History museum pushing $10 million renovation campaign

It may be the U.S. Marshals Museum project grabbing most of the headlines, but the Fort Smith Museum of History has big plans for the coming years, according to a recent report from the museum director.

Leisa Gramlich, executive director of Fort Smith Museum of History, said the 98-year-old organization — located at 320 Rogers Ave. in downtown Fort Smith — has launched an effort to raise as much as $10 million for implementation of a completed redesign plan of the first and second floor exhibits and for a renovation of the third and fourth floor collection storage area, offices, laboratory and meeting space.

“The 1907 Atkinson-Williams Warehouse Building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is due for much needed updating to bring the Fort Smith Museum of History up to the twenty-first century standards expected of today’s public,” Gramlich noted in an e-mail interview with The City Wire.

The museum has one full-time employee, six part-time workers, two regular volunteers and an intern from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. This group saw 12,590 visitors in fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) 2007 and 14,982 in fiscal year 2008. Gramlich said an early look at the numbers suggest the visitor count will be “up slightly” over FY 2008.

Gramlich recently issued a note to the museums board of trustees and board president Greg Smith outlining the past 12 months of work. Highlights of her report included:

• A conceptual redesign plan for updating the permanent exhibits is now complete. The new exhibit designs bring the museum up to twenty-first century standards. Utilizing audio, video and hands-on exhibits, the plan will create the type of museum sought by today’s public.

• New exhibits installed the past year include “Motorcycle Memories,” a re-creation of 1910 Garrison Avenue, an exhibit on the first female graduate of West Point from Fort Smith, Aston Armstrong, the November 11, 2008 Veteran’s Day exhibit and the February 2009 exhibit, “Celebrate Black History in Fort Smith.”

• Planned for the upcoming year is an exhibit on the previous businesses to occupy the museum’s 1907 building:  Atkinson- Williams Hardware; Williams Hardware and Automotive; and the Speer Hardware Company.

• “In the Shadow of the Gallows,” a 1998 exhibit will be reproduced in cooperation with the Fort Smith National Historic Site. This exhibit examines the attitudes toward execution and the gallows in different eras of Fort Smith History. For the summer of 2009, an effort is underway to exhibit a gun belonging to renowned outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd. 

• Improvements to the building under the direction of Phil White include the walled and repainted party and meeting room with new light fixtures. Many events have been held in the redecorated room. Paint and repair to the first floor exterior and the addition of awnings and benches enhance the appearance of the historic building.  A successful fundraising effort led by Mr. White produced a new sign for the roof of the building, completing the much needed improvements. 

• Annual fundraisers “Murder and Mayhem” and Mardi Gras were both successful and profitable. Mardi Gras chairman Linda Udouj once again made “the best party in town” exactly that. With a profit of over $40,000, Mardi Gras 2009 was an extremely successful event during a poor economy. 

• During this period of economic downturn, the Fort Smith Museum of History has seen a small but steady increase in visitation. This can be partially attributed to an increase in regional visitors. Visits by Fort Smith residents and students have also increased.  During the months of April and May, the museum has hosted more than 1,000 school children with guided tours and interpretive activities.

• None of this could be accomplished without the dedicated museum staff. Long time employees Sandy Lowe, Ann Haggard and Joy Sternberg provide valuable experience in keeping the museum running smoothly on a daily basis. Joyce Vann in the soda fountain and Caroline Speir as interpreter and exhibit designer have worked hard to make this year successful. The museum welcomes Alana Embry to the position of Curator.  Mrs. Embry has already begun organizing the catalog system and is becoming familiar with the collection.   

• Membership has increased during the past year. The joint membership with the Fort Smith Historical Society is in place and a success so far, with many members renewing at the Investor Level to receive the joint membership.