Appreciating our many museums

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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One of the things that impressed Marilee Fowler when she moved to Cedar Rapids last year was “the phenomenal museums here. I was impressed with the number and caliber, just in Cedar Rapids alone.”

The executive director of the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau qualifies to make that observation after working in similar positions in Indiana, California and Arizona during a 24-year career in tourism and marketing. She thinks Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa have much to celebrate, especially on Saturday, designated as Iowa Museum Day.

We agree. Museums are not fluff. They matter, for many reasons.

Museums preserve the fabric of our history - the triumphs, as well as the tragedies. They provide educational resources and programs that enhance learning and appreciation of our heritage for all ages. They are part of a vibrant community's quality of life. And they make a significant contribution to the local economy through job creation and tourism.

A state survey of 174 Iowa museums - about half of the total number - yielded some significant figures: Those museums maintain 5.4 million artifacts, employ nearly 1,500 people, depend on more than 28,000 volunteers, and served 4.2 million visitors and provided more than 11,000 public programs in 2010.

Local breakdowns of those numbers for museums aren't readily available, but a Linn County study found that travelers spent $402 million in Linn County in 2009, and museum attendance was a big chunk of that, helping support 5,400 tourism/service jobs, Fowler said.

Funding for museum operations always is challenging. Drawing paying customers, especially repeat visitors, means continually creating new exhibits. Seeking non-traditional revenue streams also is key, and a big one these days is making museum facilities available for private events after hours.

Instead of gluing your eyes to a computer or television, visit an Eastern Iowa museum you've never explored. You'll probably learn something of value or be surprised - and have fun doing it.

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