Tag Archive for: Pearson Air Museum

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Rep. Herrera Introduces House Bill to Transfer Pearson Air Museum Property to Vancouver City

Jaime HerreraOn Thursday, U.S. Representative (WA-3) Jaime Herrera Beutler introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would transfer Pearson Air Museum and the surrounding seven acres of land from National Park Service control to the City of Vancouver.  The bill would allow the City of Vancouver to restore its partnership with the Ft. Vancouver National Trust, and once again make Pearson Air Museum fully accessible and open to the local community.

“For years, Fort Vancouver was the shining example of a local community benefitting from a successful public-private management,” said Herrera Beutler.  “Forcing this change through congressional action was not my first choice.  I am still hopeful that the National Park Service will work out a solution with the City and the Trust, and I will continue to do whatever I can to facilitate a compromise.  However, if compromise fails, the Park Service needs to know a legislative fix is moving forward.”

The bill uses a “land conveyance” procedure to permanently transfer control of seven acres of land recognized as the Pearson Air Museum Complex from the National Park Service to the City of Vancouver.

The Fort Vancouver Trust quickly moved out of museum last week after the two entities failed to reach an operating agreement.

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Effort to Save Pearson Air Museum Gains Momentum

The Save Pearson Air Museum movement continues as supporters work with local and federal officials to push back against last week’s abrupt closure of the beloved facility.

Just over a week ago, after 18 months of failed negotiations, the National Park Service (NPS), which owns the Pearson Air Museum property, gave museum operators (Fort Vancouver National Trust) just a few days to vacate the premises. At issue is control of how the trust operates and coordinates with event organizers. The NPS wants to exert more control of day-to-day operations.

The trust has continually shown a profit for several years and has turned the Pearson Air Museum into a popular attraction, with 45 additional events slated over the next six months.

According to her office, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler will introduce legislation this week that would turn control of Pearson Air Museum and surrounding land to the city of Vancouver.

It’s exactly what supporters like James Beckelhiemer have been hoping for.

“This museum really belongs to the people of Vancouver,” said Beckelhiemer. “The NPS, or the federal government, really shouldn’t have ownership.”

Herrera Beutler’s decision to pursue a legislative fix is happening alongside local efforts to overturn the NPS decision.

On Monday, the Vancouver City Council reassured concerned residents that they were working hard to overturn the NPS move.

The Fort Vancouver National Trust, which had been operating the museum on behalf of the city, removed belongings from facility.

“These planes and other property belong to many different people,” said Beckelhiemer. “Many were on loan to the museum, and they wanted to make sure their property was accounted for.”

NPS had thought the pieces would remain.

City Manager Eric Holmes wants to get the museum up and running as soon as possible.

“We are wanting to make sure we pursue any and all avenues,” Holmes said Tuesday. He said Herrera Beutler’s legislative fix “may be one way to get there, but I’m not ready to say it’s the only way.”

Holmes said on February 8 he spoke with staff members from the offices of Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Herrera Beutler.

Cantwell spoke with NPS Service Director John Jarvis and urged him to find a solution.

Tracy Fortmann, superintendent of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, who ordered the closure, said that she was not aware of any pending legislation, and declined further comment.

Herrera Beutler’s office plans to announce details of the pending legislation in the coming days.

The Pearson Air Museum has been vacant for more than a week.

 

Pearson Air Museum
The Pearson Air Museum land is owned by the National Park Service, a
federal entity, but has been operated by the Fort Vancouver National Trust,
on behalf of Vancouver, for many years.
Pearson Air Museum Protestors
Pearson Air Museum supporters continue to mount pressure on local
and federal officials to overturn the NPS decision.

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NPS Closes Pearson Air Museum

Earlier this week, the National Park Service (NPS) abruptly closed the Pearson Air Museum after months of negotiation failed to produce a new agreement between museum operators and the NPS.

As Pearson Air Museum operators and supporters cry foul, local politicians are speedily working to draft legislation to address several key issues involved in this debate.

On Saturday, dozens gathered at the museum and surrounding areas to protest the actions of the NPS. Former Mayor Royce Pollard and State Representative Liz Pike attended.

“We are protesting many things,” said one protestor. “They just can’t close it and move things out as quickly as they did. This is a public entity. We need to have our say.”

To learn more, visit www.fortvan.org

 

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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.

 

Pearson Air Museum

 
 

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