appropriation; titan
ballistic missile museum
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Committee on Commerce and Economic Development |
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DP |
Committee on Appropriations Committee |
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Caucus and COW |
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As Passed the House |
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SB 1052 appropriates $200,000 from the State General Fund to the Department of Commerce in fiscal years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to match monies raised by the Arizona Aerospace Foundation for the National Historic Landmark Titan Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Museum.
The Arizona Aerospace Foundation, a non-profit education foundation, runs the Titan Missile Museum and the Pima Air & Space Museum. The operating costs come form admissions, gift shop sales, donations and foundation memberships.
The Titan Missile Museum was originally one of 54 complexes in the Titan II missile defense system active during the Cold War. The Titan system began deactivation in 1981. It is unique because it is the only remaining Titan II Missile Complex. It is located approximately 25 miles south of Tucson along Interstate 19 in Sahuarita.
Between October 1999 and October 2001, the museum had a total of 52,997 visitors. Of this, 7,926 were admitted free of charge. The museum staff has a few paid employees and over a hundred volunteers who act as docents, briefers and clerks.
The Museum currently has a 2,032 square foot building for the gift shop, office, storage space and display area. For archives, the museum is using the seventh level of the silo. The proposed Education and Visitor Center will have 8,281 square feet that will include a temperature and humidity controlled library and archival storage area, display area, briefing room and an additional classroom.