The comment about city museums “unique structure and operation of local-
and state-
operated museums, given that they do not fall into the traditional
definition of a museum with a non-profit board and staff.“ really hit a
cord.

Our community has made a significant effort to preserve history and owns
several facilities, including a “City Museum”, located in a city owned
building, much of archival collection city owned (not city generated
records, instead a significant collection of photos and documents which
were purchased for the facility) operated by a local historical Society,
along with two historic railroad depots, both city owned, one in use as a
museum (leased to a different historical society) the other still a
railroad depot, with a café (leased to private concessionaire) with a
historic display in the Passenger waiting room.  We also have two Victorian
house museums, both city owned, one city operated, the other leased to
still a different historical society.  The City operated house museum is
located in a city owned, county parks operated historic farm.  Finally
there are also 2 historic barns, a carriage house, and two adobes, all city
owned, not yet developed.  Most of the facilities are under Recreation
Services, but at least one is under the redevelopment agency.

The Recreation department is organized to provide athletic and craft
classes, youth programs and rental facilities, not as an administrator of
historic sites, but has inherited responsibility since most sites are
officially city parks.  The financial and management models used by the
recreation department don’t always mesh well with the realities of Historic
sites.  The single city operated facility has a professional staff, but is
primarily operated as a volunteer program.  It has a city mandated advisory
board, but also an independent supporting foundation.  The volunteer nature
of the other various organizations running the other sites can have their
challenges as well.


Randy Hees
Patterson House at Ardenwood Farm
City of Fremont, CA

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