of Wyatt Earp. Ada devoted countless hours volunteering with Pella Historical, working in the Vermeer Mill and throughout the Village. Jim fondly remembers tinkering on cars with friends under the apple trees that once graced the Village grounds, while Marilyn recalls living with Ada in the Sterrenberg Library as Jim served in Da Nang, Vietnam. Today, Jim and Marilyn’s gift helps sponsor the new Pella Historical Trolley Station, honoring Ada’s legacy and continuing a family tradition of stewardship in Pella.
The On Track For Success campaign allows us to bring big ideas to life. Funds will help build a new trolley station, complete with public restrooms and visitor amenities. They will enhance Tulip Time, ensuring that Pella’s signature festival continues to grow and shine. Campaign support will also go toward preserving and maintaining the Historical Village, protecting the buildings, landscapes, and artifacts that tell Pella’s story. And looking to the future, we’re dreaming bigger - expanding tulip fields and creating even more vibrant displays for generations to come.
The story of the Dean family illustrates the impact of local giving. When individuals and families invest in cultural institutions like Pella Historical Museums, their support ripples outward: it preserves our shared history, strengthens community traditions, and creates spaces for learning, celebration, and connection. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference and helps ensure that Pella’s story continues to be told.
“This campaign has shown us how deeply this community values its history and traditions,” says Jessi Galligan, Executive Director of Pella Historical Museums & Tulip Time. “We are grateful to every donor, whether an individual, a foundation, or a family with generations of connection to this place, for helping us preserve and share Pella’s story for years to come.”
As we celebrate the completion of the On Track For Success campaign, we invite you to be part of this journey. Whether through visiting the Historical Village, attending Tulip Time, volunteering, or giving, your support helps bring Pella’s history to life and ensures it remains vibrant for future generations.
Learn more about the campaign and the projects it funds here.