09/01/2026
Douglas County commissioners granted a new one-year lease Tuesday for the Douglas County Museum of History and Art, capping nearly a year of debate over the museum’s future.
In the latest round, District 4 Commissioner Mark Alcarez proposed the lease during a work session Monday. He stipulated that the museum begin seeking funding through donations immediately, with a goal of eventually paying rent.
“They’ve tried to do what we asked them to do,” Alcarez said. “They cannot get any funding, grants, anything — no one’s going to give them money unless they have a lease.”
The lease comes with a list of goals for museum officials, including creating a development and executive summary outlining a vision, mission and funding goals; an impact statement; an audience and visitor analysis; feedback from local historians and academic analysts; and a plan for acquiring, authenticating and cataloging artifacts.
The commission also asked for a plan for organizing oral histories; the appointment of a board member responsible for governance and academic advising; a diversified funding model that includes grants, donations and other revenue sources; and a multiyear budget outlining operational costs and funding sources.
Douglas County commissioners granted a new one-year lease Tuesday for the Douglas County Museum of History and Art, capping nearly a year of debate over the museum’s future.
