Wednesday, July 23, 2008

New Program shares the behind-the-scenes world of Museums with General Public

We are pleased to announce that through a grant received from the Georgia Humanities Council, we are able to unveil what is ‘behind-the-scenes’ in a new education program for the general public – Preserving History: Behind the Scenes at the Augusta Museum of History.

Beginning Saturday, July 12, 2008 and running every Saturday through September, Museum staff escort visitors in the collection preparation area, giving the public the opportunity to see the Museum’s Processing Laboratory where artifact conservation and preparation occurs. The Museum’s Registrar demonstrates how the Museum collects, catalogs, preserves, studies, cares for, and displays artifacts and archival collections.

Just as Registrar Sean Todd said, “Everybody remembers the thrill they had when they explored their grandparents’ attic. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn about the Museum’s collection, explore the Museum’s processing room, and to experience our collective past.” It certainly is a wonderful opportunity for Museum visitors and members to see a side to Museum life normally not shared with visitors.

The Augusta Museum of History is the steward of a broad and diverse range of artifacts, representing many aspects of the rich history of the CSRA. The goal of this hour-long presentation is to show visitors how historically important objects reach the Museum and how they are evaluated, cleaned, and stored. All of the relevant considerations, such as infestation, temperature and relative humidity levels, light levels, and composition of storage materials will be explained. The visitor will understand how these processes are central to the Museum’s broader mission of the preservation and interpretation of history.

Beginning July 12, 2008, the tours will be held at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. every Saturday through September. Space is limited to fifteen participants per session and participation is on a first come, first serve basis. Groups are encouraged to contact the Museum at (706) 722-8454 regarding availability.

Preserving History is open to the general public and FREE with the cost of regular admission.

Preserving History: Behind the Scenes at the Augusta Museum of History is supported by the Georgia Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities and through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly.


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