Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

The economy:

With no funding, state’s new $50 million museum sits closed

Nevada State Museum

Iris Dumuk, Special to the Sun

Nevada State Museum building at the Springs Preserve.

Sun Coverage

CARSON CITY – The state has a new $50 million museum sitting vacant at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, but there’s no money in Gov. Brian Sandoval's budget to open it.

At the same time, the existing state museum site at Lorenzi Park is slowly being dismantled.

Peter Barton, acting administrator of the state Department of Cultural Affairs, detailed the dilemma Thursday to a Senate-Assembly Budget Subcommittee.

Barton said he is trying to work out an agreement with the Springs Preserve to share some costs, such as maintenance and security. A special request has been presented to the governor for money to open the facility on a limited basis.

Meanwhile, Barton said Lorenzi Park has “become less attractive.” The state has a 99-year lease on the property but if the museum closes for more than 90 days, the property reverts back to the city. Some of the artifacts are being moved to the vacant museum at the Springs Preserve.

The Springs Preserve museum might have to be abandoned if nothing can be worked out, but Barton said he hopes to come up with solution to open the museum later this year.

Voters approved a bond issue to preserve the natural resources of Nevada. In it, $35 million was set aside to develop the museum at the Springs Preserve, and ground was broken in November 2006.

Barton said construction was under way during the building boom in Las Vegas, resulting in the cost of the project rising above estimates. The Legislature then gave a supplemental appropriation to complete the project, which has 70,000 square feet on two levels.

It would take an estimated $500,000 a year to operate the museum at the Springs Preserve. Barton said he hopes that by arranging partnerships, the state’s share can be reduced to $250,000. Utilities such as air conditioning would have to be paid for.

Negotiations are beginning with the city to take over the Lorenzi Park museum, which could be converted to a cultural or community center, Barton said.

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