A Free Heritage

Pursuant to Christopher Knight’s article “A Freethinking Idea” (Sept. 6), the board of trustees of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum voted unanimously to make its museum free to everyone.

Instead of relying on entrance fees, there will be increased emphasis on membership, donations and sponsorship of Newport Harbor’s only real center for its maritime heritage. We are entering a new era: exciting displays and exhibits, an enlarged Young Mariners education program, video, sound, more interactive opportunities. We think that all this bodes well for having a museum without charging people to see their own heritage.

Libraries wouldn’t, would they? And neither will we.

DAVID A. GRANT