Layland Museum, the City of Cleburne, and the Smith History Center project team are in the process of rehabilitating an historic, 1915 structure at 200 North Main Street in Cleburne, Texas.  Upon completion, the Smith History Center will serve as a primary support facility for the Layland Museum.

 The Lowell Smith, Sr. History Center will include an education center, a curatorial center, an artifact preservation vault, a demonstration kitchen, and a 24-hour street side automobile history exhibit.

 The SHC Project is progressing swiftly.  U. S. Art Company, Inc. has moved artifact collections to off-site, temporary storage facilities.  ArchiTexas, a noted preservation architectural firm, will create construction documents for the SHC.  These documents will be complete in April 2007 and a construction manager will then be hired.  The cost estimate for this quality-of-life project is $1,099,830.  Approximately $500,000 has been raised for the SHC Project and the next funds-raising event is scheduled for February 14, 2007.

The Smith History Center Project has generated great interest in the downtown Cleburne area.  The SHC Donors/Partners include City of Cleburne, Layland Museum Advisory Board, Mustang Foundation-Lowell Smith, Jr., Heritage Assembly, Chesapeake Energy, Entrada Corp.-R.E. Roberts and David Roberts, First Financial Bank Cleburne, First National Bank Burleson, Forrest Auto Park-Mrs. O.C. Forrest and Michael Forrest, Wright Lincoln Mercury-Johnny Wright, Cleburne Ford-The John Sledge Family, Cleburne Chamber of Commerce, Community Bank Cleburne, First State Bank of Grandview, Technical Chemical Company-Howard Dudley, Jeff England Motor Company, Cleburne ISD, Rotary Club of Cleburne, Hazlewood Properties-Tom Hazlewood, and numerous individuals.

The Lowell Smith, Sr. History Center Capital Campaign will continue through August 2008.  Two annual funds raising events occur each year during February and December.  Grants applications to the Meadows foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the Brown Foundation, and Heritage Assembly are in process.  The Layland Museum Smith History Center Project has generated 168 new financial supporters in a period of 12 months.  If you would like to contribute to this major “Quality of Life” Project, please contact Layland Museum at 817-645-0940, or julib@cleburne.net , julier@hpnc.com .