The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Need of Renovation

While national interest in President John F. Kennedy’s assassination continues to thrive, the Dallas County building that has exhibited the history of that event for 36 years has fallen apart.

Staff of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza can’t control insects or rain creeping through the windows, CEO Nicola Longford said. She said updates to the 125-year-old former Texas School Book Depository Building are decades overdue.

With no room to expand, the exhibits confined to the sixth and seventh floors omit most of the 90,000 artifacts in the nonprofit’s possession.

History of the Museum

Leaders of The Sixth Floor Museum say the aging landmark is long overdue for an overhaul to repair the deteriorating building and expand the outdated exhibits, centered around the sixth-floor window where the Warren Commission said Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed Kennedy in a car below on Nov. 22, 1963. In a discussion on Monday, county officials estimated it could cost $60 million to renovate the infrastructure, but a plan for an overhaul is far from decided.

The museum has been a significant historical site in the nation, and its renovation is not just about updating a building, but also about fulfilling the responsibility as stewards of this site.

Need for Renovation

“This renovation expansion is not just about updating a building, it’s about fulfilling our responsibility as stewards of one the most significant historical sites in the nation,” Longford said.

The museum is seeking a long-term development agreement to replace the exhibit’s lease expiring in 2030, but Longford stopped short of publicly asking for a specific funding commitment.

Assistant County Administrator Jonathon Bazan estimated the building could need $60 million in repairs to bring it to “museum standards,” which includes $25 million for roof, electrical and window replacements that have been deferred until the county decides the future of the building.

Challenges and Concerns

In a later interview, Longford declined to confirm how much of the $60 million she thinks the county should contribute, saying the museum is still confirming its estimates. But she stressed: “It’s their building.”

She said the nonprofit needs a commitment from the county to repair infrastructure before it can ask its donors to help fund an expansion of the exhibits.

She described building classroom space for teachers and students and multimedia video presentations to add to the exhibits that are now primarily walls of text. She said she envisions creating an open processing and storage area for artifacts that are now stored off-site.

Partnership and Funding

Most of the four commissioners present for the Continuous Improvement Steering Committee’s discussion expressed support for a partnership, but did not make any commitments for funding or details of an agreement.

“At the end of the day, that’s where we’ve got to make a decision based on what we think is the value of that particular property, the value of what they bring to Dallas,” Commissioner John Wiley Price said. “It’s not like they can pick it up and move it … this building is integral to the museum. It is the museum.”

The museum pays the county $150,000 per year to lease the two floors for exhibits, according to its agreement. It pays the county about $13,000 per month for the two floors of office space and parking.

Next Steps

In an interview, Longford said she wants “a more reasonable partnership” when it comes to rent.

Bazan said county staff will continue discussions with museum officials and that a recommendation may be presented within the next three months.

The museum’s future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: it needs renovation and expansion to continue to serve as a significant historical site in the nation.

Conclusion

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is in need of renovation and expansion to continue to serve as a significant historical site in the nation. The museum’s leadership is seeking a long-term development agreement with the county to replace the exhibit’s lease expiring in 2030. While the county officials have expressed support for a partnership, they have not made any commitments for funding or details of an agreement.

The museum’s future is uncertain, but it is clear that it needs renovation and expansion to continue to serve as a significant historical site in the nation. The county and the museum must work together to find a solution that will ensure the museum’s continued success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current state of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza?

A: The museum is in need of renovation and expansion due to its aging building and outdated exhibits.

Q: How much does the museum need for renovation and expansion?

A: County officials have estimated that the building could need $60 million in repairs to bring it to “museum standards.”

Q: What is the museum’s current lease agreement with the county?

A: The museum pays the county $150,000 per year to lease the two floors for exhibits and about $13,000 per month for the two floors of office space and parking.

Q: What are the next steps for the museum’s renovation and expansion?

A: County staff will continue discussions with museum officials, and a recommendation may be presented within the next three months.