Washington State History Musuem facing closure due to budget cuts

The state’s budget crunch could spell doom for one of Tacoma’s most popular museums, but museum officials and supporters are working overtime to ensure that the doors stay open.

If Governor Christine Gregoire’s proposed 2011-2013 state budget is approved, the Washington State History Museum will no longer be open to the public. The budget suggests elliminating operational funds from all three of the state’s history museums, leaving only enough money to maintain valuable artifacts.

Museum Director Dave Nicandri knows he’s facing an uphill battle to save the institution, but he’s hopeful that if more and more people voice their support, the government will be forced to give the museum a stay of execution.

“We’ve been working with what is truly a ground swell of community support and we’re trying to channel that into an advocacy team in Olympia to try to mitigate the force and effect of where the governor would have us be,” he said.

Nicandri said losing the museum would not only hurt those who love art and history, but it would adversely affect the entire city.

“The symbolic importance of this is immense, because the history museum was the first marker in the revitalization of downtown Tacoma,” he said. “So a mere 15-some years after it opened it would be shuttered, so the strategic reversal that that represents in terms of symbolism is pretty significant.”

Even if citizens can rally enough support to keep the museum open, Nicandri knows budget cuts are unavoidable, which means the museum will almost certainly have fewer open days, fewer staff members and fewer exhibits in the near future.

In an effort to get the community involved, Nicandri is asking fans of the museum to come check out its newest exhibit, “Wrapped!: The Search for the Essential Mummy.” The museum will host a special  Member Day on Jan. 29 to give supporters the chance to buy an annual membership or a premium “Member for a Day” pass.

Attendees will also get exclusive early access to the exhibit, as well as special one-time-only exhibit programming and events, including photo opportunities with a real camel.

According to museum officials, the limited-run exhibit “marries the mystery of ancient Egypt with modern technology, including elaborate sarcophagi, ancient amulets, animal mummies and forensic portraits of ancient Egyptians.”