Staffers at the Frisco Historic Park and Museum say that just because their organization revolves around the past, it doesn’t mean the way they operate can’t be hip and fresh.

Throughout the year for the museum’s 30th anniversary, they have ramped up programs and events, which have included an expanded lunchtime lecture series, historic town tours and the Night at the Museum after-hours series of events.

The museum also was the venue for the first-ever Pistols and Pearls fundraising event, which attracted fancy-costumed gentlemen and ladies to eat, drink and be merry at the historic park in late spring.

“That was a whopper,” museum director Simone Belz said of the event. “This is a special year for us and we’ve had wonderful attendance throughout our events. I’m also hearing visitors comment almost daily at about the high caliber of the museum for such a tiny community and they applaud us. It’s been a great ride this year to highlight what we’ve been doing.”

The amped up offerings are continuing throughout October and the remainder of the year, Belz said.

Museum visitors will experience ghastly tales and chilling poems of Victorian Gothic literature at the Oct. 30 event “Nightmare at the Museum.”

December brings the Wassail Night at the Museum. This after-hours event on Dec. 13 will include apple cider, cookies, stories and music. The community is invited to take a break from holiday shopping and visit Santa at the museum on Dec. 7 and 14.

The museum director said the building’s ambiance is conducive to holiday celebrations.

“Museums are already really wonderful community gathering places, but the atmosphere here also gives you an old-time feel that’s soothing to the soul,” she said. “It punctuates the holidays and is a great place to spend time with your family.”

In addition to events designed to celebrate 30 years of museum operation, staff members said they’ve also upped the ante when it comes to the quality of the exhibits.

“It’s been an outstanding year,” said museum coordinator Nancy Anderson. “We’ve made so many improvements and everything has really come together. People coming through the museum say that it’s been the highlight of their trip. Some of them had no idea it was here, but they were so impressed.”

The Historic Park and Museum will be closed for exhibit and maintenance projects Oct. 1 through 4.

“This is an annual closure we do to take a deep breath and work on some behind-the-scenes things we can’t do while we’re open,” Belz said.

This year, museum staff will be focused on updating Bill’s Ranch House and other exhibits, including the history of saloons and Frisco’s ranching legacy.

“Ranching was prominent in keeping the community of Frisco alive when the population was dwindling during the meager years, so we are highlighting some local ranching families through the display,” Belz said.