A tornado museum for Greensburg?

Greensburg residents are thinking about creating a tornado museum.
It’s a good idea. The fact is, Greensburg will always be associated with this historic tornado disaster, which almost wiped the town off the map. The EF5 tornado itself was of historic destructive power. So why not capitalize on it with a museum? I even liked the innovative idea of leaving a block of the town in its damaged state — with stripped trees and upended cars — to vividly illustrate the power of the storm.
This will draw in more tourists than the world’s largest hand-dug well. Guaranteed.
Posted by Randy Scholfield

8 Comments

  1. JWink
    Posted May 21, 2007 at 2:12 am | Permalink

    No Randy, not guaranteed. The “World’s Largest Handdug Well” is a long-time American icon. But information could be added there about the Greensburg tornado disaster.

  2. Wiseman
    Posted May 21, 2007 at 2:38 am | Permalink

    I was curious if there were any Tornado Museums so I google it in and I found that there was one.

    Texas Tornado Museum: Amarillo, TXDirections: 7701 I-40 East, Amarillo TX 79120, next door to the Big Texan Steak Ranch, easy to spot from the highway.

    But no more as of 5-6 months ago it closed down; the employees of the near by restaurant had few ideals as to why.If Greensburg do create a tornado museum, as far as I can tell it will be the only one.

  3. Jed
    Posted May 21, 2007 at 3:08 am | Permalink

    Guaranteed? Hardly, unless they have the original Ruby Slippers on display.

  4. Kev
    Posted May 21, 2007 at 5:50 am | Permalink

    Might be interesting to leave a block as it is but the question is how long the debris will stay in that state without being preserved. Eventually it will rot and rust and become more of any eyesore than an attraction and will have to be removed. I would guess that it would last 2 years at most. One thing about Kansas towns is that they are always thinking of little ideas to suck in tourist. Things like largest hand dug well, hot and cold water towers, biggest ball of string and a host of other little things.

  5. political_mom
    Posted May 21, 2007 at 7:10 am | Permalink

    I think a tornado museum would be fabulous. I’d drive out to go see it. But probably only once.

    They could have tornado fest! That would bring more people in. And lets face it, a lot of these festivals, people my age just don’t go to, this one would be neat enough to draw a younger crowd. All the storm spotters could stop in on their treks.

    I agree, how would you preserve it? Spray it all down with something? I think it sounds like a good plan if they could figure a few things out.

  6. ken
    Posted May 21, 2007 at 7:25 am | Permalink

    A tornado museum sounds like a good idea — it might be a bigger draw (more accessible) if it were in WIchita? …. we’ve had our share of tornadoes around here ….

    ….and a tornado festival is even better, maybe call it OZ fest and in some fashion celebrate Mother Nature —- capitalize on one of the good things (Wizard of Oz) that people associate with Kansas. River fest is good for locals / Kansans, seems Oz fest would have a larger national audience ….

    What ever happened to the Oz amusement park that was being talked about 10-20 years ago near KC / Lawrence?

  7. Republican
    Posted May 21, 2007 at 8:12 am | Permalink

    One thing is for sure, they should make it either underground or one of those buildings that have earth built up around it.

    Would be ironic for a Tornado museum to get blown away by a Tornado.

  8. Mrage
    Posted May 21, 2007 at 3:18 pm | Permalink

    Leaving a block of destroyed property the same would attract rats.

    If a damaged display is left, the ground underneath has to be concrete. Can’t leave it to be muddy and stinky every time rain happens.

    Key thing about the F5 tornado, a museum must show one. It was getting dark. The crazy radio commentary from storm chasers won’t be fresh years ahead.

    Clips from rescue, police and fire. That’s what they do all the time when tragedy happens

    Some gave big props to Wichita weather stations for the warnings, that saved lives, are those guys historic? Nope!

    Let the day never be forgotten but a museum isn’t worth the effort.

    I don’t remember day it happened right now as a historical date. We’ll never forget the damage tornado caused is the point.

    Next year on that date, when its sunny and warm, why look back at destruction and trauma. Hopefully they’ll have new signs of community growth and rebuilding.

    The trash should be gone.