Museum to Temporarily Shut Down for Maintenance
December 27, 2022
Shutdown Follows May 2022 Fire in Adjacent Building
Museum of World Treasures will be temporarily closed to the public beginning Monday, January 2 and continuing through Friday, January 13 for scheduled maintenance following a May 2022 fire in a nearby Old Town building. Museum staff plan to welcome back visitors starting Saturday, January 14.
"Wichita residents and visitors come to the Museum to make memories with friends and family. While we are sad that we will be unable to provide those services for a few weeks, we understand that this is a necessary part of preserving the historical building and our artifacts for many generations to come." -Mike Noller, President & CEO
Last May, a fire began southwest of the Museum in the building formerly occupied by Heroes Sports Bar and Grill. The Museum's building, which is owned by the City of Wichita, took in a significant amount of smoke during the fire but luckily sustained almost no fire damage.
"Thanks to our partners at the City of Wichita, Museum of World Treasures is housed in the historical 109-year-old Johnson-Frazier building, which was incidentally built to be fireproof. We have thanked our lucky stars many times for that coincidence," shares Noller. "The Museum and the City of Wichita are committed to ensuring no lingering soot particles remain that could potentially damage the building or the fragile historical artifacts we are tasked to protect. Completing this restoration during January's low traffic season minimizes the impact on the Wichita community."
(left) "Fireproof! Rat-proof! Mouse-proof!" proclaims a historical marker outside the Museum of World Treasures' building. (right) These marble monk and Buddha statues are displayed near where the May 2022 fire raged. Fortunately, the 1914 "fireproof" warehouse building housing the Museum protected historical items like these from harm.
During the Museum's closure, Museum staff will work closely with restoration crews and security to ensure the proper care and respect of the historical artifacts. After all areas receive a deep cleaning, Museum of World Treasures will reopen for regular business hours.
About Museum of World Treasures
Museum of World Treasures is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Kansas corporation and is able to provide a variety of educational programs, entertaining events, and inspiring exhibits because of the generosity of its donors. Our mission is to provide a gateway to the past that educates, entertains and inspires lifelong learning. To learn more visit https://worldtreasures.org or call us at 316.263.1311.
