National Weather Museum in the works

January 4, 3:04 PMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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A non-profit organization hopes to make a national
weather museum a reality.

A coalition of government, private industry and academic researchers has formed a non-profit organization to fund and construct a National Weather Museum and Science Center in Norman, Oklahoma.  The idea was a long standing one within the meteorological community and was recently officially launched from a committee of the Norman Chamber of Commerce. 

The proposed location in Norman makes sense as in some ways it is the weather capital of the United States.  Not only does it sit in Tornado Alley, the area is also home to the Storm Prediction Center, the National Severe Storms Laboratory and the National Weather Center.  Many weather-related companies make their homes in Oklahoma due to the government and meteorological factors.  Weather is big business there to say the least. 

The weather museum would feature weather prediction artifacts like hangars and radar that are just sitting in storage now. It also would include scientific information on weather prediction and monitoring and the history of tools such as the radar that was invented in Norman.  The museum also would have an educational component, informing the public about severe weather and safety.
- Norman Transcript, January 2, 2008

Doug Forsyth, of the National Severe Storms Laboratory, said, "There really isn't a full weather museum in the country, and it makes sense to have it in Norman. We are in tornado alley and we're in a place where people are intrigued with the weather."

Those interested in contributing may send checks to:

National Weather Museum and Science Center
Attn.: Membership
P.O. Box 6222
Norman, OK 73070

Donations of weather-related items also will be accepted.