Historic Deerfield, Inc. in Deerfield, MA has a large open storage display.  They also have a central computer station where visitors can find information on objects using accession numbers. 

>From: John Suau <[log in to unmask]>>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>>To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Open Storage >Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 06:20:44 -0500 > >The Albany Institute of History & Art in Albany, NY features an open storage >in its galleries. > > >On 1/19/04 12:44 AM, "Automatic digest processor" ><[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > > > Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 18:27:20 -0500 > > From: Guy Hermann <[log in to unmask]>> > Subject: Re: Open Storage > > > >> Would anyone know of recent or current projects to build extensive > >> open storage facilities, either in North America or elsewhere in the > >> world that are secure and yet allow visits by the public without an > >> escort. > >> > > The Darwin Center at the Natural History Museum in London is a > > spectacular open storage facility for their "wet" or alcohol > > collections. It is seven stories tall (I think) with a central atrium > > so you can see all seven levels. They have interpretive materials on > > the first level and offer guided tours on an hourly basis led by > > working science staff members. > > > >> I would also be curious if anyone is aware of an open storage > >> facility, new or old, that includes interpretive components (labels, > >> computer stations with a data base of information, audio tours, image > >> projections, etc.) that allow the objects on display to 'speak for > >> themselves' without a personal guide. > > > > > > ----------------------------- > > Guy Hermann > > Senior Museum Planner > > E. Verner Johnson and Associates > > Museum Architects and Planners > > http://www.museumarchitects.com > > > > 222 Berkeley Street > > Boston, MA 02116 > > v: 617.437.6262 > > f: 617.437.1272 > >John T. Suau >Executive Director >Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums >The Carroll Mansion >800 East Lombard Street >Baltimore, MD 21202 >(T) 410/223.1194 >(F) 410/223.2773 >(E) [log in to unmask] >(W) http://www.midatlanticmuseums.org > >========================================================= >Important Subscriber Information: > >The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > >If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).