Kerr County Museum Survey Results (101 responses so far)

We've received a little over 100 responses to our survey.  (There is still time, if anyone wants to take the survey; just CLICK HERE.)  So far, here are the responses:

Click on any graph to enlarge

So far, no one has voted "no."  

On what should a Kerr County Museum focus?  Other responses:

·         All of the above

Where should museum be located?  Other responses:

·         A completely open question
·         adequate parking, easily accesible,
·         along River Trail
·         close to downtown
·         Downtown' needs attractions.
·         In the Arcadia Theater
·         kerrville area
·         on Dr. Rector's property
·         Or consider historical displays  in multiple locations
·         Others select
·         Outside of Kerrville
·         Scofield School for Girls
·         Shellhaste house given to the city
·         somewhere that has access to the River Trail that would tie in Riverside NC at one end and the KSP at the other.
·         Would be determined by building and land availability.

How big should museum be?  Other responses:

·         Depends on the size of exhibits, may start small & grow
·         The what should probably drive the type of building.  Access to parking necessary, though.
·         Designed to expand over time with limited acquisition expense
·         hard to say without knowing what artifacts it would contain.  It shouldn't compete with KCACC or RNC but be another component.
·         In a building that can provide the best displays and parking for visitors.
·         in front of Historical Marker on Dr Rector's property
·         quality, not quantity, is important
·         somewhere there is room to grow
·         TBD by available funding
·         that Schreiner bldg
·         To Be Determined by Committee



What else should we consider?

·         add a theater room of historical videos and a cafe with food and coffee bar
·         Annual dues that are minimal ($50.00 person/or couple) that everyone is able to join.  Then maybe admission can be just a donation, not required. 
·         as founder of Riverside NC we've tried to include local history stories but our story and mission is the natural resources (and how people have used them).  Geology, the river & watersheds, native plants and wildlife are parts of our story but not necessarily community & economic growth or family histories.  A history museum needs core exhibits with periodic featured stories.  Interpretation is crucial.   Funding is always a consideration so fees would help with archives(which is different than gardens).
·         Educate folks what brought folks to the area and how they made a living.
·         endowment, professional administration and fundraising, partner with other area museums to assure sustainability
·         Every day that passes, more information is lost for all time as the descendants of the early Kerr County settlers leave us.  It would be great to capture the history from the area citizens who remember the facts and the stories they were told as kids, before they are gone forever.
·         Future demographic projections; where is the community headed?
·         How does this museum support itself?
·         How will this be financed?
·         I recommend a main museum building for displays and a historic village. The village would be set in the early days of Kerrville's history. There would be demonstrations of cypress shingle making, blacksmithing, frontier cooking, gardening, and other demonstrations of early life on the frontier. This type of venue would be interesting to locals and and be a draw for vacationers from all over the country. And what an opportunity to teach our children about our history.
·         I think the school would be the perfect place for a museum. It would have plenty of space for future expansion and the building itself is of historic value. It would have great views of Kerrville which are very important. Yes, it would be a lot of work but in the end it would be a place that could really bring in a good deal of money from concessions, souvenirs, special events such as an area set aside for weddings, house concerts, etc. The museum itself should have free or very low cost admission.
·         if they cant afford to finance the library, they cant afford a museum!
·         Invite longtime residents to meetings.
·         Invite longtime residents to meetings.
·         It has to tell the Kerr county story in a unique and interesting way.
·         It's okay to start smaller and expand.  We always enjoy Mason's small museum on their square, for instance.  Eventually standalone building(s) with a campus would be wonderful but might be too expensive at the beginning.  We've lived here since 1990 and love to have places to enjoy locally.  Dog-friendly is important for us (and others), too!  Having at least a good quality sandwich/snack shop in the building would be great. 
·         Lots and lots of old photos
·         Make sure it's well designed
·         Need for climate controlled storage facilities nearby. Rotating selection of board membeship.
·         Please don't forget that Joshua D. Brown was the first settler and founder of Kerrville and there is nothing to commemorate his gifts to the county!!
·         Possibilities for funding.
·         Possibly using a building that was recently given to the City - great use of an existing asset.   Volunteer labor & donations to reno the building could be acknowledged in a commemorative way.
·         Potential for growth as the community grows and more information on the area becomes available.  Growing through the years. 
·         Should be a professionally curated museum. This history is too important to lose. I've worked at museums around Texas, and those that are done right are the ones that last.
·         Should museum have a paid administrator?  Other paid staff?
·         Source of exhibits. Ask who might have items worthy of exhibiting on a loan or donation basis. Get a feel for what interesting items might be forthcoming.
·         The building has to compliment the Kerr County story.  The story and not the building is the attraction.
·         Things unique to Kerr County like Camp Verde
·         This museum must be designed with sustainability from the outset.  The museum must own its own building to control its own destiny and to be sustainable.  The museum will need at least one paid staff to meet the minimum requirements of a museum.  On going costs will be around $60K per year or $5,000 per month (minimum) for paid staff, utilities, insurance, repairs, etc.    These things are achievable but must be planned from the beginning.  Let's plan for success!
·         Too often, I believe these local museums focus on what THEY want to show off rather than what a potential visitor might find interesting. I'd stay away from too much of what us "locals" think is interesting, such as all of the famous family names, and get into more of what a tourist might find interesting. If we're not sure what that is, let's do some market research and focus groups before investing a lot of money into something unsustainable. Only one suggestion for an exhibit... I've never really heard a lot about the civil rights era in Kerrville.
·         volunteers for re-enactments......start free admission.....then start charging after it gets up and going to bring good revenue to community
·         Water Street is so historical. From Pampell's to the other end of the street, plus the old homes that follow the river, it's one history lesson after another. That entire area could be utilized as a complete Historical Center.
·         What are the sources of funding both initially and long term?  Should funding include support for a professional staff?  Should funding include support for a Kerr County Archive with professional staff?  What would be the relationship between an archive (focus on preservation and storage) and a museum (focus on public display).-- would they share a building, staff, funding?
·         would county/city support museum financially, ie. HOT funds
·         Would like heavy emphasis (an entire room?) to be on Native American and Hispanic/Mexican history.
·         "Would you support 'selling' display fixtures,  benches in courtyard and/or atrium etc?
·         E.g. 'this display, bench etc., donated by/in memory of'"   

~ submitted by Joe Herring Jr.






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