What a great idea. Have you thought of offering these programs to homeschoolers, or including them in the current program? They are often available for middle-of-the day programs. If you state a minimum age appropriate for the artifacts being handled I’m sure you will find most homeschoolers to be quite responsible handling the items. Of course, some of your daytime participants may not want to be mixed in with children. However, I do feel that getting our youth excited about history is critical to keeping our museums operating.

I’d be happy to put you in touch with homeschool groups in northern Virginia or post a message for you.

Nancy

The Manassas Museum has started a quarterly program called “Coffee with the Curator.”  For this event the Curator pulls objects from storage that have never been on public view before for an up-close-and-personal presentation to program attendees.  After a light breakfast (separate from the objects of course) the Curator gives a brief presentation on the objects and then invites everyone to come forward for a closer look.  Participants get to wear white gloves (this seems to be the best part for some of them!) and carefully handle the objects, see how they work, look at the small details of each, etc.  The result is usually a very spirited discussion about one or two of the pieces used in the program.  Everyone seems to enjoy it and we’ve had some very positive feedback.  We limit the seating to 20 so everyone can really participate.  We usually get about 15 signed up – which we consider a success since the program is held in the middle of the week in the morning.  Not your usual time for an adult program.  It also allows us to use the collection in a non-traditional way and get pieces out of storage and before the public that might otherwise just sit on the shelves.  I think the draw here is a non-traditional use of the collection that allows that visitor to touch – something that is a no-no in the galleries.

Mary Helen Dellinger, Curator

Manassas Museum, Virginia