Supporters Unite to Protest Pearson Air Museum Closing

This week’s abrupt closure of the treasured Pearson Air Museum came as a shock to many, but it was the result of more than a year of failed negotiations about control of the facility.

The National Park Service, which owns the historic building that has housed the museum for the last 18 years, ended its agreement with the city of Vancouver – and the transition out has already begun.

Earlier this week, volunteers and employees, to the horror of aviation enthusiasts and local fans, cleared out the building. A day later, the Park Service came to collect the keys and security code.

The once astonishing museum closed it doors.

And this act has sparked a protest campaign against the National Park Service’s actions. Local citizens, supporters, teens, as well State Representative Liz Pike are holding a protest Saturday at 2 pm at 1115 E. Fifth Street, in Vancouver.

When the agreement to create the museum was signed in 1995, the Park Service maintained ownership of the land. In 2005, the Fort Vancouver National Trust took over day-to-day operations on behalf of the city.

What happened under the new 2005 agreement was that the trust was allowed to manage and plan events on the property. It then allowed others to manage and plan events, in order to collect new revenues and promote the museum.

And that was the rub.

The Park Service wanted to deal directly with the museum’s operator. Superintendent Tracy Fortmann wanted complete oversight of all programs and services put on by the trust.

“That just wasn’t the nature of the partnership we entered into,” said Elson Strahan, CEO of the Fort Vancouver National Trust.

Also at issue is the closure timeline. The terms of their 2005 agreement state the trust has 180 days to transition out of the museum operations. But in a letter to the trust on Monday, Fortmann said the trust would have 45 days to transition out of its operational role.

Fortmann issued the following statement: “We sincerely regret that many months of good faith discussions to develop an agreement to sustain the continued operations of the Pearson Air Museum did not succeed.”

In addition, 45 events were scheduled at the museum over the next six months.

Pike believes the Park Service is out of line, and Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Buetler is drafting a bill to turn management of the land over to the city, which would allow it to continue to work with the trust.

Local enthusiasts hope the protest will call attention to their cause and get this week’s action overturned.