The nonprofit that already manages Plano's Interurban Railway Museum would keep the job under a new contract the City Council is set to approve Monday, Oct. 26.
The museum, a historic rail building with a railcar on East 15th Street in Haggard Park, belongs to the city. The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation runs it and handles curatorial work now, and the agenda memo describes the new agreement as a continuation of that partnership under updated terms.
What the conservancy would do
Under the contract, the conservancy must staff and open the museum at least 20 hours a week, spread over at least three days, on a schedule set jointly with the city. It would lead public tours and Plano history programs, manage and catalog the collection, decide on donations, keep the digital archives and help researchers.
Donated items the museum takes in will belong to the city.
The city would continue covering utilities, upkeep, cleaning, security, phone and internet service, and computers and tech support.
What it costs
Payment comes in two parts. The conservancy could receive up to $145,000 a year in hotel occupancy tax money for running the museum, as long as it keeps meeting the requirements of the city's Heritage Preservation Grant Program and the state law that governs hotel tax spending. The council already approved that amount in the 2026-27 budget.
A second payment of up to $21,295 a year from the general fund covers curatorial supplies, equipment and software.
