Fall is a busy time for Rick Castellano at the Island County Museum.

And it just got busier.

Castellano, the museum’s executive director, recently got word that he needs to find a new site to store the museum’s collections.

He was notified by the new owner of a retail space in Oak Harbor that rent will be rising. The museum had been renting space there at a discounted rate for more than a year.

That news left Castellano searching for a new, less expensive solution where artifacts that are not currently on display at the museum may be stored. He is hoping to find a site in Central Whidbey since the museum is located in Coupeville.

“We’re probably good through the end of the year,” Castellano said. “But we’re looking real seriously. We would love to find something closer to the museum.”

The ideal site would be about 2,500-square feet of heated space, however, 1,000 square feet would work, Castellano said.

“It could just be a metal building as long as it’s well insulated and dry,” Castellano said.

The collections consist of clothing, paintings and other historic three-dimensional artifacts. Archives are stored at the museum.

The collections were moved out of the museum’s basement and into storage after the basement was converted into a permanent Native American exhibit last year.

“Maybe somebody out there has a big shop they’re not using,” Castellano said. “An RV garage or something would probably be just fine. We’re looking for ideas. We might be able to raise money to put up a building if we have the property to put it on.”

Rick Castellano may be reached at the museum at 360-678-3310 or ed-ichs@whidbey.net