Frisco Texas Residential

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The following information is distributed from the City of Frisco's News
and Information service.

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FULL STEAM AHEAD! MUSEUM OF AMERICAN RAILROAD TO MOVE TO FRISCO
(April 3, 2008) The historic move is bringing 'the Frisco' back to
Frisco!

The vintage steam locomotive, Engine 4501 - built in 1942 for the St.
Louis-San Francisco Railway Company -- is one of 36 pieces of rolling
stock bound for Frisco following this week's announcement the Museum of
American Railroad (MAR) plans to move its permanent collection from Fair
Park in Dallas to Frisco Junction, which is also home to the soon-to-be
open Frisco Heritage Museum.

On Tuesday, April 1, the Frisco City Council unanimously approved a
preliminary 40-year lease agreement with MAR. The proposal provides a
12.34 acre site and a maximum $1 million investment by the City of Frisco
towards relocating MAR. In return, MAR will provide as much as 4,000 feet
in necessary track and move its collection, which is considered one of the
top five in the United States. The railway collection includes 12
locomotives, 17 passenger cars and eight freight cars, as well as
artifacts and memorabilia. MAR will also plan and construct a $20 million
museum, approximately 200,000 square feet and reminiscent of a turn of the
century train station. MAR officials estimate the development of the new
location and museum could eventually draw more than 250,000 visitors to
Frisco each year!

Given the anticipated economic impact, cultural offerings and the City of
Frisco's roots in the rails, city leaders are more than excited about this
partnership!

"Something like this will not only be very complimentary but will ensure
the success of our own Heritage Center," said Mayor Mike Simpson. "People
will come to the railroad museum and be able to walk to our Heritage
Center and vice versa. It's going to create a synergy between two, great
heritage exhibits and tell the story of how the railroad helped give birth
to Frisco."

"The railroad is a pivotal part of Frisco's history in that our town is
named for and the original township was created by the Frisco Railroad,"
said George Purefoy, City Manager. "How fitting it is now that the Museum
of the American Railroad is rolling into Frisco to build their new home.
The museum (MAR) and the city have partnered together to establish a world
class museum to celebrate the history of railroad in the United States,"
added Purefoy. The City of Frisco was established in 1902.


Talks between the City of Frisco and MAR began last year, after Frisco
heard about the railroad museum's long term strategic plan. The museum's
Visions 2006 document calls for moving to a site that is, among other
things, accessible from major thoroughfares, close to other daytime
attractions, and has historical significance to the surrounding area.
The north side of the proposed 12.34 acre site in Frisco fronts Cotton Gin
Road, which intersects the Dallas North Tollway. The east side of the
property runs alongside the railroad tracks, now the Burlington Northern -
Santa Fe Line. The entire site sits south - and just a short walk away -
from the Frisco Heritage Center Museum (scheduled to open
May 3); Babe's Chicken Dinner House, now under construction in Frisco
Junction; the Senior Center at Frisco Square; the George A. Purefoy
Municipal Center, which houses City Hall and the Frisco Public Library;
Frisco Square, a nearby mixed use development; and Pizza Hut Park, a state
of the art, 21,000 seat stadium and entertainment venue, which is home to
Major League Soccer's FC Dallas. The southern tip of the proposed site
will also compliment the City of Frisco's future Grand Park, which
includes approximately 300 acres of park land along Stewart Creek,
stretching from Cotton Gin Road to Stonebrook Parkway.

Established in 1963, the railroad museum currently sits on a 1.8 acre
site. Given the size of its collection, and limited space, museum
officials told the City Council Tuesday night, Frisco is a perfect fit for
MAR.

"Our strategic plan calls for us to be a destination that is international
in appeal and to be something the community will be very proud of," said
Bob LaPrelle, President & CEO, Museum of the American Railroad.

"We're not just nuts and bolts. We do preserve some priceless pieces in
our collection but we also tell a wonderful story as part of our cultural
heritage. We talk about the technology, spread of cultures and the
expansion of people across the nation and the profound effect of the
railroad. We're very excited about the opportunity to do that here in
Frisco," said LaPrelle.

MAR plans to move its collection to Frisco within a year of a formal
agreement being signed with The city will also
provide railroad museum staff some office space in the Heritage Center
Museum for initial operations of MAR. Mr. LaPrelle estimates it will take
six to eight years to build the new railroad museum envisioned in the
comprehensive plan.

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For more information on the Museum of the American Railroad (MAR) go to
http://www.dallasrailwaymuseum.com
For more information on the Frisco Heritage Museum, go to
http://www.friscoheritage.org












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Author Information

City of Frisco