The new Maridon Museum at 322 N. McKean St. has bestowed upon Butler a great asset for attracting tourists.

Now the challenge is for county tourism officials to spread information about the museum far and wide, including internationally. A special tourism brochure dedicated to the museum should be prepared, and the museum should be included in future editions of publications highlighting the county's major tourist attractions.

As Gov. Ed Rendell pointed out during the museum's grand opening on Saturday, "Mary Phillips could have chosen any major city in America to put this museum."

Instead, Phillips donated to her hometown more than 800 pieces of Chinese ivories and jades, Japanese ivories and German Meissen porcelain figures, plus the building in which the collection now is housed.

The fact that she chose for the museum to be in Butler typifies her longtime dedication and generosity to this community - a spirit that she also has displayed in many other ways.

In October 2000, when the Endowment for Butler County presented its Philanthopy Award to her, Phillips said, "I believe giving back to your community is something you owe. I was taught early that you gave and you shared what you have with others."

Sharing is what the museum is all about.

While her collection will not be of interest to everyone - no museum is - there are many people in this country and around the world who have an interest in Chinese and Japanese art and the cultures - people who would have an interest in the collection Phillips has so wonderfully built.

Thus, it is important for the new museum's existence to be projected globally; there must be no timidity in advertising it.

During their respective remarks at the grand opening, Rendell and Mayor Leonard Pintell were right that the Maridon Museum would give people a reason to visit Butler. And, U.S. Rep. Phil English aptly described the museum as a "a cultural icon and a great community resource."

Phillips would have erred if she had proceeded with her original plan for her collection: "I was just going to put a couple of pieces on display under a few lights."

"But through the combination of a lot of people doing a lot of hard work, we now have this beautiful museum," she said. And adding to the attraction is that the museum is tucked into a pleasant, easily accessible neighborhood adjacent to the city's business district.

Some communities call attention to tourism assets by way of pleasing-to-the-eye signs pointing to the location of attractions. Butler should do that on behalf of the Maridon Museum, as well as other attractions.

Many thousands of people pass through the city each year without being aware of what can be seen here.

"Butler is in the process of revitalizing itself," Rendell said. "Local effort is the key to getting projects done, and there is no better example of local effort than this museum."

The enthusiasm that greeted the opening of the museum is the kind of enthusiasm that hopefully will embrace many of the future revitalization efforts that will be geared toward improving the city.

- J.R.K.