Ortt Delivers a Total of $40,000 to Museums throughout Niagara County

Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I – North Tonawanda) ceremonially delivered a total of $40,000 in state funding to several museum organizations throughout Niagara County. Ortt secured the funding as part of the 2017-18 State Budget in addition to funding secured over the past two years for museums in his district.  

Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown received $10,000 in support of its interactive educational programs. The historic military fort will use the money to implement a series of programs entitled, “Flintlocks and Council Fires,” for approximately 10,000 school students. The programs will include guided tours and living history presentations to help students learn about the military and diplomatic history of western New York during the 18^th and early 19^th centuries. “Flintlocks and Council Fires” will be presented to visitors next May and June.      

The Niagara County Historical Society also received $10,000 to continue the installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at the Pioneer Building and Kandt House on Niagara Street in Lockport. The buildings store exhibits and collections of historic artifacts from the early 20^th century. The HVAC technology will provide a controlled climate inside the historical buildings to slow the deterioration process of artifacts, artwork and textiles. Additionally, the Historical Society will use a portion of the funds to install a humidity monitoring system and for training purposes on how to use the systems.   

The Niagara Aerospace Museum in Niagara Falls received a check totaling $7,500 to enhance about 20 major artifacts and exhibits in the museum. Plans include creating audio, visual and written materials that adequately describe the historical significance of the exhibit or artifact. These materials would be in addition to the exhibit’s current technical description, but would include the importance of western New York’s role in the nation’s history. About 30,000 aircraft, for example, were built in western New York and were critical to winning World War II.    

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda also received $7,500 to help support the educational, cultural, and recreational programming for the roughly 15,000 visitors a year.

Lastly, Senator Ortt presented $5,000 to the Historical Society of North German Settlements in Western New York. A new sign will be purchased for the Das Haus und Der Stall German Heritage Museum in the Village of Bergholz. A portion of the funding will go toward marketing materials for the museum, so that tourists from around world can continue to enjoy the artifacts on display from some of the original settlers.