Mission Statement:
To preserve and share the legacy of all the US Presidents, as well as the history of Cuba City, Wisconsin, known as the City of Presidents, with the purpose of attracting, educating and inspiring the public.
Regional Tourism Statistics
· Jamison Mining Museum in Platteville and Stonefield Village in Cassville average 10,000 visitors annually.
· The Grotto in Dickeyville sees over 50,000 annual visitors while the National Brewery Museum in Potosi sees over 70,000 visitors annually.
· Main Street in Galena averages over 1 million annual visitors. History is cited as a key reason for their visit.
Jo Daviess County realizes over $185 million in tourism impact each year.
· West Branch, Iowa is home to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. West Branch is the same population as Cuba City and their museum sees between 40,000 and 50,000 annual visitors. The Library is 47,000 square feet and has seen as many as 100,000 visitors in a year.
· Based upon recent Wisconsin Department of Tourism data, visitors on a day trip will spend $58 locally per visit, while overnight visitors will spend $184 per trip.
Why a Presidential Museum in Cuba City?
· A Presidential Museum fits well with the City’s history dating back to the Bi-Centennial Celebration of 1976.
· History is a strong tourism draw in the region, especially in Galena, 14 minutes to Cuba City’s south.
· Five U.S. Presidents made their homes within a four hour drive from Cuba City.
· There are 17 Presidential museums in the US, but not a single one that features information on all 45 Leaders of the Free World.
What will the Museum Feature?
· The Cuba City US Presidential Museum will include a mix of traditional Presidential artifacts as well as a modern, interactive display system to provide insight into all 45 U.S. Presidents. The First Ladies will also be prominently featured.
· Artifacts will be provided through loans, donations and purchases.
· The interactive displays will include one large screen as well as two kiosks for individual queries.
· Two U.S. Presidents will be featured on a rotating basis, one from the modern era and one from the formative years of the Republic. A timeline on the walls will display the events during each President’s term for perspective.
Benefits to Cuba City and the Region
· With a conservative estimate of 5,000 annual visitors, and assuming that they are here only for the day the impact to our area businesses would be $290,000. Neighboring communities with hotels will see a larger economic impact.
· The Museum would provide a boost to tourism attractions across our region as well as area businesses.
Where does the project currently stand?
· A 501(c) 3 entity has been formed and a checking account has been established to receive charitable donations.
· A team is revising the museum’s business plan and a Board of Directors is now in place to oversee the process.
· Three experienced museum operations people have now joined the team as well as a group from UWP history department will assist in the historical data process.
· A goal of $150,000 has been established and fund-raising activities are now underway.
· A location is under evaluation and a design team for the interactive displays is in place
· Fundraising has commenced and the account has several thousands of dollars on deposit.
What else needs to be done?
· Begin historical research and set the “theme” for the displays.
· Complete the committee assignments
· Fund-raising
· Completion of the financial projections and business plan
How can you help? Join one of the following teams to move the project toward completion:
Fundraising, Marketing/Communications, Operations, Technology, Finance,
History, Business Planning, Facility, Gift Shop, Artifacts
Bob Jones, 608-744-2152
Donna Rogers 563-599-0098
Connie Gronemus 608-744-2480
Ruth Ann Summers 608-744-2629