Video of Mike Chapman discussing the flood damage
http://www.courierwebcasts.com/play....lingmuseum.flv
Article from USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...orabilia_N.htm
Iowa floods too much for
Dan Gable memorabilia to handle
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Enlarge By Steve Pope, AP
Wrestling icon
Dan Gable congratulates Iowa State's
Cael Sanderson after Sanderson won his 100th consecutive match in January 2001, tying Gable's school record. Gable now has a wrestling museum named after him in Iowa, but recent flooding got the best of some of the building's artifacts.
By Molly Hottle and Bryce Miller, Des Moines Register
WATERLOO, Ia. — There is no price tag officials with the
Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum can put on memorabilia swallowed by flood waters from the Cedar River this week.
Wrestling magazines from the 1930s and a 12-foot wide and 10-foot high oil painting of wrestling star Lou Thesz are only some of the items threatened or destroyed by water that invaded the building at 303 Jefferson St.
"It's a dire situation," said Mike Chapman, executive director of the not-for-profit museum. "Who would have thought you would need flood insurance?"
Chapman said flood waters moved into the building's parking lot at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday — when he and others started sandbagging.
When Chapman returned at 2 a.m. Wednesday, after receiving a knock on his door from Waterloo police, water had reached the 12-foot-tall ceiling of the basement and was rapidly entering the main floor. At the highest point early Wednesday, water reached two feet on the main floor.
"We started moving things and then the water reached the electrical sockets and we got out of there," Chapman said.
Before leaving, Chapman and the others that had been helping had moved a desk owned by legendary wrestler Frank Gotch to a higher point. The primary exhibits for the museum are safe for now, but the memorabilia in the basement and the carpet on the main floor is a total loss.
Gable, who was flying to Las Vegas for wrestling's U.S. Olympic Trials, was concerned about the museum — but more worried about Waterloo residents.
"This is a museum, but you're talking about people's homes and lives — and that's the critical stuff there," Gable said.
Renovations to the building to create the museum, which opened in January 2007 after moving from Newton, cost $750,000.
"It's only been there a year ago," Gable said. "A year and a half and — boom — it's possible it could be wiped out, you know?
"What do you do, you know? You just move forward again."
The museum is named for Gable, the 1972 Olympic champion, national champion at Iowa State and national championship coach at the University of Iowa. Museum officials are not yet sure how extensive damage will be, but will be lobbying help from those in the area and in the national wrestling community to get back on their feet.
"We're facing a major renovation," Chapman said.
Gable was awed by the power of the rising waters.
"The interesting thing: It's not in a flood plain," he said.
When waters recede, Chapman hopes the museum can be back in business for an induction ceremony and celebration weekend on June 26-27.
"Wrestling teaches you how to get off your back," Chapman said. "Old Man River put us on our back, but we're back to our knees and we're fighting back."
Flood Damages Gable Museum 
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