Hoping to offer virtual reality and other methods of education that appeal to video-game-playing generations, the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens asked the city Monday to pledge $500,000 toward a $1-million cost to build an education center for students.

The proposed education center is meant to inspire students to study science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, or STEAM.

The museum plans to raise a total of $2.2 million, however, for the education center and other improvements to the museum.

Speaking for a group of veterans during an Athens City Council work session, veteran Jerry Barksdale asked if the council could include the $500,000 request in the roughly $20 million it plans to borrow for a new recreation center and the Pilgrim’s Pride property renovation project. The 8,000-square-foot facility would blend in with the current veterans museum at 100 E. Pryor St. in Athens. Building will begin as soon as the money is available.

Phase I would include construction of the education center and take a year or less. Phase II would include an outdoor space for large artifacts, which could happen along with Phase I if funding is available. Phase III would include renovation of the existing building, which would take six to eight months.

Barksdale said students who grew up playing video games adapt quickly to modern technology. Students at the proposed education center would receive hands-on technology, like virtual reality headsets in which students could watch local veterans in places like a World War II B-17 bomber.

He said they could even watch Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks on a trail in Vietnam, where he served.

“Limestone County can pass on its values and the values of veterans,” Barksdale said.

The mayor said after the meeting the veterans came to him too late to try to roll the request into what the city intends to borrow when it goes to the bond market in New York today. He said he is in favor of the council backing the project in whatever way possible, which could include money paid out over the next few years.

City Council President Chris Seibert said he and his family hold the veterans museum close. His grandfather, a veteran, helped design the building; his father, former Limestone County Commission Chairman David Seibert, helped renovate the building when he was in office; and Chris, who served in the Air Force, said his active duty Air Force buddies did the flyover in F-16s when the museum first opened.

“I certainly want to support them however we can,” Seibert said. He said he intends to ask members of the local legislative delegation (those who represent Limestone in Montgomery) to see how much they can donate to the project.”

The council did not commit to donating $500,000 or any particular amount Monday, but they said they will discuss the matter.

The budget for the museum would be as follows:

• Education facility — $100,000;

• Museum display area — $250,000;

• Classroom No. 1 (reserved) — $50,000;

• Classroom No. 2 —$50,000;

• Foyer — $25,000;

• Gift shop — $25,000;

• Break room — $25,000;

• Office No. 1 — $15,000; and

• Office No. 2 — $15,000.

Currently, more than 12,000 people visit the veterans museum each year, making it the most-visited tourist attraction in Limestone County. Once the project is complete, the museum could offer a more interactive experience and make it even more popular as a tourist destination.

Barksdale pointed out during the work session that no taxpayer dollars were spent to create the veterans museum thus far.

For more information on donating to the project or raising money for the project, call Sandy Thompson at the veterans museum at 256-771-7578. Donations are tax-deductible.

There will be various naming opportunities ranging from $500 to $10,000 in multiple exhibit spaces in the museum. Donations of $5,000 or more will be recognized on the major donor wall of the education center.