Obama to sign stimulus bill at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Preparations are under way for President Barack Obama's Tuesday visit to Denver. Obama will sign the new economic stimulus bill at a signing ceremony around midday at Denver's Museum of Nature and Science.

"The President's advance team called us Thursday evening and said they wanted to come by and check out the museum for an event," said George Sparks, Museum President and C.E.O. "So we said come on by and they did and we thought that was the end of it."

By Friday afternoon, a commitment by the White House to the Museum had been made. Sparks said he's been instructed not to reveal any details of the visit, such as where in the Museum the signing ceremony will take place. It will be held inside, not outdoors using the city's skyline as a scenic backdrop. The Museum will be closed from 5:30 p.m. Monday to 4 p.m. Tuesday.

It's believed Denver and the Museum were chosen to highlight the President's commitment to science and to the new energy economy, of which Colorado considers itself a leader.

"Colorado because of the work that we've done in creating this new energy economy and being able to create sustainable job growth provided this template for the administration to say this is what the package is about," said Gov. Bill Ritter.

Museum visitor Melanie Lawson said she applauded the stimulus bill and Obama's attempt to get beyond Washington, "to get to know all the people, to be a representative of all the people, to do things a little differently."

The visit is expected to tie up the Park Hill neighborhood near the Museum for a good part of the day Tuesday. Wolfgang Stahlberg, pastor at Messiah Community Church, said he expects to be affected by street closures and traffic.

"I was thinking what does that do to my workday because when the President of the United States is here, then Colorado Blvd. will be closed, and so on."

But Sparks said the historic event would be worth it.

"Certainly for me this will be a highlight of my life and I think for the Museum it will be, too," he said.