ATLANTA - The J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum soon will be accessible to visitors at all times, without a volunteer having to be on hand.

A multimedia exhibit project for the J.H. Hawes Elevator Museum is in the works that will involve moving an unused corn crib to the elevator site. Unescorted visitors can walk through it to view how a grain elevator is used.

Currently, the museum is only open in the summer months, so winter visitors traveling down old Route 66 have no way to learn about the elevator.

The project will cost around $25,000, which already has been raised by descendants of J.H. Hawes, said Bill Thomas, an active Atlanta volunteer.

"We have already previously purchased the property next door, so the outdoor display could be put there and would be open when no one was there," said Marjorie Ann Coleman, the museum secretary and a tour volunteer. "By using a corn crib, we can lock it and have someone come unlock it in the morning."

At the moment, visitors find a brochure and a telephone number to call to summon a volunteer to provide the tour.

"It's in a wonderful spot by Route 66 along with some great businesses and attractions in Atlanta. We just need to keep developing it," said Coleman.

To help continue to update the site, the museum will hold its annual spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Atlanta Firehouse.

"The dinner is a fund-raiser to assist with the continuing restoration of Illinois' only wooden grain elevator listed on the National Register of Historic buildings," said Thomas. "The elevator was built in 1904 and is one Atlanta's leading tourist attractions."

Coleman said the supper, which has been held for almost 10 years, usually brings in $700 to $1,000.

"We've been working on this exhibit project for a couple years, getting the design in order and securing a grant for it," said Coleman. "We have so many great volunteers who volunteer their time; this all takes a lot of planning. It's a labor of love."

Coleman said the museum always needs more volunteers; to help, call (217) 648-2056. The museum's summer season starts June 4. Regular hours are 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays during summer months.