We don't have exactly the same problem since our "highway" runs straight through our tiny town, but the entire downtown area has been trying to compete with shopping malls just outside of town. We are fortunate to have a business association that works together to promote the entire downtown area and the Museum is included in the group. They support events - late shopping nights, free summer concerts, etc. and the City has a couple of downtown festivals that help bring foot traffic into the whole downtown area. There are a bunch of restaurants in the area so people can make an afternoon of lunch/museum/shopping etc. We also have several groups in the area promoting "heritage trails" and "scenic byways" etc. and we try to work with those groups to be listed on their maps etc.

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Deana Mallory

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 3:19 PM

Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Being By-passed

Have any of you successfully navigated having your town by-passed? We've lost a lot of our tourist traffic to a north-south by-pass that enables travelers to miss our town as they travel. Soon the east-west portion will be complete, and we stand to lose more. If any of your have been in a similar situation, I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about how your institution has handled it.