A decision on the future of Cogges Manor Farm Museum in Witney is not likely to be made until October.
But the signs are optimistic, with visitor numbers up 50 per cent on last year and three plans for the future of the site now on the table.
One already made public is from the Cogges Community Enterprise Group. The others are from undisclosed commercial heritage operators.
Museum owner Oxfordshire County Council says it cannot sustain £250,000 annual losses and its funding will finish in 2010.
Martyn Brown, the county's heritage and arts officer, said: "With three formal proposals now on the table, the project board decided to commission an external evaluation of the options in order to inform the cabinet.
"This will delay the decision-making process, probably until October. Meetings have been held with the leaders of the other two proposals to question them further."
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