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audience that often has never had the opportunity to visit previously due to timing.On Sunday,
<br />September 4,2016,we had a total of 30 visitors.Of these,27 were new to the Museum (not having
<br />visited before),and 3 had only been visited once before.Most thanked us for providing a different
<br />time to visit.We are also allowing for later closures depending on visitation to the Museum (not fully
<br />closing until 4:30 or 5:00pm).We also provide an evening venue for events and meetings.Further
<br />hour changes are being discussed for 2017 to coincide with more events,including Girls Night Out,
<br />Buskers in the Burg,and more,in addition to taking a more visible presence in the community by
<br />hosting booths at events throughout the County.
<br />By continuing to build on a successful model,we plan to attract a new audience that has had an
<br />increased interest in the Kittitas County Historical Museum,Ellensburg,and Kittitas County.
<br />Through the months of June to August 2016,we have had a noticeable increase in visitors from the
<br />Seattle-Tacoma area and the Portland area.Whether it was indicated in print or verbally,we found
<br />that most of these visitors were day-trippers (~75%)with another destination,such as Spokane or
<br />British Columbia.Others (~25%)were staying overnight in Ellensburg while attending an event or
<br />activity and visiting the downtown.By advertising to these markets,we are targeting a demographic
<br />already predisposed to visit the museum.These individuals are already interested in history and are
<br />more apt to visit the museum and local attractions.By producing the advertising,we will be able to
<br />add more information and an overall access and view of the museum to the advertising which may
<br />attract more visitors.
<br />With a program building on the success of television advertising and social media marketing,we can
<br />increase visits to the museum,Ellensburg,and Kittitas County.By the increased attendance and gift
<br />shop sales,along with possible museum memberships,this will provide further sustainability and
<br />allow for the museum to host a wider array of events,public programming,classes and educational
<br />opportunities,exhibits,and more,as well as draw many folks in from throughout the Pacific
<br />Northwest.At present,we have had success in drawing visitors to our events from the Tri-Cities,
<br />Renton,Spokane,northeastern Oregon (Umatilla area),and Wenatchee.
<br />Additionally,we have seen visitor interest in a walking tour.Throughout the summer months,we had
<br />an increase in questions for maps of a self-guided walking tour and for guided walking tours at the
<br />rate of approximately 7-15 per week.We provided approximately 50 copies of information about
<br />buildings throughout downtown Ellensburg and Cle Elum among answering other Kittitas County
<br />related questions and providing brochures and flyers.During our slower times,we have responded to
<br />3-5 requests per week for self-guided walking tour information,building information,or questions
<br />about guided tours.It is known that walking tours (guided and self-guided)are very popular in
<br />neighboring counties and communities,such as Seattle,Bellingham,Spokane,and Walla Walla,and
<br />this will add another draw for visitors into the local area.
<br />We additionally had visitors and parents request scavenger hunts as ways to engage with history in a
<br />different context.We have had an extremely successful scavenger hunt program in the museum as
<br />both a visitor activity and for educational guests (such as local K-12 students).Due to this interest,
<br />we would like to expand into the downtown Ellensburg scavenger hunt.
<br />Our confirmed hotel stays have been the result of events hosted by the museum (lecture series),along
<br />with researchers and groups that use the museum.These numbers have been confirmed via email and
<br />through hotel rooms reserved for the lecture series by the museum.We have confirmed upcoming
<br />stays by three researchers (2 hotel stays),four lecturers (4 hotel stays),and two individuals (3 nights
<br />per each =6 stays).It is our expectation with being an added benefit,that while it may not create the
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