Atlantic City Historians Betting on Future With Donald Trump Museum

Posted on: December 5, 2016, 06:17h. 

Last updated on: December 5, 2016, 06:17h.

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Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

Atlantic City historians are asking city officials to assist in finding and collecting artifacts pertaining to Donald Trump’s time spent in the region in order to create a museum dedicated to the president-elect.

A group of local historians believes a museum celebrating Trump’s long history in the area could attract visitors to the Boardwalk and play an important role in preserving the business past of the country’s next president.

Trump’s casino dealings in Atlantic City were a frequent contentious topic during the 2016 presidential election. His Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton frequently cited his multiple resort bankruptcies and once pondered to her supporters, “How can anybody lose money running a casino?”

The group is seeking funding from the city, as well as aid in finding objects, images, documents, and stories about Trump. So far there is no word from Atlantic City officials. The city’s government was taken over by the state in November.

Back to the Past

If the Atlantic City Trump museum one day comes to realization, the project will provide even more substance to those who have tried to link the future 45th president of the United States to Biff Tannen.

In the 1989 cult classic “Back to the Future Part II,” Tannen makes millions gambling on sports after using the time machine for personal gain. He turns Hill Valley into a chaotic dystopia, with his casino taking the former residence of the clock tower.

Named “Biff Tannen’s Pleasure Paradise,” the casino in the movie comes with a museum dedicated to Tannen. While some allege Trump also made his fortune in not so honorable ways, Atlantic City is looking to provide a spark to tourism in any manner possible.

“The subject of Donald Trump in Atlantic City is going to be of historical interest, especially now that he has been elected president,” Stockton University Assistant Professor Bob Blaskiewicz told the Press of Atlantic City. “People are going to be interested in what his long-term impact has been on the city.”

Trump’s former Atlantic City casinos include Trump Plaza, Trump World’s Fair, and Trump Taj Mahal. At the height of his Atlantic City tenure, Trump employed 12,700 people, or roughly one-third of the entire casino workforce in the city.

More Research Needed

Backers of the Trump museum point to Sevnica, Slovenia, where the Central European country is reporting an influx of travel to the small town due to Melania Trump being raised there.

Slovenians might be fascinated with one of their own becoming first lady, but the northeast US demographic is already quite familiar with Donald Trump. It’s also worth noting that aside from Pennsylvania, every state from Virginia north to Maine voted for Clinton.

However, should Trump’s presidency be one of success, and he somehow manages to amend America’s current political discord, a Trump museum could pay dividends. No city other than New York has no stronger ties to Trump.

Right now, New Yorkers largely want nothing to do with the billionaire or his wife.

A recent Change.org online petition is gaining momentum to force Melania to move to DC following her husband’s January 20th inauguration. New York is currently spending $1 million per day to protect the Trump family.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) has requested $35 million from Congress to cover his city’s expenses safeguarding Trump until his swearing in.