Project would relocate museum

Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 | 11:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada State Museum at Lorenzi Park in Las Vegas has always had trouble drawing visitors.

"It's off the beaten path," Ivan R. Ashleman, chairman of the board of the Nevada State Museum, said. And now a plan is developing to move the museum to the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, a site off U.S. 95 and Valley View Boulevard that is being developed into a 180-acre park.

The Las Vegas Valley Water District Board has approved raising $54.5 million in private funds through a nonprofit foundation for the project. Some of that money is being raised through a special Las Vegas Springs license plate.

"The water district and the preserve are putting a ton of money" into the project, Ashleman told the Assembly Ways and Means Committee Friday. "They are willing to give us space and roads and help us raise some money."

Gov. Kenny Guinn has included $300,000 in his budget for a study to relocate the Lorenzi Park museum. But Ashleman said there have been enough studies. That money, he said, should be used for planning the move.

Kenneth Rohrs, director of Museums and History, called the Las Vegas Springs project "a show stopper," adding "they want us to be part of it."

The city of Las Vegas is interested in acquiring the Lorenzi Park site, Ashleman said, to serve as a possible senior center. The city has the right of first refusal on the property, he said.

The water district is planning a museum in its plans for Las Vegas Springs, but it would not conflict with the state facility, Ashleman said.

There is no money in the budget for a new building at Las Vegas Springs.

However, the state may be able to get private and federal funds to help with the relocation, he said.

Guinn's budget forecasted attendance of 55,000 last fiscal year, but the Lorenzi Park museum drew only 23,778 people. The museum expects 26,500 visitors next fiscal year and 28,000 in 2003.

By contrast, the state museum in Carson City drew 74,775 people last fiscal year and expects 81,000 next fiscal year and 82,000 in 2003.

Guinn's budget also includes $571,375 next year and $660,896 in 2003 for the startup of the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City. The money is coming from the state Commission on Tourism.

Rohrs said there will be three additional people hired at the railroad museum, and work will proceed on reconditioning the three old railroad cars. They will be air-conditioned, and one will be accessible to the disabled.

Not included in the budget this time, Rohrs said, is $3.5 million for the train tracks to run the cars on. He said there were "interesting problems" preventing use of existing tracks. There are two bridges over the tracks and there is work on water lines near the tracks.