Museum's capital campaign under way

WAPAKONETA - The Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum's capital campaign received a jump start last week, thanks to three local businesses.

Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys, and G.A. Wintzer and Son Co. and the Telephone Service Company, both of Wapakoneta, made the first pledges totaling $40,000 toward the museum's capital campaign goal of $150,000.

The money will fund construction of a sign on I-75 to attract more visitors to the museum and a picnic pavilion and garage on the center's north lawn.

The new Tranquility Base Picnic Pavilion will house up to 16 picnic tables in a covered area and will feature information about the museum and community.

"We hope that the pavilion will be available for civic organizations, businesses and families to host summer celebrations," museum executive director Chris Burton said. "Tranquility Base Picnic Pavilion will be a focal point of the community."

Burton hopes the pavilion will be available for the Summer Moon Festival in July. Construction of the I-75 sign is hoped to begin soon, he said.

The museum will begin phase two of the fundraiser by launching a mail campaign to businesses in St. Marys, Wapakoneta and the Golden Triangle.

For the campaign's final stage, the museum plans to "really take it to the public," Burton said. The campaign committee plans to install fundraising thermometers throughout the community, so the public can follow the progress, he said.

Anyone interested in contributing to the campaign should contact the museum at 419-738-8811 or info@armstrongmuseum.org.