With the closing of the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, and the end of the 42-year-old Dale Evans and Roy Rogers Museum in Branson, Mo., it seems as if the struggles experienced by local museums are not unusual. “Unfortunately when you have a museum focused on personality, it’s too narrow, too generational,” said John Langellier of Sharlot Hall Museum. “Dale Evans and Roy Rogers were great people, I knew them quite well from my work with the Gene Autry museum, but they are known by only one generation. I’m part of that generation. “Even presidential museums have the same problem, although they have governmental funding. I don’t know how often anyone goes out of their way to visit the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa,” laughed the museum director. “Like Smoki, Sharlot Hall Museum has broader appeal. We have the real thing here – the Real West – that resonates with Europeans as well as U.S. visitors. We have a very strong living history program that brings the museum experience to life. Visitors are looking for uniqueness, a realistic experience, a road less traveled, if you will,” said Langellier, who also sits on the Prescott Tourist Advisory Committee. “We are proactive to bring people in, and keep them here. We’d like to see more visitors use this area as a gateway to Grand Canyon. “Many don’t realize that we are one of the largest museums in the southwest. We are on over four acres with a dozen buildings.”
The museum’s full-time and part-time employees serve visitors from all 50 states. “The museum’s economic impact to Yavapai County is $4 million per year,” said the museum professional, who helped develop the Gene Autry museum and then worked at the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum before returning to Arizona four years ago. To reach a broader audience, the museum uses social media and offers programs aimed at younger audiences. “Thousands of school children come in free of charge. We’re like a three-dimensional history book that enhances education for the children,” said Langellier. “We’ve had to cut back, but we’ve kept our level of service up. Some of us are doing more – we’ve had to become more resourceful,” said Langellier, revealing that his operating budget has been cut by the state. “Our visitation and membership numbers have stayed up.”
James Ward, spokesman for the Phippen Museum, explained how the slowdown of the economy affected planning for their $3.3 million expansion project. “We entered into the capital campaign before the economy went south on everyone. Once the downturn was evident, we discussed whether we should we ride out the storm, or roll the dice and push forward.” Executive Director Kim Villalpando wrote to benefactors in an Annual Appeal, “…your thoughtful consideration has never been more crucial than it is now as we navigate the troubled waters of a shaky economy.” “We decided to use the funds that we had and move forward by breaking the project down into multiple phases,” explained Ward, Phippen’s volunteer and events co-coordinator.
The first phase included 10,000 square feet of new space, including a gallery, museum gift shop and entryway. In the final phase, the library, classroom and studio space in the lower level will be revamped. “We were able to take advantage of the financial climate – the costs of materials and building contracts were at an all-time low,” said Ward. “We made the decision early on that all the contractors would be from the Quad Cities area. We wanted to help other locals that were struggling as well.” Local architects Lynn Van Landingham and Bill Otwell designed the addition. Haley Construction Company is the general contractor. “We continue our capital campaign, and as we get funds, we move forward. In a way, we’re not going to have the ‘ta-da: we’re all done’ grand opening. It was a gamble: were we going to wait for the economy to turn around, or were we going to hope for the light at the end of the tunnel?” said Ward. “It is loosening up a bit and we’ve seen positive signs.” Cindy Gresser, executive director at Smoki Museum, collaborated with other museums during the tough economic times. “Over the past year, we’ve offered a three-museum pass, although we’re not sure we’re going to do that again. We also consult with other museums’ event calendars so we don’t overlap. When events do share a date, we cross-promote.” “
“AARP employees have been a blessing to us,” said Gresser, who volunteered as chairman of the board before she was hired by the museum. “The AARP received stimulus funding to hire folks over 55 to go work for nonprofits. It has been very good for Smoki.”
Sharlot Hall Museum 415 West Gurley Street, Prescott
928-445-3122 http://sharlot.org
Smoki Museum 147 North Arizona Avenue, Prescott 928-445-1230 www.smokimuseum.org
Leave a Reply