[Source: Kathleen Gormley, Arizona Republic] — The Arizona Science Center has acquired the assets of the Phoenix Museum of History under a new operating agreement that also gives it the right to occupy the museum’s building. The Phoenix Museum of History, 105 N. Fifth St., closed its doors June 30 because of financial problems.
The science center, 600 E. Washington St., has agreed to provide at least 5,400 square feet of space dedicated to Phoenix history in one of the two buildings, city officials said. The history museum totals 20,000 square feet.
The Phoenix City Council approved the agreement Wednesday in which the science center will operate both buildings. The city owns the buildings and is responsible for maintenance of them. The museums pay rent to the city to occupy the buildings. “This is not a merger,” said Ruth Osuna, deputy city manager. “It is a transfer of assets of the Museum of History to the science center.”
The museum, which has been looking for a financial partner, contacted the Arizona Science Center about a partnership “about 17 or 18 months ago,” said Chevy Humphrey, president and CEO of the science center. Kristin Priscella, science center senior director of communications, said the science center is “working on a plan to catalogue the artifacts that were part of the history museum’s asset acquisition.” She said a reopening date for the history section is to be determined. [Note: Read the full article at Arizona Science Center gains Phoenix history museum’s assets.]
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