The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1956-06-01
P| aims Museum
Hours Curtui|ed
Thomas +. kehoc, curator OF

tuc NuScuIu vi llc IldIIlS III
dams. Browning, announces that
the Museum will open today for
the 10th tourist season. The
Museum has been operating un
der the Department of Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs. since
formal dedication in l94l.
This year the Museum will be
open only on part-time basis
as follows: Tuesday to Friday
8,5; Saturday 8.l2: Sunday is;
Monday closed.
Previously the Museum has
been open during a 7 day week
8.5 from June LIST to September
Is. In the past this schedule
was maintained with the aid of
and Assistant Curator and ad
ditiOnal summer help
kehoe has been notified from
the Indian Bureaus Billings
Area Office that in view of the
present fund limitations as we'll
as the appropriations for fiscal
year 1857. favorable action could
not be taken in hiring an assist.
ant curator and the utilization of
other personnel for the coming
summer. There is insufficient
money available to employ any
additional help beside the Cura'
tor and janitor up to July LIST
and that proposed appropriations
for fiscal year 1857. commencing
July |. will not permit consider
alton of employment of addition
al personnel in the Museum.
Earlier in the year kchoc was
told that a serious situation OK.
listed. caused by the shortage of
funds and that the Museum cX'
pcnscs should be kept below the
normal operation. Later he was
informed that the only funds
available would he to prepare
the Museum for summers open
ing. lie was also notified that
providing that there are no other
funds available. il may be ncccs
Sary to issue rcductiOn.in.fOrcc
orders to all museum employees
for the period for which funds
are not available.
To date permission to purchase
supplies necessary to prepare the
Museum for summer opening
and materials needed to remain
open during the first month
have not been secured. 4 mott
ficati0n of the status of funds
was received last week from the
area budget officer providing
the figure of the present balance.
This amount is insufficient to
provide museum salaries and eX.
pcnScS for the month of June.
The budget officer mentioned
that he had been formally mott.
fled of the Museum allotment
for the fiscal year 1857 which
represents 4 further decrease in
funds from that Of this year.
Daily registration records have
shown a steady increase in al.
tendance since the Museum was
dedicated in 1871. The figure for
that year was 1859. although
visitation fell below this during
the war years. Figures from
then are as follows: l947. 1884;
1913. 29.8l5: 1919. 36.5@9: 1850.
33.:.94: 1851. 35.793: 1852. 44.5l5;
1853. IS. 1863: 1854. I2.083: 1865.
1881. Evening attendance in
1853 brought the figure for that
season up 10 52.4lO. Early
records Show an average Of 10
visitors per day while in the late
years an average of 500 visitors
and as many rs 1852 people have
visited the Museum in q single
day. As the increasing attend.
anrc at the registration desk nj
the entrance Of the building IN.
dicaicS that greater interest IN
the Museum is on the increase
from year I" year. there Is also
q steady decrease in allotted
funds and personnel.