This month, construction finishes on a dedicated and permanent home for the Longmont Museum’s collection of historic three-dimensional objects. The new “Museum Collections Center” was funded in part by a nearly $150,000 Museums for America grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, a federally administered program designed to transform communities through investing in museums. The Longmont Museum was one of only a handful of Colorado institutions to receive this funding in 2017.

For now, the new 15,000 square foot space, located east of Longmont on Weld County Road 5, is just an empty building. Museum staff will spend the next several months carefully relocating and rehousing each of the 17,000 objects that make up the collection, moving them from a temporary space the Museum currently rents. 

In the temporary storage facility, the Museum’s historical artifacts are packed and largely inaccessible. Moving to the permanent Collection Center will mean the artifacts can once again be widely utilized for exhibitions and research, benefiting both staff and the community at large.

“Our historic artifacts are a source of pride,” said Kim Manajek, director of the Museum. “We are thrilled to reach this milestone in acknowledging their significance through creating a state-of-the-art home for them with vastly improved access.”

The Museum has been collecting since its founding in 1936. Historic three-dimensional objects in the collection include furniture, vehicles, tools, ceramic and glassware, jewelry, business equipment, appliances, clothing, toys and much more. Full completion of the relocation and rehousing project, including recording each item in an electronic database, is expected to take three years.



LONGMONT MUSEUM
The Longmont Museum is a center for culture in Northern Colorado where people of all ages explore history, experience art, and discover new ideas through dynamic programs, exhibitions and events. Learn more at www.longmontmuseum.org or visit us at 400 Quail Road, Longmont CO 80501.

INSTITUTE FOR MUSEUM & LIBRARY SERVICES
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.