Leonora,

I think it all depends on the specifics of how you staff and run tours in
your historic house.

If all tours are escorted by staff and if they are not dealing with groups
of 50 pre-teens, then going minimal might be fine. If you have someone at
the door and people are turned loose to tour themselves then you may need
much more substantial barrier systems.

If you go minimal one idea may even be to install those proximity alarms
that you see in galleries of art museums where a high-pitched sound goes off
if someone gets too close.

If you go for something substantial then plexi panels in a metal frame with
a hinged gate that can be padlocked works well.

I do have to say, and I know that all my museum colleagues know this, that
it can be a revelation to walk into a period room without barriers. Your
whole sense of the space and furnishings in so much more immerse and real.

As in all things cultural and historic there is always the dialogue between
access and preservation.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Senior Conservator
Los Angeles, CA

On Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 8:49 AM, Lenora Henson <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>
> Dear Colleagues –
>
> We are grappling with the issue of barriers in the restored rooms of our
> historic house museum.  Some staff members favor 2 ft tall stanchions as
> less visually obtrusive, while others are concerned that such barriers are
> merely a suggestion and will be ineffective.  Here are some of the
> questions we have for those of you who have experience using stanchions in
> similar settings:
>
> - Overall, are you pleased with the stanchions?  What are the
> advantages/drawbacks?
> - Given the choice, would you continue to use stanchions, or find an
> alternative?  If you’d prefer another option, please explain why.
> - What would you consider to be the optimum height for stanchions?
> - Does the size of the room in which stanchions are used impact their
> effectiveness?
> - How far apart are your stanchions (from each other)?
> - Do you find that stanchions are more/less effective with particular
> audiences? (eg, children vs adults)
> - Are stanchions effective with large groups?  (Most visitors will be led
> through the house by an interpreter in small groups, but we occasionally
> have “open house”-type events which are less controlled.)
> - Finally, can you recommend source for stanchions?
>
> Any thoughts/comments will be greatly appreciated.  Please feel free to
> e-mail me off-list.
>
> Thanks,
> Lenora Henson
> Curator, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site
>

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