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Cincinnati Museums to Merge in Money-Saving Effort

The Cincinnati Museum Center and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center are merging in an effort to prevent the civil rights institution from closing its doors.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the merger will allow the Freedom Center to close a $1.5 million annual budget hole and the Museum Center to increase efforts to pay $8 million debt.  About 15 jobs will be eliminated.

The Museum Center houses a history museum, a children's museum and a natural history and a science museum.  The Freedom Center will be its fourth wholly owned subsidiary.

Freedom Center officials cut full-time employees from 120 to 34 and said last year it might have to close by the end of 2012.  The Museum Center employs 300.

Both will stay in their current locations.

Stories from the Associated Press.