For Immediate Release

State Legislature Approves Bond Bill for Allegany County Museum

Cumberland – Word came today that the Maryland legislature, in its final days, passed the bond bill awarding the Allegany County Museum $50,000 of the requested $250,000. The bond bill will now be rolled into the Maryland State capital budget. The Senate passed its capital budget on March 20. The House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the $1.5 billion capital budget on March 27. Differences between the Senate and House bills were worked out in joint conference committees over the past few days.

The appropriation of $50,000 will go toward construction planning for the new Allegany County Museum at 3 Pershing Street, the former District Court and Post Office building. The Museum is currently temporarily located at 81 Baltimore Street.

According to Gary Bartik, president of the board of directors of the Allegany County Museum, “While the appropriation is not what we had originally hoped for, its passage signals a commitment on the part of the legislature to our project. It is a clear signal that the Museum is recognized at the state level as an important complement to the development of the Canal Place Heritage Area and to heritage tourism in our region,” Bartik concluded.

Heritage tourism will play a large part in the revitalization of our region’s economy in the coming years. According to statistics from the U.S. Commerce Department, tourism is big business. The U.S. travel and tourism industry is a $1.2 trillion industry. It is the third largest retail sales industry. Tourism is one of the Nation’s largest employers, with an estimated 8.5 million employees. And heritage tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry.

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The Allegany County Museum preserves the area's history and has become a major heritage attraction. The Museum's concentration is on transportation history, industrial history, and social history, and also features permanent and visiting exhibits, and special collections. The Museum will be closed from January to May 2008 but may be opened by special appointment and the Museum is available for special tours, receptions, and parties. Please telephone 301-777-7200 for information.