On Sat, 5 Aug 1995, Penny Knowles noted that I might have
more information on this subject: "Impact of gambling
casinos on heritage institutions."  While I don't have a lot of
information, I have opinions and I can see effects.

I must begin by saying that I am morally and religiously
opposed to an "industry" which makes profits by feeding
on greed.  Also I am sorry that in our society we have
come to a point where the native peoples of this land
see this industry as their only way to "get ahead."  I
state this not because of an agenda, but to give you my
initial viewpoint.  I know that some people consider
this entertainment.  (I also know that some people
might prefer this industry to the other local business
of building submarines.)

For those of you who don't know, Mystic Seaport Museum
is a large museum which sees about 400,000 visitor/yr.
It is located about 15 miles from the new casino of the
Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.  It has been open three or
four years now and has become the "largest casino in the
western hemisphere."  They have an arrangement (monopoly)
with the State of Connecticut that as long as they remain
the only location for slot machines in the state, then the
state will receive 20% (I think) of the net of the slots.  The
state's "take" for the *month* of June - the last month I
heard reported, was $10 or $12 million.

Our Marketing Department has done some research into
visitation.  Simply summarized; the people who go to
casinos are not the same population as those who go to
museums.  The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe has contributed
strongly to a fund to publicize the entire S.E. Connecticut
region.  This regional chamber of commerce, Mystic Coast
and Country, has advertised the region as a destination
in the New York Metro area.  We have done T.V. ads in the
same region for the first time ever.  Shall I say that
we have yet to see the results of this campaign.

What we see are motel rooms priced so that a family
weekend in Mystic will cost over $200 for two nights
lodging if you can all fit into one room.  These are the inexpensive rooms.
 There are children left in the parking
lots at the casino while their parents gamble and we have
seen some children left here at Mystic Seaport unsupervised.

The Pequots will be building a new Indian museum.  Imagine
you are back in your museum studies class and the
instructor gives you an assignment - "Okay, you have all
the money you can imagine, you have no collection and
no building.  Design for me the museum of your dreams."
I would imagine this museum will have no admission
fee charged; compared to our admission fee, I think we
will be at a competative disadvantage.  The point of course,
is to see that we are not competing.

Our local community is seeing growth in the demand for
community services.  As there is no way to tax the one
industry which is driving up the demand on those services,
a recent planning commission report has recommended an
entertainment tax be added to our admission fee - we
are a tax exempt, not-for-profit educational
institution (but we are already one of the top twenty
taxpayers in town based on property owned which is not
part of the museum).

Our marketing Director, Ed Ruckle, has worked closely
with Mystic Coast and Country and could perhaps give you
more information based on research than the opinions I
have shared with you.  You will need to call or write to
him.

Edward Baker
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Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, CT  06355-0990
(203) 572-0711