In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, the Smithsonian Museum is having its annual ‘Museum Day Live!’ (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/?onsite_source=homepage&onsite_medium=internallink&onsite_campaign=SmithMag&onsite_content=War+of+1812) event on Saturday September 28, 2013. Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket . . . FOR FREE!
Kennesaw’s museum, the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History (http://www.southernmuseum.org/), is an affiliate of the Smithsonian. There are currently 177 Smithsonian affiliates in 41 states, Puerto Rico and Panama. The museum uses your tax dollars to pay for the privilege and advertises its association on its web site and other media.
When going to the link for the free tickets, in addition to all the normal information you are required to enter, it asks you to select the museum you want to visit. Guess what ~ the Southern Museum is not listed! You cannot even find the museum on the web site. You will have to do a search to find a site listing ~ https://affiliations.si.edu/.
When calling the museum inquiring about the Museum Day Live! event, you will be told the Southern Museum is not and has not participated in this event in the past. When asked why, you will be told the governing board elected not to participate.
While the museum and its affiliation with the Smithsonian are commendable, what does it bring the citizens?
- Do you know less than eight (< 8.0%) percent of the residents avail themselves of the facility?
- Do you know the museum has a Foundation and is supposed to be self-supporting but your tax dollars have been funding its shortfalls averaging $625,000 a year?
- Do you know the museum is planning on spending another $1.1 million on a Research Center (http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/22173280/article-Kennesaw-Civil-War-museum-to-build--1M-research-center) while taking more of your tax dollars and no consideration of paying back all of the tax dollars already spent?
- Since citizens’ tax dollars are keeping the museum open, why do citizens still have to pay to enter the museum?
- The affiliation with the Smithsonian costs money, why is the museum not participating in sponsored programs that would allow Kennesaw citizens at least one FREE pass?
While not a popular topic (but it has been shunned long enough), serious analysis and changes need to be made regarding the excessive bleeding of tax dollars on the museum. There are numerous ways (possibly in combination) to transition the financial burden. Here are some:
- Like Sanitation, management can be outsourced and made to run self-sufficient.
- Sell the museum with stipulations including it stays in Kennesaw.
- Make the Foundation accountable for a majority of the funding keeping your tax dollars as a small contribution.
In the meantime, immediately provide FREE access to the citizens that keep the doors open!
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