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 CINCINNATI - The lead architecture firm for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center was taken to task this week for the museum's low attendance.
The building has been praised by some for its architecture, but has lately come under fire for its apparent lack of an entrance. Many local Cincinnatians don't realize that there actually is an entrance to the museum.
"We had first thought that, in the tradition of the Underground Railroad, it would be neat to have a hidden entrance behind the building," said lead architect Ron Hastings.
Unfortunately, this hidden entrance was so well concealed behind a false wall on the far side of the building, that the museum has only counted a total attendance of 23 people since 2004.
"You mean that's a museum?" said downtown resident Jim Thigpen, "I thought it was a big outdoor sculpture or something. How the heck do you enter the thing?"
Freedom Center CEO Dan Murphy is seeking $1.4 million from the state for a visible entrance to the museum.
"We are confident that once people can actually find the entrance to our museum, our attendance will skyrocket," said Murphy, "After that, we think everyone will overcome any lingering reluctance to get totally depressed at our exciting slavery exhibits."
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