The Valdez Museum Needs Your Help!

The Valdez Museum Needs Your Help!

The Valdez Museum & Historical Archive needs your help. I want to let our loyal supporters know that the City of Valdez is considering closing the yellow warehouse where the Remembering Old Valdez Exhibit, Archive, Fire History exhibits, and collections storage exist.

Over the last few years the City of Valdez has communicated to the Museum they have roughly 2.4 million dollars to do something with the site that the Yellow Warehouse is.  As you may know, the Valdez Museum occupies over a third of that site, featuring earthquake history, Old Town History and fire history.  The site houses the community’s valuable historical treasures.  What we understand is that the funds are to be used for an Oil Interpretive Center as well as improvements to the Kelsey Dock/Uplands.  We have been told that the funds need to be spent by the end of 2018 and the Museum will need to potentially relocate.

I am letting you know that the Museum Board and Staff are doing a presentation at the August 1, 2017 City Council meeting to raise awareness of what we currently do at the warehouse; the impact of closing the site and steps to do so; short term and long term steps in light of closing the warehouse; possible storage options in Valdez; and a rough timeline with financial, human and spatial resources needed. We will be at the top of the agenda under Public Appearances.  This is a 15 minute introductory presentation to a bigger conversation.

As a supporter of the Valdez Museum, we are asking you to attend the City Council Meeting on August 1, 2017 to let our elected officials know that the Valdez Museum on Hazelet is important to you and that if we need to relocate the time to start planning and prepping for a move is now.  Relocating from the warehouse is more than just moving boxes.

Can we count on you to attend the Council meeting on August 1, 2017?

If you are not able to attend in person please contact the City Clerk, Sheri Pierce at 907-834-3408 or spierce@ci.valdez.ak.us to leave a comment to add to the record.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by phone, email, or just swing by the Museum.  The Museum number is 907-835-2764 my email is prelay@valdezmuseum.org

Gratefully yours,

Patty Relay
Executive Director