Clinton birthplace historic site will stay open
By: Jade Cunningham
Updated: March 1, 2013
While cuts in funding might not necessarily close businesses, it does have some employees questioning their own future.
President Bill Clinton's birthplace site in Hope, Arkansas, will stay open, but it could see a shortage of employees.
The town is small, but has a lot of history.
"Go anywhere in the country, and if you say you're from Hope, Arkansas, people will identify it with President Bill Clinton," said Mayor Dennis Ramsey.
So the former President's home was turned into a museum.
"It's a landmark, it's a historic place, and we're glad it's here."
But things could soon be changing.
In a statement sent from the site Superintendent, Laura Miller, says all parks are facing a 5% budget reduction. This means that staffing will need to be cut down, which will reduce the number of days the museum can be open to the public.
Mississippi resident, Sam Creekmore came to the museum with his son and nephew. He says he knows of Hope because of Bill Clinton.
"If it was closed, we still would have stopped. We would have gotten our picture taken and everything like we did earlier."
For him, it's all about the experience.
"We're proud of our heritage here in the South, and [I] wanted to show them Bill Clinton's birthplace. It's a humble house, and for the boys to see that and say, 'I can be a president from a small town' is pretty neat."
And while there is some concern for the city, Mayor Ramsey says they'll be optimistic.
"There'll probably be an impact on hotels and people filling up their tanks as they come and as they leave."
But Mayor Ramsey says they'll be optimistic.
"There are some very good people down there and it's a very good experience and they'll make do with what they got. We will forever be the birthplace of a president."
Which just goes to show, there is and always will be hope in Arkansas.
Two permanent and three part-time employees currently work at the museum. It's unclear if the one's being cut would be furloughed or let go.
President Bill Clinton's birthplace site in Hope, Arkansas, will stay open, but it could see a shortage of employees.
The town is small, but has a lot of history.
"Go anywhere in the country, and if you say you're from Hope, Arkansas, people will identify it with President Bill Clinton," said Mayor Dennis Ramsey.
So the former President's home was turned into a museum.
"It's a landmark, it's a historic place, and we're glad it's here."
But things could soon be changing.
In a statement sent from the site Superintendent, Laura Miller, says all parks are facing a 5% budget reduction. This means that staffing will need to be cut down, which will reduce the number of days the museum can be open to the public.
Mississippi resident, Sam Creekmore came to the museum with his son and nephew. He says he knows of Hope because of Bill Clinton.
"If it was closed, we still would have stopped. We would have gotten our picture taken and everything like we did earlier."
For him, it's all about the experience.
"We're proud of our heritage here in the South, and [I] wanted to show them Bill Clinton's birthplace. It's a humble house, and for the boys to see that and say, 'I can be a president from a small town' is pretty neat."
And while there is some concern for the city, Mayor Ramsey says they'll be optimistic.
"There'll probably be an impact on hotels and people filling up their tanks as they come and as they leave."
But Mayor Ramsey says they'll be optimistic.
"There are some very good people down there and it's a very good experience and they'll make do with what they got. We will forever be the birthplace of a president."
Which just goes to show, there is and always will be hope in Arkansas.
Two permanent and three part-time employees currently work at the museum. It's unclear if the one's being cut would be furloughed or let go.
