Re: Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City

The new museum is to be built with bond funding, as part of a state wide Conservation Bonds act. We are to receive $25 million. (another $3.5 is to be used at Ely to renovate the three state owned buildings (office, passenger depot and freight depot) Additionally the City of Boulder City has been given $5.5 million in transportation funds to build our access/fire road. The conservation bonds have a real estate transfer tax, dedicated to pay for them. We have previously received and spent about $750,000 ($500,000 from Tourism) on planning, architecture and for a bike path through the museum. Five years ago the state funded a bridge across Interstate 11 to preserve the museum's connection to the outside world. The cost of that bridge was included in the cost of the new interstate, but is believed to have been $1.5 million.

General museum operations are paid via museum generated income, including half of staff salaries. Covid is making that difficult. Half of staff salaries are paid by a combination of tourism and general fund revenue. Additionally we have a very active "Friends" group which help with project funding.

It sounds like a ton of money but when building a museum complex within the state system it isn't... And that funding can take years to arrive.

Randy

Randy Hees

Director, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, retired
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