The head of the American Revolution Center has complained in a letter to the NYT that the paper left the misimpression that the plans for a museum have ended. All that's ended is the relationship with the National Park Service.

Here's the letter, published by the NYT:

To the Editor:

While the American Revolution Center has ended its partnership agreement with the National Park Service at Valley Forge, this in no way translates into an end to the undertaking, as indicated by "Museum Plans Halted" (Arts, Briefly, Nov. 5).

Rather, proponents of the American Revolution Center, including Pennsylvania's governor, Edward G. Rendell; Senator Rick Santorum; the chairman of Montgomery County's commissioners, James R. Matthews; and the historian David McCullough are working with us as we move full speed ahead with other options.

At a time when understanding our nation's founding principles are particularly important, and when historical illiteracy is rapidly increasing, building the center in a way that would compromise the educational experience would be unconscionable. That is the reason for the partnership's termination.

The American Revolution Center will, when built, be a destination where visitors will learn what the great American experiment is all about. With considerable bipartisan support, we are pursuing a solution that will allow our mission to be accomplished.

Thomas M. Daly
President and Chief Executive
American Revolution Center
Wayne, Pa., Nov. 7, 2005