The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association (PRNAM) says it has the wherewithal to operate a new museum once it is built.
In a letter to the St. Mary’s County Commissioners dated August 25, Acting PRNAM Board President Capt. Arvid Forsman USN (Ret) wrote, “We would like to ensure St. Mary’s County government that the PRNAM Association is fully prepared to maintain financial viability of the museum, including the existing facilities and the new building with confidence as we have done for the past 40 years. This includes an appropriately compensated Museum director with 2012 funding provided by NHHC (Naval History & Heritage Command). It is our strong expectation that the new museum building will become a major tourist attraction for St. Mary’s County as well as serving as a fitting gateway to NAS Patuxent River. The new facility will serve as a meeting place for various organizations, formal ceremonies for U.S. Navy personnel and as an important tourist venue for St. Mary’s County and the public.”
The organization’s capital campaign for the new museum has raised $1.5 million in individual and corporate donations. Of that, the county has used $800,000 for design and site preparation for the new facility that will replace the current building just outside Gate 1. There is money for the museum construction in the county’s capital budget.
Contrary to earlier report, Forsman tells the county commissioners that MHHC will continue to fund the museum to the tune of $100,000 to pay for an administrator for the next year with a one-year renewal. The museum will continue to be an official Navy Museum under MHHC auspices. The future of that arrangement remains unclear with budget pressures on the Navy.
In the letter to the commissioners, operating budgets are included for the next two years that show a net income of $63,479 in 2011-2012 in addition to the NHHC funding and some monies from NAVAIR.
The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission approved the new 16,200 square-foot museum on August 22. A facility twice as large, that would have included a conference center, was approved by the planning commission in 2005 and then shelved after the Navy backed away from the conference center. A consulting firm, Westlake Reed Leskosky (WRL) is completing the design and it should be ready to bid soon.
For more information on the museum, go to their website www.paxmuseum.com or visit Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
