The American Dime Museum, a modern-day Cabinet of Curiosities in Baltimore, Maryland, hit a run of bad luck in 2003 that may ultimately force it to move or close. The museum's two partners split and divided the collection. Then the remaining partner was outbid for ownership of the buildings where the museum resides.

Dick Horne, who has run the museum for four years with former partner James Taylor, narrowly lost an attempt to buy the property. The new building owner hasn't decided whether the museum can stay, but Horne expects it can remain a tenant for at least six months, despite erroneous news reports the museum had already closed.

The American Dime Museum still plans to conduct new shows and exhibits, such as the upcoming retrospective on the work of Betsy, the Baltimore Zoo's Finger Painting Chimp. For more info, call 410-230-0263 or visit www.dimemuseum.com.

[11/23/2003]