Visalia Heritage, the U.S. Cultural and Heritage Tourism Marketing Council and other local non-profit organizations are joining forces to explore the possibility of purchasing The Depot and creating a museum that explores the art, culture, heritage and history of Visalia. The building is currently listed for sale for $3.25 million by Graham & Associates.
Visalia Heritage President Walter Deissler and USCHT President Richard Peterson hosted a community input event on Nov. 14 to showcase current goals and encourage public support for the concept. They presented ideas for the public specifically targeting the types of exhibits that could be provided, opportunities for festivals and food vendor events, art exhibits and numerous other cultural events The Depot could accommodate.
The event ended with a tour of The Depot as it stands today. Clearly unused and musty, the building still holds the character and style of a structure erected in 1916 that has been a staple of downtown Visalia and is one of the more recognizable landmarks, though one that has clearly fallen on hard times. Converting the nearly 110-year-old building into a functional museum will require significant work to remove the former restaurant fixtures and open the space up for exhibit displays while maintaining the unique design…