Investment in Sultana museum a worthwhile e_ort

Our View

Investment in Sultana museum a worthwhile e_ort

Seems like an enormous commitment but, with Marion’s progressive leadership and the clear determination to make this historic city a popular destination for tourism, cultural charm, unique economic development and the type of demographics reflective of all this, it would seem only natural that an impressive and permanent Sultana museum play a part.

After all, such an attraction, a reflection of this city’s historic background, would attract thousands of visitors a year, at least according to conclusions of Bill Owens of Owens Economics who was brought in by Marion’s city leaders to do a viable market and feasibility study to help determine whether Marion should proceed with plans to build this museum.

It was interesting to learn that such a worthwhile attraction would draw between 30,000 to 40,000 visitors a year which equates to sizable economic benefits that impacts the entire community.

As most of us know, Marion has already taken the steps to create a small Sultana museum last year but in order to fully take advantage of this historic tragedy that is known to be the greatest maritime disaster in U.S. history it will be necessary to come up with a design plan calling for at least a 10,000 square foot building which is now estimated to cost nearly $3 million when all said and done.

Owens made it very clear that the actual construction cost is just financial investment that doesn’t include the annual operating cost which he estimates to be well over a half million dollars a year. That cost, he says includes five full-time employees knowledgeable in the events of this disaster which occurred on April 27, 1865 and claimed the lives of 1,700 people – mostly Union soldiers who were former prisoners of the Civil War and were returning home.

While these costs are a serious factor in any decision that is made whether to proceed or not it appears The Marion Advertising and Promotions commission, which oversees the money collected from the city’s one cent tax on prepared foods, has agreed to spend $400,000 to help build the museum and another $75,000 a year to help defray operating expenses over the next 10 years.

Also, the income from the museum itself will cover about 74 percent of its operating expenses, which Owens says is well above the 30 to 34 percent norm for most museums.

Let’s also take into consideration the possible new income from the impressive and positive economic growth going on in this city. New motels, restaurants and an influx in new housing construction is certainly making an impression.

While neighboring West Memphis will be enjoying a new Baptist Hospital in the near future, as well as benefiting from a state women’s rehabilitation center that now occupies the formerly bankrupt Crittenden Regional Hospital, the credit for these developments goes directly to Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeless and members of the quorum court.