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Yellowstone Gateway Museum remains closed while restoration, testing continue after interior flooding
Summary
The museum remains closed as Buffalo Restoration conducts cleanup and air testing; staff say insurance and a prior grant are covering immediate work while a capital-improvement request for full plumbing replacement is pending in the budget process.
The Executive Director said the Yellowstone Gateway Museum remains closed to the public while contractor Buffalo Restoration finishes cleanup and testing after an interior flood.
The director told the foundation board that Buffalo Restoration has shut off most of the air scrubbers, dehumidifiers and blowers and has cut out what it can of affected walls. “They think they have most of the walls cut out,” the Executive Director said. The contractor will perform air testing in six areas and follow with final moisture tests before removal of the drying equipment.
Why it matters: the museum houses community archives and exhibits; the closure affects visitor access and scheduled events. Staff said archives were “safe for the most part” and that the cleanup is proceeding under the museum’s insurance policy.
Board members heard that some areas were sealed with plastic “zippered off” enclosures where biological growth had been sprayed, and that crews have had to remove multiple wall layers — including lath-and-plaster and drywall — in places such as the stairwell and the archives room to reach damp material. Because portions of the building are concrete, drying has taken longer than expected.
The director said machines could be removed “either tomorrow or in the next few days” for air testing, but full repair and cleanup will take longer. The contractor estimated that completing repairs could take about a month from the current stage, depending on air- and moisture-test results.
Funding and repairs: board members were told that the immediate cleanup is being paid through the museum’s insurance with Mako and that a grant secured last year will cover installation and inspection work for the fire suppression system and a water alarm. The director said she had already submitted a capital-improvement request for full plumbing replacement during the upcoming budget season; she noted the request predated the flood.
The board also discussed utility quotes. The director said there are quotes for HVAC, plumbing and electrical work; she recalled HVAC as “a hundred” and the plumbing quote as “just under 10,” but did not specify units or currency in the meeting record. The contractor reported redoing about a 25-foot section of plumbing where the leak originated and replaced burst piping with copper during emergency repairs; staff emphasized that a complete re-plumbing remains needed.
On site logistics, staff said there is a dumpster on the museum’s back lot where salvageable and unsalvageable wet items have been staged for disposal, and thanked Public Works staffer Warren for delivering it. The director warned that dust remains in parts of the building and advised masks when entering areas being cleaned.
Board members said they want visual outreach to explain the closure to the public and discussed options for holding limited outdoor activities if the building cannot be reopened for Living History Day. Staff warned that without building access there would be no indoor restrooms for public events.
Ending: staff said they will update the board at the next meeting after air testing and final moisture readings are complete. The director urged caution about reopening until test results are satisfactory.
