Fort Walla Walla Museum

Fort Walla Walla Museum
Carrying the Past into the Future

Keeping the distinctiveness
of a changing community
is accomplished by preserving its heritage.

Keeping it safe for future generations
is everyone's duty.

Construction is complete!
Our Services & Facilities Enhancement Project-Phase 1A
construction was finished in November, 2009!
On to Phase 1B, including the Pioneer Gallery!!

Architect Jim Stenkamp's rendering of the proposed new Entrance Building

The Need
·Many of today’s children are disconnected from our shared past. Enhancements at the Museum will allow us to better connect children with our heritage. This helps kids achieve a stronger sense of place, belonging, and ownership, helping them to become better community members and the leders we'll need in the future.

·Heritage is the key component of a community’s identity. In these rapidly changing times, a robust museum is one of the best ways to maintain our community’s distinctiveness.

·More operating revenues are required to support a full suite of heritage services for our community. Increased services will grow membership numbers and attract more visitors.

· We raised $2.75 million in gifts and pledges, enough to complete a nice start on our project. More support will assure that we can undertake construction on Phase 1B, as well. The Pioneer Gallery will feature our an 1880s territorial street scene, our Schwabacher Brothers Store, and Dr. Dorsey S. Baker’s original Blue Mountain locomotive from the Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad.

Additional funds are needed to finish all the important aspects of the full $3.5 million project including the Pioneer gallery, kids’ hands-on stations, an orientation video, new exhibits, the endowment, building reserve, and associated project costs. Your support will help take this from a good beginning to a great project, something everyone in the region will be proud to share.

A groundbreaking ceremony for our new building was held February 15, with completion completed in November, 2009. Even as construction began, fundraising was still underway to retain some currently unfunded aspects of Phase I design. Your gift to the Services and Facilities Enhancement Project is critical to our success.

It will take all of us pulling together to reach our destination. The community’s generosity has been amazing in the past and with your help, we can take the next step to connect children with their heritage and preserve Walla Walla’s wonderful community identity.

If you have already donated, thank you. If you have not done so yet or may be able to give more, any additional support will help us do a much better project. Please, think big, and give as generously as you can!

Benefits
Phase I of our service and facilities enhancement will provide an orientation theatre, 7,600 sq. ft. of additional exhibit space, an office for an education coordinator, more children’s hands-on stations, a larger Museum Store, and the Grand Hall that will function as the Museum’s social hub. Additional benefits include improved restrooms, parking, and handicapped access. Green design and construction with low maintenance materials will save energy and reduce annual operating expenses. This project will lead to increased operating revenues, provide a significant increase in our already strong economic impact on the community, and move us toward being a year-round operation. This will position the Museum to become a major regional destination. Groundbreaking for a new Entrance is planned for mid-February of 2009, with completion set for later in the year.

Fort WallaWalla Museum has been planning for an expanded facility for three decades. As with most nonprofit organizations, tight operating budgets and limited resources have not permitted all dreams from being realized. Strong qualitative growth over the last decade has created new opportunities. With more than a million dollars of grants for special projects, increased community support, and higher visitation rates, the Museum has done a better job of caring for its collections and providing more services to the community.

This growth has created momentum that will help the Museum become a cultural center for the community and a major regional attraction that will enhance the already strong economic impact the Museum has on area communities.

Our primary service area is a one hour’s radius around the Museum. We also serve people from all 50 states,more than 30 foreign countries annually, and upwards of 60 Washington communities. While our mission is to preserve and share the rich heritage of our region, we attract thousands of tourists who spend money on shopping, food, gas and lodging.

The Museum, following extensive surveys of community members and visitors, is planning to construct new facilities to house the expanded services that were requested. The new space is designed to meet the criteria for a Silver LEED status, a high ranking qualification for “Green” construction.

Because of the overall size of this project, the Museum will undertake it in three phases. Designed to have significant impact on the level of services provided to our community, the major components of Phase I include spaces dedicated to kids, an orientation theatre, expanded display space plus a special exhibit gallery, the Grand Hall which will serve as the social hub of the Museum, new parking, and expanded modern restrooms. A larger museum store will offer visitors a greater selection of heritage items and generate more revenue to support operations.

