I think it’s a positive that a state legislator even knows the museum exists!

Roanoke needs to be able to run trains, the legislator is right about that. It would be great for tourism and the economy, and it would be great for museum. I’m not sure how easy that is with or without state money but I’m going to guess it has a better chance of happening with political help and state money than without!

The name “Virginia Museum of Transportation” already alludes to some existing level of state sponsorship. Perhaps, formalizing the relationship will clarify confusion in potential donors with the current VMT organization renamed as “Friends of VMT” or “VMT Foundation “.