Iowa’s Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge was set to be closed due to the federal government shut-down. The salaries of the state employees who work at the museum are paid with federal funds, but Governor Terry Branstad this morning announced the museum will stay open.

“Just as other governors have kept their national parks open, like the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty,” Branstad says.

The State of New York agreed to spend a quarter of a million dollars to reopen Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty to visitors until Thursday. Branstad’s staff says details about the State of Iowa’s plan to keep the Gold Star Museum in Johnston open will be released later today.

The Gold Star Museum houses the military service records of Iowans who’ve served in conflicts dating back to the Mexican War.  There are an estimated 481,000 veterans living in Iowa today.

Branstad made his comments during his weekly news conference. Find the audio here.