Ames may soon have a new store-front historical museum.

The Ames Heritage Association has plans for opening a museum that will focus on the unique story of scientific and technological advancement in the Ames community.

A meeting will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Reiman Gardens Mahlstede Center for Ames Heritage Association members and others interested in the project.

Donations will be taken at this time, and AHA members are hoping to receive at least $20,000 to fund the museum’s first year of operation, said Kathy Svec, AHA board president.

AHA board members also are hoping for the organization’s 150-200 members to donate their time to the project, she said.

“We need both — We need monetary support and help with developing programs,” Svec said.

When AHA reaches its goal of $20,000, the search will begin for a museum location, she said.

“There are several vacant storefronts on Main Street that would be suitable,” she said.

Peggy Baer, AHA board member, said she hopes the museum will have many opportunities for Iowa State students and classes.

“Nothing is really defined yet,” she said. “We hope to have internships or work-study students assist in operating, as well as doing historical research.”

Baer said many ISU departments have the opportunity to get involved. She said there would be involvement possibilities for art and design, landscape architecture and history students, since the museum will concentrate on invention and technology at ISU.

“Imagination is the only limit,” Baer said.

AHA officials hope the store-front museum will reach the entire Ames community, Svec said.

“We would really like to create an exhibit that would be educational to Ames schoolchildren and hopefully reach all ages,” she said. “We are hoping for all ages, but mainly those interested in the history of technology or the history of Ames.”

Svec said the store-front museum idea surfaced in the fall of 1994, after community members began asking why there was not a museum of its kind in Ames.

“That year, it seemed like someone was always asking why we didn’t have a museum,” she said. “It seemed to be a fairly constant question.”

As of now, there is not a scheduled date for the museum opening.

“Best case scenario, maybe sometime this fall or early next year,” Svec said.