March 2006 Museum Report

Visitors

We continue to see visitors during the week averaging perhaps a family per day plus a few tours from schools, retirement villages and others. The kid’s activities are gaining popularity, with much more to come for summer’s activities, and Email inquiries are coming in at one to two per day from summer tourists.

Building sign

We finally have the colorful banner, designed by Mountain View’s own Color Creek Fiber Arts, up on the front of the building announcing that we are indeed a museum. Soon to come will be a new woolly mammoth graphic designed by Anna

Grants

We are in the final days of our 2005 Tier 1 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation. After reports have been submitted we will be eligible to apply for another that we will request to fund the museum’s code compliance survey. The Rasmuson Foundation (www.rasmuson.org) is Alaska’s largest foundation and has graciously supported the museum with two Tier 1 grants totaling $47,000. We are grateful to the Foundation for their support not only of us, but the community of Mountain View in general.

Kathy East, our Education director is working on an education grant to be submitted to the Charlotte Martin Foundation.

The Kresge Foundation has funds available for their “Green Building Initiative”. The purpose of this initiative is to help organizations work with their community, staff, Board and designers to produce the most energy efficient and community centered building possible for its intended use and would help us serve as a model of efficient energy use in Alaska

Exhibits

“Broken Mammoth”, the museum’s summer/Fall education program/exhibit is in currently in its design phase. Fabrication begins April 1. Broken Mammoth will be a wonderful teaching tool for all ages to experience archeology, not quite in its natural environment but we’ll do our best to replicate the real thing indoors, complete with digging, sifting and cleaning.

Fossil hunting in Alaska

Designs are in the works for a BLM sponsored exhibit on fossil hunting and collecting in Alaska. This was a very popular area of interest last summer with numerous inquiries of when we might provide information and displays on the subject. Currently scheduled to open in spring

Theater for Summer and Fall

Liz from Color Creek Fiber Arts presented an excellent solution to install a small theater before summer. This will be an excellent resource for local parents and kids looking for entertaining and educational during the summer months and could be used in winter as a small intimate theater of sorts.

Last Note

The kindness and generosity of local supporters will always be our saving grace. Our heartfelt thanks go out to The Rasmuson Foundation, Wells Fargo, United Rentals, Totem Rentals, Anchorage Sand and Gravel, Fred Meyer Foundation, the Schmidt Foundation, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Color Creek Fiber Arts, Nobles Café and our wonderful new supporting members and volunteers. You are making a new and lasting museum come to life! A personal thanks to John for his very generous donation of African specimens. Everyone loves the Big Cats.