>>>>>I would be *extremely* surprised if any museum has an
ongoing bus subsidy program as you speak of. >>>>

Well, be surprised.

Historic Locust Grove is a small historic site (budget around
$300,000/yr.) in Louisville, and for several years we've offered a bus
fund to pay for transportation to the site. Schools that qualify have at
least 50% of the school population on free or reduced price lunches. 

This is actually fairly easy to fund. Many local foundations want to
support education. Individual board members have also supported the
program when there has been a shortfall. Our Metro Council members in
districts that benefit have given from their discretionary funds. And
last year we did a used book sale to benefit the fund.

Donors like the fact that they are both helping us, and helping children
have an opportunity they would otherwise be denied.

We charge our regular group rate when the group can pay it; but we have
waived that occasionally and used the transportation funds to "pay"
their admission (we use the unrestricted book sale money for that, not
the grants).

We channel these subsidized visits to the winter months, when we have
fewer visitors.

This works very well for us.

Carol Ely
Historic Locust Grove
Louisville, Kentucky

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