When the Catskill Fly Fishing Center officially incorporated in 1981, its goals included not only a museum for the display of artifacts and memorabilia but lively educational activities as well. While the search for a permanent site intensified, the Roscoe Theater building provided temporary housing for the first exhibits. With its picture window and downtown location, the museum attracted many passing anglers, tourists and invited guests. Former President Jimmy Carter stopped traffic on Main Street with his visit there in 1984 to help kick off a critical capital fundraising drive. His visit encouraged a widening circle of supporters.