Fort Hays State University will close the Sternberg Museum of Natural History on December 18, 2026. University President Tisa Mason confirmed the decision Monday after a $2.4 million cut in annual state funding from the Kansas Legislature.
The move aims to address a budget gap by saving the university about $850,000 each year. The museum’s annual operating costs reach $1.3 million, but it brings in only $470,000 in revenue. The shortfall means the university subsidizes more than $850,000 annually to keep the museum open. The building also faces over $20 million in needed repairs, adding more financial pressure to the equation.
Details about the final destination for the museum’s collections or how the closure will affect educational programs have not been disclosed.
