Salt museum is getting new visitor centre (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Salt museum is getting new visitor centre

11:01am Wednesday 2nd January 2008 in Leisure

NEWS that work has begun on the above ground visitors centre for the Kansas Underground Salt Museum could spark some interest among salt historians in Droitwich, a town famed for its past links with brine.

The new building at Kansas will provide an additional 8,050 square feet above ground and includes a large lobby, exhibit area, an office complex, ticket operations, additional restrooms, and a volunteer break room.

"Building the above ground centre has always been in the plans and it will greatly enhance our operations when completed next spring," said Linda Schmitt, executive director of the Reno County Historical Society. "The area we're currently using as a lobby was not designed to accommodate ticket sales and groups waiting to descend for tours. Additionally, we'll be able to move our management staff on-site, as most of us are currently working out of the Reno County Museum because of space limitations." Completion of the project is set for late spring this year.

"While there will be building work underway for the next few months, daily operations of the Salt Museum will not be interrupted during the construction," said Frank Alexander, project manager for the Kansas Underground Salt Museum.

Entry to the underground salt museum involves a trip in a double-decked elevator that accommodates up to 30 people. Once underground, visitors go on The Dark Ride, a tram tour through the mine that highlights eccentric features of the mine, while also offering a glimpse of what it's like working in a mine and having little light available. Following The Dark Ride, visitors can walk through the various museum exhibits at their leisure. At present, the museum features exhibitory highlighting the mining process, geology, mine transportation, the underground vaults and storage business, and includes a gift shop. The mine maintains a 68-degree temperature and 40 per cent relative humidity year-round making it a very pleasant environment. Because some walking is involved, visitors should wear comfortable shoes.

The Salt Museum is open to the public for tours Tuesday - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. For more information about scheduling a tour, visit www.undergroundmuseum.org.