(GOLDENDALE, Wash., September 17, 2015) – Maryhill Museum of Art is pleased to announce a $1,000,000 grant from the State of Washington to support the repair and replacement of the exterior stucco on the museum’s historic building. The funds were appropriated in Washington State Legislature’s HB 1115. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1,394,000, with the remainder to be raised from private sources.
Designed in 1914 by the Washington, D.C. firm of Hornblower and Marshall, architects of the National Museum of Natural History and other landmarks in the nation’s capital, the Beaux Arts mansion above the Columbia River Gorge has long been an icon of Washington state; the museum and its surrounding 5,300 acres were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Over the years, the harsh climate in the Columbia River Gorge has caused the building to sustain water damage and stucco failure. While past repairs represented the best solutions at the time, underlying causes were not adequately addressed, leading to subsequent issues.
The state’s $1,000,000 grant (less a 3% administrative fee), will allow the museum to properly address the underlying causes of water damage by removing old repairs and applying new solutions to the problems. The project will repair and replace the exterior stucco on the museum’s historic building, replace decking on the building’s roofs and ramps, and make repairs to the flashing and gutters to prevent further deterioration of the facade. Finally, the entire stucco exterior will be painted in the original historic color, reinvigorating the appearance of the building and placing it within its historic context.
Fundraising for the remaining $394,000 project cost is underway, with $37,500 committed and requests out to a number of regional grant making organizations and individuals. The goal is to secure all of the funding by spring 2016 so that work can begin in early summer and be finished by late fall 2016.
“We are extremely grateful to Governor Jay Inslee and State of Washington legislators who recognized the importance of this project and have appropriated funds to cover a significant portion of the costs,” says executive director Colleen Schafroth. “The board and staff of Maryhill are committed to caring for and improving this Northwest architectural treasure; we know others in the region feel the same way and will help us meet our fundraising goal.”
Schommer and Sons of Portland will carry out the repairs. The firm has in-depth knowledge of the design and construction of the historic building, having completed the museum’s Mary and Bruce Stevenson Wing, a 25,000 square foot addition that opened in 2012.
It was during the museum’s expansion project that the full scope of the stucco issues on the historic building came to light. During 2011 and 2012, Architectural Resources Group, an architectural preservation firm based in San Francisco, conducted an in-depth analysis of the stucco, diagnosed the problems, and made recommendations for appropriate repairs.
“The restoration project will be thorough and long-lasting,” says Schafroth. “We are addressing the underlying causes of the current damage and implementing repairs that will keep the exterior in excellent condition for many years to come.”
Those interested in learning more about the project or making a donation online are invited to visit maryhillmuseum.org/join-and-give/
ABOUT MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART:
Housed in a glorious Beaux Arts mansion on 5,300 acres high above the Columbia River, Maryhill Museum of Art opened to the public May 13, 1940 and today remains one of the Pacific Northwest’s most enchanting cultural destinations. The museum was founded by Northwest entrepreneur and visionary Sam Hill, who purchased the property and began building the house with dreams of establishing a Quaker farming community. When that goal proved untenable, Hill was encouraged by friends Loie Fuller, Queen Marie of Romania, and Alma de Bretteville Spreckles to establish a museum.
Maryhill Museum of Art boasts a world-class permanent collection, rotating exhibitions of the highest caliber, and dynamic educational programs that provide opportunities for further exploration by visitors of all ages. On view are more than 80 works by Auguste Rodin, European and American paintings, objects d’art from the palaces of the Queen of Romania, Orthodox icons, unique chess sets, and the renowned Théâtre de la Mode, featuring small-scale mannequins attired in designer fashions of post-World War II France. Baskets of the indigenous people of North America were a collecting interest of Hill; today the museum’s American Indian collection represents nearly every tradition and style in North America, with works of art from prehistoric through contemporary.
Maryhill’s William and Catherine Dickson Sculpture Park features more than a dozen large-scale works by Northwest artists. The Maryhill Overlook is a site-specific sculpture by noted Portland architect Brad Cloepfil; nearby are Lewis and Clark interpretive panels. Four miles east of Maryhill is a life-sized replica of Stonehenge, Stonehenge Memorial, which Sam Hill built to memorialize local men who perished in World War I. Nearby, the Klickitat County War Memorial honors those who have died in the service of their country since World War I.
The museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 2001 the museum was listed as an official site of the National Historic Lewis and Clark Trail and in 2002 was accredited by the American Association of Museums. In 2012 the museum opened the Mary and Bruce Stevenson Wing, a 25,500 square foot expansion that is the first in the museum’s history. The new wing boasts the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Education Center, a collections storage and research suite, a new cafe and terrace, and the Cannon Power Plaza with an installation of sculpture, and sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood in the distance.
VISITOR INFORMATION:
Maryhill Museum of Art is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 15 to November 15. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for youth age 7-18 and free for children 6 and under. Admission to the Stonehenge Memorial is free; it is open from 7:00 a.m. to dusk daily.
Sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks, cold beverages, and freshly baked desserts and pastries, as well as a selection of local wines are available at the museum’s cafe, Loie’s, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily; the Museum Store features art and history books, jewelry, Native American crafts and other mementos.
Maryhill is located off Highway 97, 12 miles south of Goldendale, Washington. Drive times to the museum are 2 hours from Portland/Vancouver, 3.5 hours from Bend, 4 hours from Seattle, and 1.5 hours from Yakima. For further information, visit maryhillmuseum.org.