Here's a big win from this week!
Hello All!
First, to everyone who has signed this petition, shared, promoted, and reached out to others to bring awareness to the closure of the Sternberg -- Thank you so much! Our voices have definitely been heard, and that's why there has been some great news this last week.
Fort Hays State University has rescinded (i.e., canceled, taken back, withdrew, etc.) its desicion to close the Sternberg Museum of Natural History!
This news came on Monday, October 26th, when FHSU President Tisa Mason attended a state legislative budget meeting, where she talked about FHSU finances and gave details about the Sternberg. She announced that the FHSU Foundation fundraising had reached $1.3 million by that morning, with the help of the 1:1 donation match made by the Bob and Pat Schmidt Foundation. After her short speech, the legislative council made their own comments on the entire situation and asked more questions of Tisa Mason. There was clear disappointment and heavy scrutiny from the council about FHSU's financial accountability and its communication failures with the news of the closure.
While this is a big win for the community and the museum itself, this announcement leaves a lot of questions unanswered about its future.
Full Legislative Budget Committee 10/26/2026 (With main timeframe points below): https://www.youtube.com/live/t81CQsxWUSo?si=R3JUt66-n8UZhNTW
3:54:16 --- 4:04:41 --- President Tisa first takes the podium and starts her speech.
4:05:11 --- Vice Chair Troy Waymaster speaks and asks Mason questions about why she didn't mention this at the beginning of the year when the legislature had their hearing about this year's budget cuts being made. He stated that there could have been many more things that could have been done to help prevent this situation, had they known about the possibility of the closure sooner. Waymaster stated, “There would have been outlets that we could have used to try to make the Sternberg Museum survive. --- We could have found action to not even have this discussion right now".
4:11:18 --- Rep. Kristey Williams adds to the discussion and asks some questions for Mason, focusing more on the $2.4 million budget cut impacting FHSU. She introduces quite a bit of information about FHSU's declining enrollment, how much favor the state gives Fort Hays in terms of helping finances, how this budget cut is actually just 1% of the entire operating budget of the college, asks for more data from the last 5 years to show how finances have been distributed, and asks why such a low percentage budget cut resulted in closing "a staple such as your museum".
4:23:14 --- Rep. Kyle Hoffman asks questions and comments on Mason's statements. He stated that he was disappointed about this whole situation multiple times, and about how FHSU handled this decision. Hoffman announced, “It really is a little disappointing. We heard about it the way we heard about it, and it really … didn’t look good for anybody.” People were immediately reaching out to legislators and blaming them because of the budget cut, and he quoted the overall messages they received: "Well, you guys cut Fort Hays, and now they're gonna cut this. It's all your fault". Hoffman requested detailed records of the museum's expenditures and income, and also brought up whether other fundraising routes were sought out. A quote from Hoffman: "I mean, you had to have known that it was costing you that much every year. And so that, you know, that really is a little disappointing. I guess the reason I was wanting to know what the expenditures and what the income is, is so, have you not been doing any fundraising at all for it? Has it all been just the university taking care of it? I think that this probably should have been done quite a while ago. Because I don't believe that the museum should be totally funded by the university. I think that there ought to be some philanthropy, some outside groups, helping with the museum. If anything, this may get to that point. I don't want it to close. I think it's a great facility for our area. --- Hopefully, we can go forward. Hopefully, that you can find the partners that you need to go forward and keep the museum up. And then we can have a bigger discussion in January about the funding for the University".
Below are some more links with information about the committee meeting, Tisa's statements, and other news coverage about the current Sternberg situation.
Fort Hays State: Sternberg Museum to remain open as FHSU develops long-term plan
Hays Post: Update: President Mason says Sternberg Dec. 18 closing date rescinded
FHSU President Questioned by Kansas Lawmakers | 3-Minute Highlights
Some other news to share:
- The well-known rattlesnake exhibit that has been at the museum for many years is being removed. This decision was announced by Sternberg itself on October 15th on its Facebook page. Yes, this news is sad because the rattlesnakes have been a beloved part of the museum for so long. The rattlesnakes will be moving to the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary on November 8th. Sternberg stated, "Even with the incredible success of our fundraiser and the wonderful news that our museum stands a chance of staying open, we must make difficult choices to secure our foundation moving forward. Additionally, as our rattlesnakes have grown older, their needs have evolved—requiring increasingly specialized attention. Because the well-being of our animals always comes first, we know that the most responsible path forward is to help them find a new home". Of course, this seems like a very hard decision to make, since these snakes have been a core part of the Sternberg. But with the financial future still up in the air, and trying to downsize to help with budgeting, it is an understandable decision for Sternberg staff to make. So farewell to these amazing danger noodles. You guys seem to be moving to a great home where you will continue to be loved and cared for so much. Sternberg Museum: An Important Update Regarding Our Rattlesnake Exhibit
- A 'Save the Sternberg Benefit Auction' will be held at the Ellis County Historical Society (100 W 7th St, Hays, Kansas) on November 20th at 6:30 pm. There will be live music, food, drinks, and a silent/live auction, where all funds generated will go directly to Save The Sternberg! Even though news is out that the Sternberg has reached the FHSU Foundation fundraising goal, all donations from here on out still go to helping secure the museum's future! The silent auction starts at 6:30 pm, and the live auction starts at 7:30 pm. Donations to be auctioned off ("All donations accepted and appreciated, including items, experiences, artwork, and more") should be brought or sent to the Sternberg Museum by November 15th.
- 'Save the Sternberg' merch is still being sold at the museum's front desk, while supplies last. There have been posters, stickers, yard signs, and bumper stickers. All funds go to the Save the Sternberg fundraiser. Posters are $10, yard signs are $40, bumper stickers are $10, and regular stickers are $5.