The Age of Steam Museum in Dallas, Texas is located in Fair Park and the park houses six other diverse museums all of which experienced a drop in attendance and revenue last year. Our British import Thomas the Tank saved our bottom line in 2002, but in planning our 2003 budget it was made plain to the Board that museum attendance and revenues were down across the country and the Board had better plan accordingly.

I cannot speak for other states but in Texas the books and records of a Non-Profit Corporation are open to the inspection of the public. Also, as noted here in the past most organization's Form 990 are posted on the web. Unless your museum is a private corporation be prepared for public review and act accordingly.

I suspect that over the next year we are going to see more stories and reports of railroad museums and preservation groups in financial trouble and this probably isn't going to change until the economy recovers.

tcox@parknet.pmh.org

Have railroad museums always been so open with their records? Have they really known about public access to IRS 990 records and kept quiet about it or are they are they now more forthcoming about finances since it's been revealed on this discussion board that GuideStar gives anyone Internet access to IRS filings?
My thinking is that financial honesty suddenly became a necessary concern since a means of checking became known to many.

> The Age of Steam Museum in Dallas, Texas is
> located in Fair Park ...
> I cannot speak for other states but in Texas
> the books and records of a Non-Profit
> Corporation are open to the inspection of
> the public. Also, as noted here in the past
> most organization's Form 990 are posted on
> the web. Unless your museum is a private
> corporation be prepared for public review
> and act accordingly.