Proposed Railroad Visitor Center Stakeholders Meet
Posted By: Nan Clark
Date: Jul 3, 2008
On June 30, 2008 representatives from the Commission, CTS Management Company and the Friends of the C&TS met to review plans for the Railroad Visitor Center. The Friends planned and underwrote the meeting/workshop, which was facilitated by Santa Fe Museum planner and exhibit designer, Andrew Merriell and his associate Jennifer Atkins. Please refer to www.merriell.com to review Mr. Merriell’s extensive body of work.
On July 1, Commission Chairman Randy Randall, Commission Executive Director Leo Schmitz, Friends President Tim Tennant and Friends Directors Bob Ross and Nan Clark walked the Chama yard once again reviewing all possible locations for the placement of the RVC. Taking into consideration many criteria, there was 100% agreement on the location at the north end of the yard. It should be noted that the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division (HPD) must still approve the chosen site. HPD representative Robyn Powell will be visiting Chama soon for that purpose and with verbal approval a formal request will be submitted.
The goals for the RVC are to provide an enhanced visitor experience and broaden the scope of informational and educational opportunities to the public. The vision also provides for a complete interpretive plan for the C&TS Railroad utilizing historic structures and assets whenever possible. The most significant and authentic story remains the 64-mile living museum and the C&TS operational steam railroad.
It is important at this time to reiterate the reasons for the recommended north end placement of the RVC:
• All three architects and the museum planner insist that the structure must be near the center of the action for the visitor center to succeed.
• In 1994, the Commission and SHPO approved a plan which protected the Chama yard view and recommended locations where future structures could be built, if needed. The protected view runs from the south end of the Depot proceeding north to the log bunkhouse. Aware of this plan, the Friends have always opted to keep the RVC outside of that protected view, in a location recommended by the 1994 plan but as near the action as possible.
• The slope at the north end of the yard lends itself to a two-story structure--the top level appearing to be a single story building on Terrace Avenue and the lower level built into the side of the hill as a daylight basement. Entrance to the RVC will be possible from Terrace Avenue and from the lower level near trackside and slightly elevated from the right of way.
• The existing spur track at the north end makes it possible to display examples of rolling stock to visitors and provides a place for demonstrations of such equipment eventually including the workings of the coaling tower.
• The north end location for the RVC will “open up” that portion of the yard and will make it possible to include the log bunkhouse and related structures as part of the visitor experience.
• An observation deck on the upper level will enhance views looking southward--the two stalls of the old roundhouse, the coal tipple, and the double-spouted water tank--and to watch train movement.
The most significant affirmations coming out of the meeting were:
• The RVC is to be the gateway to the living museum which is the 64-mile railroad.
• The most important exhibit is the operational steam railroad’s authentic and historic experience.
• The RVC upper level will offer creature comforts to visitors, a museum store, large permanent exhibit area with state of the art technology, storage area to support operations and the open observation deck facing trackside.
• The RVC lower level will house an exhibit preparation area, space for rotating exhibits that support railroad and regional history and culture, a resource reference room/library, archival storage for donated artifacts (the Dorman photographic collection will remain in controlled storage in Albuquerque where the Friends home office is located) and a small work area and offices for Friends activities that support restoration, preservation and interpretation of the C&TS.
• The RVC lower level will also have a covered deck that guides visitors toward the displayed rolling stock and other artifacts, and will offer an area for informational programs and children’s discovery activities.
The drawings and elevations of the proposed RVC that were previously posted by the Friends will be refined and enhanced. It is important to New Mexico HPD and to the museum planner that the new facility compliment the site in scale and design, but immediately be recognizable as a new building, i.e., not historic. As soon as these become available they will be posted on the web site. The Friends are planning a follow-up workshop with Mr. Merriell to review interior use and the layout for use of exhibit space. This information will also be posted when available.
Funding for planning and some aspects of construction for the RVC will be coming from the Educational/Interpretive portion of the Another Century of Narrow Gauge Steam campaign. Additional sources sought are from private foundations, corporations, US Department of Transportation and the state of New Mexico. The Friends have also submitted a $75,000 grant request to the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) for planning interactive exhibits. An additional grant for the creation of state-of-the-art exhibits will be submitted to NEH in August 2008. When detailed plans are available the Friends will provide a color brochure with complete information to the entire membership, local and regional businesses and suppliers to the Friends and the C&TS Railroad.
Questions regarding the RVC should be directed to Nan Clark, RVC Task Force Chairman, or Friends President Tim Tennant.
