Organizers hope to raise enough money to open it by this summer, but a fund-raising campaign has temporarily been put on hold. Right now, crews are laying carpet and installing lighting at the interim facility. The museum, formerly operated by the Department of Energy, was turned over to the Environmental Science and Technology Foundation in January 1996. The foundation expanded the museum's former focus on Hanford to all groups influenced by the Columbia River, from farmers to American Indians. Richland council member Carol Moser, who traveled to Olympia last week to help make the case for funding a permanent museum, was philosophical about the pace of financial support.
Nobody goes in there thinking they'll get financing the first year.
Sometimes it takes years to get the financing you need to a get a museum going. Copyright 1997 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Gov. Gary Locke unveiled Thursday.