Cincinnati Museums Announce Merge

The Cincinnati Museum Center and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center are merging in an effort to prevent the civil rights institution from closing its doors.

Officials said at a news conference on Wednesday that low attendance could have forced the Freedom Center to shut down. It needed a million and a half dollars to stay open by 2013, reported  ONN's Lot Tan.

"We've struggled over the years to sustain a business model, our new relationship with the Cincinnati Museum Center provides us with that sustainable model," said Kim Robinson, Freedom Center  president.

While the center will remain open, the merger will mean fewer workers are needed. The museum had a staff of more than a 100, but is now just 34. The Museum Center employs 300.

"Thirteen or 15 employees will lose their jobs and it will come from both organizations, had we done nothing we would've lost all of our staff," added Robinson.

The merger means sharing of administrative work and less redundancy. The cost savings will help the Museum Center more quickly pay down its eight million dollar debt.

"(It will) strengthen our respective organizations, result will be a creative and dynamic organization offering greater financial strength and new opportunities," said Francie Hiltz, Board of Trustees Chairperson Cincinnati Museum Center.

First time freedom center visitor Catrina Kafley is happy the museum will stay open so her 9-year-old son and others will have a chance to learn about history.

"I want him to know his culture, how it was and compare the difference, then and now, he has a lot of freedom," said Kafley.

The merger won't happen right away. Officials said it will take several months to work out all the details.

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