Amador's elected officials may be running low on funds to work with, but its historical society is running high on optimism as members look forward to helping Jackson revitalize and getting the county museum back in business.

The county museum is housed in a building overlooking Jackson that dates back to 1859. Despite its strong, sturdy appearance, last July, Amador's General Service Administration concluded that it had serious structural problems, as well as liability issues regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act. A sharp decrease in revenues left the county with little hope of fixing the problems. Much to the disappointment of tourists and history fans alike, the museum was closed. Its doors have remained shut ever since.

Soon after, the Amador County Historical Society began making overtures about possibly fixing the museum. In October, noted county historian Larry Cenotto joined the group's board of directors in order to help with the mission.

With assistance from ACHS member Stan Lukowicz, the society moved into a new office at 1 Main St., Jackson, with the idea that it would now have a new base of operations and would pursue a number of vital goals.

One such goal is playing a role in revamping Jackson's Main Street. The society plans to use its new office and volunteer force to act as a visitor's center for the historic downtown district. "We've been in talks with the chamber of commerce and the Amador Council of Tourism on how to do that," Cenotto said. "That's one objective we had in mind that's ready to go now." They also plan to open an Old West library at the office.

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COPYRIGHT 2009 AMADOR COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - August 2009 News