The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake has hired a new director.  David Kahn, who is currently head of the San Diego History Center, says he was drawn to the North Country by the museum's unique collection.

"I'd always heard about it throughout my career and the opportunity to work with that material and with the great stories that relate to the Adirondacks and the people and the community in general was just very compelling."

Kahn says top priorities will be building attendance at the museum in Blue Mountain Lake and boosting revenue.  That means reaching out to people who care about the Adirondack Museum's mission.

"Far and away, individuals are the major source of money, funding for our nations cultural institutions, so I think looking forward that will be the major focus," he said.

In the past, the museum — which was founded in 1957 — has considered building a branch facility in another part of the North Country.  The museum still owns a parcel of land in downtown Lake Placid. 

Kahn says he hopes to develop traveling exhibitions and other outreach effort.  But he doesn't see the museum expanding to a new location. 

"I think one would really have to look at all of those other possibilities for ways the Adirondack museum could serve audiences in different locations," Kahn said, "other than necessarily creating a bricks and mortar presence somewhere else."

Kahn says he'll visit the North Country for events next week, but plans to begin at the museum full time September first.