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Frontier Museum team previews design, seeks private donors and government backing
Summary
Project team showed a 9,000 sq ft museum concept outside Fort Leavenworth, outlined interpretive features and a fundraising plan that recommends a $25 million private campaign and pursuit of significant government funding as a condition of full build-out.
Project representatives presented an updated concept for the Frontier Museum of the U.S. Army and outlined an initial fundraising strategy at the Leavenworth City Commission study session. The presenters described a roughly 9,000-square-foot footprint, pedestrian connections to the Centennial Bridge, and a series of interpretive statues and features including a Buffalo Soldier, Lewis and Clark figures and a large teepee near 4th Street.
Jeff Randolph, identified in the meeting as the chief marketing officer for EAG Advertising and Marketing, said locating the museum outside Fort Leavenworth would remove access barriers and allow the museum to welcome more students and tourists. "By locating the museum outside the walls of the military base, those limits are gone," Randolph said, arguing the change would increase visitation compared with the site inside the base.
Tammy Butterfield of Kinetic Fundraising summarized a feasibility study her firm performed and said the team tested a $25,000,000 private-sector campaign target, with a recommended three-year timeline for the private portion. "A $25,000,000 goal would be attainable within 3 years," Butterfield said, while noting that securing government funding first would be important to unlock additional private support. She said the study included 29 interviews and a wealth-screen of 189 profiles and that foundation research identified about 31 foundations with potential interest.
Staff and project representatives told commissioners they remain in a silent phase of fundraising and have not yet hired a full-time fundraiser. Commissioners asked about progress and urged coordination with congressional and state contacts. The project team said they will return with additional design details and that they expect to share further announcements in the near future.
