Grand Opening

Saturday May 15, 1999

The Frank L. Melega Art Museum celebrated it's grand opening on Saturday May 15, 1999 during the National Pike Days. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Flatiron building. A crowd gathered in front of the building awaiting entrance to see the new museum and it's contents. After brief speeches by Ron Fecek, president of the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation (BARC), and Patrick Daugherty, museum curator and consultant, the ribbon was cut by Kerry Kleinhans, Frank L. Melega's granddaughter. When the ribbon was cut the Frank L. Melega Art Museum sign was unveiled. The museum is now officially open for visitors.

After the ribbon cutting Norma Ryan, a BARC board member and a motivating force behind the Flatiron Project, welcomed guests to tour the long awaited dream. The opening of the Frank L. Melega Art Museum in Brownsville, is one of the many steps BARC is taking to revitalize the downtown area.

The crowd moved slowly up the stairs into the room housing the museum. A line formed and visitors strolled through the museum discussing the details of the replicated studio, movie posters, paintings, and sculpture created by a truly great man. Many of the visitors were astonished at the variety of works contained within the museum, each to represent a different segment of Mr. Melega's life.








Top: The ribbon cutting by Kerry Kleinhans.

Middle: Norma Ryan welcomes the first guests.

Below: The Museum doors are open to visitors.

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