FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The

Airborne and Special Operations Museum

in Fayetteville is under new ownership. The city of Fayetteville gave it to the Army.

"It was a long journey. It's been several years trying to work out exactly how to get this done, and today is like we're crossing the finish line of a big race," said Fayetteville Mayor Marshall Pitts Jr.

The transfer was the plan all along. The city would help the museum get off the ground, then the Army would take over.

The city provided the land, helped raise money for the building and turned the museum over to the military. In exchange, the military plans to give a percentage of the museum's sales to the city indefinitely.

"This great museum, which is Smithsonian quality, will continue to be resourced the way it should -- to make sure it has the right staff," said Lt. Gen. John Vines.

Vines said visitors will not notice a difference in ownership. No major changes are in the plans.

It is the only Army museum in the world not on an Army post. Roughly 200,000 people pass through the museum each year.