The Durham Museum

THE DURHAM MUSEUM IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,802,828 TO PRESERVE AND REPLACE THE ROOFING SYSTEM OF OMAHA UNION STATION, A HISTORIC ART DECO RAILWAY STATION THAT SOLIDIFIED OMAHAS POSITION AS A MAJOR RAILROAD HUB. OMAHA UNION STATION WAS PLACED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1971, RECOGNIZED AS AN OMAHA LOCAL LANDMARK IN 1978, AND DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN 2016. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOF IS THE FINAL PHASE IN A SERIES OF INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR RESTORATION EFFORTS AT UNION STATION. FOUNDED IN 1975, THE DURHAM MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING OMAHAS VIBRANT CULTURAL HISTORY, WITH PERMANENT EXHIBITS SPANNING OVER 200 YEARS OF REGIONAL HISTORY. THE INSTITUTION ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH INITIATIVES WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND HOSTS TEMPORARY EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS. THE MUSEUM IS NOT ONLY A SHOWCASE OF ARTIFACTS BUT A VIBRANT SPACE WHERE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AND APPRECIATE THEIR SHARED HERITAGE. OMAHA IS HOME TO A LARGE AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY, AND, ANNUALLY, THE MUSEUM REACHES OVER 200,000 INDIVIDUALS. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THE MUSEUM ARE INDIVIDUALS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES WHO RESIDE IN OMAHA, AS WELL AS VISITORS FROM AROUND THE REGION, WHO SEEK TO ENGAGE WITH THE RICH REGIONAL HISTORY PRESERVED WITHIN THE STATION. THE DURHAM MUSEUM IS HOUSED WITHIN OMAHA UNION STATION. DESIGNED BY THE RENOWNED ARCHITECT GILBERT STANLEY UNDERWOOD, FAMED FOR HIS COLLABORATIONS WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, UNION STATION STANDS AS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF ART DECO ARCHITECTURE IN THE NATION AND PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN INTERCONNECTING SEVEN RAILROADS, INCLUDING THE UNION PACIFIC, DURING ITS CONSTRUCTION. AT ITS OPERATIONAL PEAK, THE STATION FACILITATED 64 PASSENGER TRAINS AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 10,000 DAILY PASSENGERS. IN 1973, UNION PACIFIC BESTOWED THE STATION UPON THE CITY OF OMAHA, WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ACQUIRED BY THE WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM AND NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE DURHAM MUSEUM. THE STATION HAS RETAINED ITS HISTORICAL AUTHENTICITY REMARKABLY, REMAINING LARGELY UNCHANGED SINCE ITS ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION. ALTHOUGH OMAHA UNION STATION S ROUTINE ROOF ASSESSMENTS HAVE CONSISTENTLY REPORTED THE ROOF S OVERALL GOOD CONDITION, THE STATION S ANNUAL EVALUATION HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT SUBSTANTIAL DELAMINATION LINKED TO EXTENSIVE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. THE DURHAM MUSEUM CONDUCTED REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF THE ROOF OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND REPAIRED CRITICAL DEFECTS, BUT THE ROOF, NOW PAST ITS WARRANTY, IS EXHIBITING SERIOUS VULNERABILITIES THAT NECESSITATE FULL REPLACEMENT. INCREASING ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS HAVE NOW SURPASSED PRACTICAL LIMITS. GRANT FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WILL ALLOW FOR A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOF OF OMAHA UNION STATION. THE REPLACEMENT AIMS TO ESTABLISH A DURABLE AND PROTECTIVE ROOFING SYSTEM, PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE, ENSURING LONG-TERM PRESERVATION, AND MAINTAINING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STATION. THE GRANT PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR MONTHS, BEGINNING IN AUGUST OF 2024. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL CONDUCT A KICK-OFF MEETING THAT DISCUSSES THE KEY GOALS, BUDGET, AND TIMELINE OF THE ROOF REPLACEMENT AND ENGAGE IN SUBSEQUENT REGULAR TEAM MEETINGS. THE CORE OF THE PROJECT, THE ROOF INSTALLATION, IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER 2024, IN TIME FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE MIDWEST WINTER. FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE ROOF INSTALLATION, A FINAL INSPECTION WILL BE CONDUCTED, INVOLVING ALL PROJECT CONTRACTORS AND TEAM MEMBERS. AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, OMAHA UNION STATION IS SUBJECT TO STANDARDS ISSUED THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR S STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES. THE NEW ROOF WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.

THE DURHAM MUSEUM WILL IMPROVE INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL CONTROL OVER ITS COLLECTION IN RESPONSE TO A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE COLLECTIONS ASSESSMENT FOR PRESERVATION (CAP) PROGRAM. THE MUSEUM WILL HIRE TWO NEW COLLECTIONS STAFF TO FACILITATE THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND COORDINATE THE ASSISTANCE OF STUDENT INTERNS. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE CATALOG AND INVENTORY OF THE MATERIALS IN THE HISTORY OBJECT COLLECTION, REHOUSE OBJECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A CONSULTING CONSERVATOR, PURCHASE AND INSTALL NEW STORAGE EQUIPMENT, AND PLACE THE OBJECTS INTO AN IMPROVED AND REORDERED ENVIRONMENT.

CONTINUITY OF MUSEUM CORE ACTIVITIES INITIATIVE

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

THE DURHAM MUSEUM IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA, WILL ADD TWO PART-TIME FACILITATORS TO THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION TEAM AND NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, IN PARTICULAR, THE MUSEUM'S VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS AND AWARD-WINNING MUSEUM LIVE! WEEKLY WEBCAST SERIES, DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE MUSEUM ALSO WILL RE-LAUNCH ITS FIELD TRIP PROGRAM WITH FREE ADMISSION AND TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE ITS CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES ACCESSIBLE AND FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE FOR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. THESE TWO INITIATIVES WILL SERVE PRIMARILY A K-12 STUDENT AUDIENCE, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS, AND WILL COMPLEMENT STATE SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION STANDARDS. THESE PROGRAMS WILL GREATLY ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE MUSEUM FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES WITHIN THE OMAHA COMMUNITY WHILE SERVING RURAL COMMUNITIES IN GREATER NEBRASKA AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.