Frankfort Historic Sites To Close Temporarily

Due to staff shortages at the Kentucky Historical Society, three historic sites in downtown Frankfort will temporary close next month to give employees time to update the society's archives.Society spokesperson Lisa Cleveland says its staff has shrunk consistently since 1999, and there hasn't been enough money to hire more employees."We started out with around 95 full and part-time employees. We're now down to about 59," she says.The remaining employees have been working additional jobs at the society, sometimes staffing the front desk or answering phones. The society will close the Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol and the Kentucky Military History Museum from mid-December through mid-March while the employees catalog artifacts and put exhibit information online.The sites will re-open for two days in January and February, and large groups may also schedule tours. When the sites re-open permanently, the society will attempt to find part-time workers or volunteers to help ease the burden on current employees.