ST. JOHNSBURY-For the first time in one hundred twenty six years the Fairbanks Museum will be adding on a new addition to their historic building. Executive Director Adam Kane says that this has been a plan three years in the making, and the building has not seen any renovations since 1895. The plan to build a new science annex originally came up back in late 2019. In the midst of the pandemic the plan was put on hold multiple times due to costs of construction. Despite being delayed, the museum has finally obtained the funds to put in a three top elevator that will jump start the project to put in the new part of the building.

In early September of this year the Vermont Art Council gave out a cultural facilities grant to 17 locations in the entire state of Vermont. Fairbanks was one of two locations in St. Johnsbury to receive this grant worth twenty six thousand dollars. The three top elevator will connect the original foundation to the new addition. This grant is designed to help nonprofits expand their buildings. Vermont Art Councils program manager, Michele Bailey says that despite the application process being very competitive, Fairbanks Museum is a big part of the community and offers cultural programming which made them eligible for the grant.

"Generally we want to make sure that these facilities remain vibrant in their communities and can be incredible spaces for public arts and cultural activities," Bailey explained. External Relations Director Anna Rubin says that the hope is once the elevator is put in, that everyone will have access to all areas of the building.

"People with mobility limitations have never been able to get to the balcony. It's only accessible by stairs and those stairs can be wyndi and narrow. This building was constructed at a time when people really didn't consider what that would mean for anyone who had a limitation, so we've been trying for years," Rubin explained.

The new addition of the science annex will come after the elevator is installed, and the idea behind the annex is to give guests a more hands-on experience. "the Fairbanks Museum is this amazing Victorian museum, but it is by design look but don't touch. Just the way it was built, this new addition is going to be interactive," Kane explained. The museum also plans to let Community College of Vermont St. Johnsbury location students use the building as classroom space. The Fairbanks Museum is in the process of talking with its engineers to build that elevator, and will add on the new addition in 2022.