Brimstone Museum passes funding halfway mark for exhibit
Published 5:22 am Friday, September 6, 2013
The Brimstone Museum is more than halfway to its goal of securing funding for a permanent exhibit displaying Sulphur history.
Thom Trahan, Brimstone executive director, said the fundraising committee has secured about $120,000 of the estimated $212,000 needed to complete the project.
The cost for the museum expansion and exhibits includes the development, construction and production costs, and the museum is seeking financial donations from the city, industries and residents.
In June, the museum accepted the donation of a 900-square-foot building, which will house the museum’s administrative offices, restrooms and a small gift shop. The original plan was to expand the museum by building a new wing, but Trahan said renovating the old building will help save money.
Construction on the building will begin once the museum gets approval and receives its permit from state inspectors.
“We’ve gotten a lot of calls asking about the exterior of the donated building,” he said. “People drive by and see it’s an old tin building, but we haven’t been able to do anything with it yet.”
He said as soon as the permit is approved guys are “lined up” to begin work.
Trahan said he’s had an outpouring of positive feedback regarding the exhibit and the museum’s expansion.
“People are really excited,” he said. “We haven’t had a permanent display in a long time. We’ve done several traveling and temporary displays, but this will be good for local schools and the community. It will give them a way to learn the history of their town.”
The exhibits will comprise artifacts, photos and stories that have been contributed to the museum over the past four decades. It will also showcase modules on the sulfur mines and the Frasch mining process, local industries and various people from city history.
Trahan said the museum is seeking additional pictures and artifacts from the community.
“In the upcoming week we will be posting on our Facebook page different pictures we are looking for,” he said. “Some of the things we will be asking for are pictures of the old theaters and drive-ins that were once in Sulphur.”
Construction is expected to be complete by March, when the city will celebrate its centennial.
The Brimstone Museum has been in Sulphur since 1974 as a private nonprofit.
For more information or to donate toward the project, contact Trahan at 527-0357 or trahan@brimstonemuseum.org.
(American Press Archives)
