The curator of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Stewart Bailey has contact the Air Museum Network in an effort to clarify the museum’s position on the recent news about the possible auction of the museum’s assets. He has issued the following statement to us:
“This is an issue between our landlord on those two buildings, the Michael King Smith Foundation, and their creditor, the Hoffman Construction Company. As a tenant in the buildings, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum continues to operate as usual, with the facilities being open 7 days a week, from 9 am to 5 pm.
The planned Sheriff’s auction of November 30th is on the debt for the two buildings (out of a total of five buildings on campus) and does not affect any of the contents of the buildings. All of the aircraft, artifacts, exhibits and collections materials still belong to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum and are not subject to the auction. So in short, all of the Museum’s assets are staying put and remain on display for the public.
The Museum is working closely with the Michael King Smith Foundation Board, as well as representatives of Hoffman Construction Company to facilitate a positive outcome that will benefit the Museum and its mission. It is fully expected that this situation will be resolved before the date of the proposed Sheriff’s auction, and that Museum operations will be unaffected.”
Of course the Air Museum Network wishes the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum all the best and we hope that their efforts succeed.