West Point Museum temporarily closed for air conditioning repair
The building has been shut down since June 24 for a planned $2 million renovation of its HVAC system.
Top Stories
The West Point Museum, one of the most visited military museums in the country, has temporarily closed its doors due to a lack of air conditioning.
The building has been shut down since June 24 for a planned $2 million renovation of its HVAC system. Officials say the project is taking longer than expected, and the museum remains closed to the public.
“It’s very hot inside the building, and we can’t have visitors in the building when it’s not air conditioned,” said Charles Bowery, executive director of the U.S. Army Center of Military History.
In addition to the HVAC overhaul, the museum is also receiving a new roof.
“The museum’s getting a new roof, and we took the opportunity while we were replacing the roof to do the HVAC as well,” Bowery explained.
Despite the closure, none of the museum’s more than 2,000 artifacts and paintings have been moved. Experts are closely monitoring the collection to ensure its preservation.
“The staff’s assessment is that none of them are in danger of degradation,” Bowery said. “That could change if this drags out. And we may have to remove some things if there’s a danger of mold or deterioration.”
Bowery emphasized the importance of maintaining proper conditions for the museum’s historic collection. “This is what comes with having an old building and being custodians of this really incredible artifact collection. We have to put in the work to make sure that it’s in an appropriate environment.”
Officials say a temporary air conditioning unit was delivered Thursday, and efforts are underway to reopen the museum as soon as possible.
