“It’s always been that way,” said Alicia Singleton, a museum employee.

Singleton was running the front desk Thursday when a group of about 20 schoolchildren from a summer camp wandered in with their leaders for self-guided tours. The kids looked at some displays, then took turns putting their faces close to the fans.

Singleton said she’s noticed that tours go more quickly with the heat, and visitors don’t take time to do the scavenger hunt or read all of the displays.

Sherman George, the city’s former fire chief, is depicted by a wax figure in the museum and serves on the museum’s board. He said thieves have taken or tampered with the museum’s air conditioning units every year for the last five summers. Anti-theft cages around the units didn’t stop them.

“I don’t know what we can do other than post a sign, ‘Please don’t steal it,’” George said.

Conley is keeping the museum open while she tries to get bids for replacement air conditioners. She welcomes the kindness of strangers. One man from Fairview Heights offered a portable unit. A woman stopped by Thursday to say she could help Conley get a unit at cost, then suggested any future unit be installed high above the ground. Conley said they were already considering that.

Conley estimates it could cost anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 a unit. The museum is seeking donations at a GoFundMe account.

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