Director: Local focus helps Armstrong Museum

LIMA — Since a group of local residents assumed responsibility for day-to-day operations at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum back in early 2010, the group has worked hard to develop local partnerships and get the local community energized about the facility.

Director Chris Burton said it's a local focus that is paying dividends for the museum now as it raises funds for a pair of capital projects. Burton provided the update Monday to members of the Lima Rotary Club at the Veterans Memorial Civic Center.

“I think it's helped with our local development. Many of our local communities haven't really been asked to give money or haven't been asked to be involved with the museum until this capital campaign,” Burton said. “We're trying to get more people involved on a variety of levels, through giving, through volunteering or just been engaged in some way. We've tried to connect.”

With the local group in charge of day-to-day operations instead of the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, the group is pushing forward with a two-part capital campaign to raise more than $157,000. Burton said so far the group has raised more than $99,000.

The funds are for a lighted sign, completed in September, that faces Interstate 75 as well as a Tranquility Base Picnic Pavilion. Burton said museum officials are hoping to raise the funds this year so the project can be completed in late spring or early summer.

“It'll be a nice addition to the museum,” Burton said.

The pavilion will provide shade from the sun or cover from the rain for school groups lunching at the museum so the kids don't have to eat on their bus, Burton said.

The museum is also looking at adding new interactive exhibits to complement static displays and the 11 different interactive exhibits currently on display.

“We want to develop more new things,” Burton said. “If you haven't been out in awhile there's still going to be plenty that surprises you. We're working on building things that relate to things that are going on today.”

The museum is also working to realize an increase in the more than 25,000 visits it received last year by working with the Dayton-based Aviation Heritage Association and a number of other aviation-related sites, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton.

“There are 12 sites throughout the Miami Valley region, we're the northern most location,” Burton said. “We try to develop relationships with them, share partnerships.”

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