1989
Paducah's Mayor appointed a committee to pursue development of a Maritime Heritage Museum. From that small committee of community leaders, the River Heritage Museum was born.

2003
the RHM opened with several exhibits in the historic building they now occupy on Water Street. In two short years, the RHM began to develop a master plan for future development. The museum was already seeing more than 10,000 visitors a year and the community was experiencing unprecedented growth in the river industry.

2008 and Beyond
The master plan calls for a dramatic expansion of facilities and exhibits to grow patronage from 10,000 to 100,000 visitors per year. This aggressive expansion plan is underway and the RHM will raise $24 million dollars for new space and exhibits and another $10 million for an operational endowment. RHM has contracted with Stellar Fundraising to secure $10 million in private funds. Another $24 million from various levels of government will be needed for the project. The project will take nearly five years to complete with three phases of construction. The River Heritage Museum and the community are excited about this project and the role it will play in the city's $50 million riverfront redevelopment plan. We look forward to your support!

Economic Impact of Expansion
In addition to becoming a major tourism destination potentially attracting over 100,000 annually to downtown Paducah, the expansion's economic impact to the Commonwealth's economy is great. In addition to construction impacts of $34 million in expenditures
of which $9.7 million would be wages and salaries, an estimated 304 total person years of employment are estimated. Impacts regionally and statewide are estimated at $11.6 million in expenditures of which $3.7 million in wages will be generated. Economic multiplier effects (to include sales tax, hotel tax and income tax for the City of Paducah and the Commonwealth) identified the potential to generate $89,000 in taxes annually to the City of Paducah and $392,000 to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

*The above figures are based on a 2005 study by ConsultEcon