The Leonardo museum closes permanently
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The Leonardo science and art museum will close for good after its 15-year run at Library Square.
Flashback: The museum said in June it would close temporarily amid repairs and following years of financial struggles.
What they're saying: "This difficult decision follows years-long challenges with the aging building, which is now 61 years old," administrators wrote Thursday on the museum's website.
- "Critical infrastructure necessary for The Leonardo to operate, including the escalators, elevators, and plumbing, has reached the end of its serviceable life."
How it worked: The museum honored Leonardo daVinci with exhibits and events that fused art and science — frequently focusing on the Renaissance polymath's areas of study, such as flight and the human body.
- It hosted several high-profile touring exhibits, like "Mummies of the World," the Dead Sea Scrolls, "Body Works" and the casts of victims from Pompeii.
Yes, but: The Leonardo's money troubles began soon after voters approved a $10.2 million bond in 2003 to renovate the former downtown library for the museum.
- After years of fundraising difficulties and ballooning cost projections, city officials five years later withheld the bond until organizers dialed back expenses.
- When it finally opened in 2011, attendance was a fraction of similar attractions.
- In 2016, a design firm sued, alleging bills from an exhibit were unpaid. A year later, KUTV reported the museum hadn't paid its utility bills in two years.
- In 2019, Mayor Jackie Biskupski's office served the museum a default notice of over $600,000 in unpaid bills and neglected building maintenance.
The latest: Earlier this month, The Leonardo scheduled an auction of its exhibits, but later called it off.
What's next: City officials plan to use the building for office space and are "exploring cultural uses" for the ground floor, Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesperson for the mayor's office, said in a statement.
- Ken Sanders Rare Books will continue to operate in the building.