Foundation purchases land for Pulse nightclub museum

ORLANDO, Fla. – A foundation has purchased land to build a museum about the 2016 massacre that killed 49 people at a Florida gay nightclub.

The onePulse Foundation said Monday that it has acquired a 1.75 acre (0.7 hectare) parcel about a third of a mile (0.5 kilometre) from the now-closed Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

Foundation officials say funding from Orange County helped cover the cost of the parcel, which they closed on last week for $3.5 million.

According to plans, the parcel will be used to construct a museum and the actual nightclub site will become a memorial.

A group of survivors and family members of those killed in the mass shooting have formed an organization to oppose the building of a private museum to honour the victims.