In today’s Journal Star, former editor Barbara Mantz Drake profiles the Science Center of Iowa (Des Moines). She’s getting ideas for what should be included in the new Central Illinois Regional Museum here in Peoria. Along with the article is a sidebar titled, “Iowa Science Center has parallels for Peoria.”
Several things are similar between the two museums: size, exterior glass, planetarium and weather studio, cost to build, etc. But a couple things are much different: the annual operating budget in Des Moines ($7.8 million) is “nearly twice what is projected for Peoria”; and whereas Des Moines’ museum is limited in scope to science, Peoria’s museum square “will be a place for people of all ages to explore art, history, nature, science, technology, culture, high school sports and the Caterpillar story.”
So Peoria’s museum will have six times the scope and half the budget. Is that supposed to be a good thing? Also, how in the world is Peoria’s museum going to cover all of those subjects (art, history, technology, etc.) in the space Des Moines devotes to science alone?
Usually, museums limit their scope (they’re a history museum, or an art gallery, or a sci-tech musuem, etc.) because the type of museum affects a number of factors: how much storage is needed? what kind of storage conditions are needed? what kind of laboratory services are needed for restoration/preservation of artifacts/exhibits? what kind of skill/expertise do staff members need (e.g., you would want an archaeologist on staff for a natural history museum, but not for a sci-tech museum)?
Speaking of scope, the working title I understand is still the “Central Illinois Regional Museum.” So, in addition to broadening the subject matter, it appears they’re also broadening the subject area — how much of “central Illinois” is going to be covered by this museum?
When the museum idea was first pitched, it was called a Peoria history museum. How did we get from that to this unwieldy, unfocused museum described in the paper today? And how is a museum with such breadth of subject matter going to be supported by half the operating budget of a single-focused museum of the same size?
CJ,
I could’nt have said it better myself!
Something else that seems strange. Des Moines has a pop of 500,000, while Peoria has 112,000+. Is that another parallel? Also, since when has the money donated by “government sources” hit the $30 million mark? That would put them half way there!!!! Like I said, with all of these experts involved with museum planning [Mrs. Drake] how can we go wrong?
SC
This is very easy to understand. They went to the same schools as the District 150 School Board and Mr Ken Hinton. Names can change, size of need can change and the budget can go out the window. But, Not To Worry, someone else will pay for it. The PJS is also all for this project.
“Des Moines has a pop of 500,000, while Peoria has 112,000+. ”
Actually, Des Moines has 194,163 residents and a metro area of 593,122. Peoria has about 118,000 residents and a metro area of about 370,000. Both are 2005 estimates.
A hA!! I alone can be best! Can you now define the Metropolitan Statistical Area (metro area), Micropolitan Statistical Area (micro area), Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA), and the Combined Statistical Area (CSA) of Peoria and/or Des Moines?
I do stand corrected however.
SC
I didn’t see much parallel between the the Des Moines museum and Lakeview’s proprosed monstrosity. If anything, it reminded me of “Science City” in KC, which is what Lakeview SHOULD be trying to emulate.
http://www.sciencecity.com/
Unfortunately, Lakeview has a “me” attitude to go along with their “look don’t touch” mentality.
WOW..did you notice the hours Des Moines is open?
http://www.sciowa.org/aspx/General/VisitingSCI.aspx
And the theater even later on most nights.
Does anyone know if the are self supportive and profitable?
I don’t think the Lakeview hours are a good reason to be against it. If it is true that they’re only going to be open from 9-5 M-F, I would have to imagine that it won’t take long before they figure out that is a BAD idea.
Hours can be changed.
As ridiculous as the ‘proposed”museum’s schedule is, this is really the last thing we need to worry about. CJ has touched upon some of the major issues concerning said museum. I would still like to know where $30 million in govt. funds came from [as per Sunday Drake article]?
SC
Just travel along Washington and see that the regional museum is really “The Caterpillar Visitor Center” —– hum …..
You want to get people downtown? Put an IMAX (not some almost-IMAX) with a Biaggi’s right next to it, and there you go. This town would go nuts over that.
I am sorry. I could not wait for CJ to comment on this J Star Op/View “History Neglected Is History Forgotten” [Aug 15, 2006]. “Museum Square can’t get here soon enough?” Are they kidding?!?!?!? Keeping Peoria’s history was supposed to be the job of the Peoria Historical Society. Remember Flanagan House and/or Pettengill-Morron House? These places are filled with Peoria’s treasures. If they are not in the basements collecting dust…where are they? Since its conception, Lakeview Museum has not given a crap about Peoria history or archaeology [check their artifact collections]. NOW all of a sudden Peoria needs a $65 million dollar museum square to preserve our history? Tell the “collaboration” to get off of their socializing, media attention grabbing asses and LET someone else clean up the humanities and libera arts based institutions here in Peoria. The Star was right. Peoria does not have a clue how to preserve or present it’s history. It never has! The same people who were in charge are still in charge. Will it change?
I ramble on,
SC
The $30,000,000 is the amount of property taxes paid by Catepillar for the “Cat Experience” ($500,000 to $750,000 per year) that has been pledged by the Museum Rectangle Agreement to pay for debt service over the next twenty years, but could be extended for up to 31 years. Additionally, the City of Peoria paid multiple millions of dollars to acquire the entire area and sold it for naight. Other “gov funds” are the federal pork that Lahood has delivered for demolition and parking areas, probably 5-7 Million. The state has moved the millions of dollars that was going to construct the “High School Sports Hall of Fame in Princeton to Peoria to support our sports history.
The $30,000,000 is low if anything by my calculations.
The Peoria Metropoltan Area (MSA) and other atatistical population comparisions are defined by federal government for census purposes. Call City of Peoria Planning and Growth Management for specifics
Gary,
You are not making me feel any better. Do you mean they might actually be able to raise the funds for construction, etc?
SC
The CIRM is going to happen. It is going to be a disaster of biblical proportions and will be yet another abandoned Peoria eyesore in 15 years. Perhaps they’ll turn it into the Julian North.
I am starting my own museum.
SC
In other news today, a young chicken declared that in fact, the sky IS falling. More at 5.