Funds for 'Museum Mile' OK'd
$100,000 to go for area's promotion
King Street thrives as Charleston's premier shopping and dining scene, while the Market is known for its open-air vendors and restaurants.
And soon, peninsular Charleston could be known for another key attraction called "Museum Mile."
A coalition of museums and historic sites lining Meeting Street coined the moniker and plan to publicize the project with $100,000 given by Charleston County Council this week.
The money will help pay for brochures, bulletin boards, a Web site and other forms of advertising.
"Museum Mile" is almost precisely a mile-long stretch that features stops at the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, the Charleston Museum, the Gibbes Museum of Art, the South Carolina Historical Society, the Old Slave Mart Museum, the Washington Light Infantry and more.
"Once it's recognized ... it will be an area like any of the definitive areas of Charleston," said John Brumgardt, executive director of the Charleston Museum, which is leading the effort.
Brumgardt said he hopes the campaign will help boost interest at area cultural and historic sites where visitation is waning.
County Council approved giving $100,000 for the endeavor at its meeting Tuesday. The money will come from the county's accommodations fee, which is collected from hotels, motels and vacation rentals to promote area tourism. The county charges a fee separate from the state's familiar accommodation tax.
Council voted unanimously to award the grant, but some council members previously expressed concern about contributing thousands of tax dollars for a venture that might or might not prove successful.
Councilman Paul Thurmond said Friday that after he got over the sticker shock, he felt the project was commendable and that he fully supports it. "You've got all the makings for success," he said. "The key is going to be to get the word out about it."
Council included a stipulation with the deal that each site on "Museum Mile" must submit attendance figures comparing progress at the end of the year.
Georgina Ngozi, executive director of the Children's Museum, said it is unrealistic to judge how effective the campaign is after just one year. She pointed out that rising gas prices and many other factors continue to affect tourism.
"What I think is measurable," Ngozi said, "and what I think will be evident at the end of a year from now, is that we have collectively made the effort to identify to the broader community and the nation that Charleston is one of the finest family destinations in this country."
Council also allotted $5,000 for the Adande Arts Festival, which wrapped up last weekend, and $25,000 for the Jenkins Orphanage Jazz Concert to be held next weekend.
Reach Tenisha Waldo at 937-5744 or twaldo@postand courier.com.
E-mail this story 
Printer-friendly version
Notice about comments:
The Post and Courier is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Post and Courier does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our Web site.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Comments
This article has 0 comment(s)
