(Arnolds Park)– A ribbon cutting ceremony was held this (Sat.) afternoon for the new Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Association Museum in Arnolds Park.
Mayor Mike Mitchell thanked the museum’s 16-member board of directors who voted unanimously to locate the statewide museum in Arnolds Park.
John Senn, President of the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association, told the crowd the dream for the museum was born on an evening in 1996. He says Chuck Long, who owned the Arnolds Park Amusement Park at the time, came up with the idea of re-building the Roof Garden. With that, the concept of a rock ‘n roll museum was born.
Since then, Senn says there have been thousands of hours of fundraising and work by many volunteers. Seven years later, Senn says the museum has become a reality.
Senn says to his knowledge Iowa is the only state in the union to have such a statewide museum dedicated to the history of rock ‘n roll. He says it’s primary purpose is to educate the public. Along that line, he says their future goals include building a mobile museum that would travel from town-to-town. He says they also are raising funds to build a larger, permanent museum in Arnolds Park, saying they’ve already outgrown their existing location in the former arcade building between the Roof Garden and the pavilion.
