Hanford museum needs community help to build A.D.A. ramp
HANFORD, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hanford's historic Carnegie Museum and Tourist Information Center is facing a challenge, and they're hoping the community can help them overcome it.
The museum is the place to be if you're looking to brush up on a little local history.
"It's quite extensive as far as Hanford and Kings County," said Hanford Carnegie Museum Director Rob VanWagoner.
Or, if you'd like to be spooked by ghosts, head upstairs or go down to the basement.
"The doors will slam by themselves, (a ghost) will turn your phone off," said Hanford Carnegie Museum Curator Patricia Dickerson.
The museum has something for just about everyone, young and old.
But there are times when the elderly or disabled aren't able to take in the rich history of Hanford and Kings County, because there's no ramp.
"We have veterans here in town that can't even come in and they've lived here all their lives," Dickerson said.
In order to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the museum needs a ramp. But it can't just be any ramp. It needs to be a wood one that fits in with and does not alter the original design of the 100-year-old building.
The museum is on the National Register of Historic Places.
"Everything has to fit in," VanWagoner said. "We can't take anything off, we can't try to do it some other way, it has to blend in with the building. So to do that, instead of being able to do a ramp out front and change the front of the building, we have to find a place where we can do it and it still fits in."
It will be on the east side of the building and will cost $8,000. But because they are a non-profit, the museum can't come up with that kind of cash on their own.
They've already created a GoFundMe account, and have the support of Hanford City Councilman Francisco Ramirez.
"The Carnegie in the past two years have done so much for the youth and the price points are so good for the kids to come out here and enjoy it," Ramirez said.
There's no hard deadline to get the ramp built by, but they'd like to get it done as soon as possible, because these artifacts are meant to be seen by all.
And as it stands, not all have access to what lies inside the museum.
The museum is also having a disco party fundraiser tomorrow night.
You can still get tickets at the museum or by calling them.
