Posted: September 29, 2025 10:39 am
Heritage Johnstown is delighted to have reopened the Johnstown Flood Museum as of September 29! The reopening will be celebrated on Thursday, October 9 with a cocktail party at 5:00 pm.
The museum has been closed due to water damage from a heating system valve malfuction last winter. While most of the water went down a drain, it also sprayed onto a wall, which leached the water through the museum’s interior walls. Carpet, theater seat upholstery, and ceilings were also affected.
“Nothing of historic significance was damaged, but the museum required significant remediation efforts,” said Dan Solomon, chair of Heritage Johnstown’s board of directors. “We are in a time of renewal for the Johnstown Flood Museum – this interrupted our progress, but we are excited to celebrate the reopening.”
In fiscal year 2024, Heritage Johnstown completed a $900,000 exterior renovation of the museum building. This renovation included significant roof repairs, repainting and repairing window frames, repair and replacement of copper gutters, repairs to the brickwork, and refinishing of the building’s beautiful doors.
Heritage Johnstown plans to keep the Johnstown Flood Museum open until late spring, when planned interior renovations will get underway. This $1 million project includes replacement of the elevator, a new HVAC system, refinishing of floors, repainting, and more. Major grants supporting the renovation include a Saving America’s Treasures grant from the National Park Service and a RACP grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Speakers at the October 9 event will include Rob Forcey of Johnstown’s Vision 2025 and Dan Solomon. Refreshments and a cash bar will be provided.
