Southwest Museum Should Remain in Mt. Washington

The arrogance of the decision by the board of directors of the Southwest Museum to move from its beautiful and significant site in Mt. Washington demonstrates its ignorance of the history of museums and the various roles they play in society. A museum is more than a collection of works of art. It is a point of pride and self-definition for the community it serves, that very community which serves it in return. Mt. Washington and Highland Park are culturally and visually identified with the Southwest Museum while the museum is certainly enhanced by its location.

It is, I emphasize, the arrogance of the board’s decision--not the decision itself--which is so deplorable. We, the general public and members alike, learned unceremoniously of it through The Times. It was reported that storage is inadequate, parking difficult, the building not earthquake-safe and that the elevator is antiquated. Therefore, the article stated, the board assumed it was obvious that this civic treasure must be transferred elsewhere.

Who, though, would ever believe in this day and age that it is cheaper to purchase a large plot of land, erect a new state-of-the-art building and move a whole institution than to remodel? No information has been released showing that the finances have even been researched, let alone what the conclusions might have been. We do know for sure that it is a more glamorous, dramatic and exciting job for the board to raise money for a new building than it is to raise money for repairs.

Despite all the problems, streams of schoolchildren climb that hill every day to visit the superb collections, to see and study the Indian baskets, pots and beads. Furthermore, membership is up and, with a sophisticated development campaign, could soar even higher.

Could it possibly be that the neighborhoods of Mt. Washington and Highland Park, with their diverse and often low-income populations, are not the audiences the board wants for its parties and fund-raising events? Are these neighborhoods frankly not chic enough?

One alternative to the radical decision to move the Southwest Museum would be for the board to bring together an ad-hoc committee made up of residents, students, teachers, artists, museum directors and journalists who love and support the place. Mt. Washington and Highland Park are filled with such people. The current director, not having any prior museum experience of his own, probably would find the advice and expertise of these people refreshing and insightful.

Together, the committee could brainstorm with the director, the staff and the board. Together they might discover some creative (without doubt more moderate) solutions than the arrogant one they have announced, which would cut the cultural heart out of our community.