Grand Hall with 1861 Concord Stagecoach, Orientation Theater
and new Museum Store.
The Earth-tone floor resembles what you'd experience in Walla Walla's Territorial days..
Grand Hall rendering by architect Jim Stenkamp

From the parking lot, the new visitor Entry Hall will offer a clear, welcoming entry point for visitors to the Museum. The character of the Entry Hall conveys a sense of connection to the history of the region. The overall design emulates a classic, 19th century western fort with buildings surrounding interior parade grounds. All the exterior architectural traits originate from early images of the various fur trade and military Forts Walla Walla.

As people walk into the Entrance Building, the connection to regional heritage will be immediate. Visitors will experience a territorial street scene, seeing the various rooms with building facades. The earth-colored concrete floor will resemble a typical street from pioneer days. Visitors will find a livery stable next to an original Walla Walla stagecoach Eventually, a Museum orientation video will play in an old-fashioned theater. The Grand Hall’s large, open space will be suitable for many functions, including ample space for art shows, special traveling exhibits, public performances, and more, serving as the social hub of the Museum.

More children’s hands-on stations are planned for Phase I. The hands-on stations may address themes of the early military presence, Indian people, the fur trade, Oregon Trail, and early transportation. New exhibit space will allow for more stories to be told about this area's soldiers, pioneers, and Indian people.

The new parking area is now much closer to the Museum’s entrance than at present. The potentially dangerous situation of school-age children walking in traffic areas will be eliminated and access for handicapped individuals will be significantly improved. The parking lot is designed to incorporate the turning radius of a large bus and will include adequate parking space for the many school and tour buses visiting the Museum each year. The remainder of the parking lot is planned for completion in coming phases of construction.

Phase 1-A was completed in November, 2009. Fundraising continues for aspects of the full Phase 1 not included in current plans. Supporting the future of the community and our children is important to maintaining our distinctive Walla Walla character. We also hope to double or triple our already substantial impact on the local economy through tourism. Your gift or pledge to the Services and Facilities Enhancement Project is critical to our success.

DONOR RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Gifts of $1,000 or more: any individual or business choosing to particiapte will receive:

Recognition on the Capital Campaign Donor Board in the Entrance Building will occur at the following levels (equal to or greater than):
$1,000; $5,000; $10,000; $25,000; $50,000; $100,000, $250,000; $500,000; and $1,000,000.

· Recognition in our Annual Report

Naming opportunities exist for individuals, families, or groups who wish to have their name on a special place:

Pioneer Gallery	$750,000
Grand Hall	$500,000
Museum Store	$300,000
Special Exhibit Gallery	$250,000
Orientation Theater	$175,000
Fort Walla Walla Gallery	$160,000
Main Entry Blockhouse	$150,000
Lewis & Clark Gallery	$75,000
Indian Peoples Gallery	$65,000
Military Room	$50,000
Military Memorial	$40,000
Corner Blockhouse	$25,000
Education Office	$25,000
Other opportunities are also available.

· Phase 1A funding needs

Soldiers & Indians exhibit grant match	$27,500
Children's Play Fort	Funded!
L&C Nat. Park Svc grant match	$5,000
Museum Store flooring	Funded!
Window Blinds	$2,000
L&C Diorama supplies	Funded!
Military & Indian peoples exhibit supplies	$1,600
Grand Hall sound system	Funded!
Security System	$1,500
Overhead Paging System	$1,000
New space exhibit supplies	$1,000
Diaper-changing stations	$900
Phone & data jack systems	$700
Other opportunities are also available.

Learn more about the educational aspects of the Services and Facilities Enhancement Project, economic benefits, and the benefits of campus completion.

You can help. Donate using DONATE NOW JustGive.org. Be sure to designate your preference for the Services and Facilities Enhancement Project. Undesignated donations are placed in the General Fund.

If you prefer not to donate online, consider downloading a gift form.
Mail your check and the gift form to:
           Fort Walla Walla Museum
           755 Myra Road
           Walla Walla, WA 99362

The Capital Campaign for the Services and Facilities Enhancement Project is coordinated by Fort Walla Walla Museum Board member Tony Wenham and former Board member Jill Zagelow. The Capital Campaign Steering Committee includes Larry Beaulaurier, Maita Kibler, Pete Reid, Sonia Schmitt, and Fort Walla Walla Museum Board President Barbara Stubblefield.