Curator's Corner

Unsolicited compliments

2009-07-09T15:50:00.002-04:00

Did you see the story in Monday's Repository profiling Kathy Gray, who shared her frugal tips?

Here is a quote from the article:

For low-cost, kid-friendly entertainment, she recommends the McKinley Museum.

“We got a family membership and go a couple times a month,” she said. “I don’t think many people know how good it is. My son loves the turtles. And now they have this tornado thing with the mist that spins.”

This is the kind of recommendation that truly means the most to us. It comes from one of our members, who recognizes the value of our Museum and the opportunities for fun and learning that exist inside our walls!

Click here to read the entire article!

More updates

2009-07-09T14:55:00.005-04:00

Progress continues!!

This is the beautiful wood floor in the new Victorian house. Can you believe it was recycled from the rooms in the Historical Hall? Our maintenance department removed every nail from the wood, and it was reinstalled and sanded down in its new home!

This is what the Historical Hall looks like now, on the north side. The door to the right is the entrance to the Street of Shops. You can still see the lines of the room settings on the floor because the terrazzo underneath was never waxed. Steve will be stripping the floors and polishing them so they are even.

And here is what the ceiling looks like painted black! Amazing difference. Click here to see what it looked like just after maintenance removed the dropped ceiling panels.

Joyce and I have been proofing panels in batches. We are both so excited -- the panels look fantastic! This exhibit will be a wonderful addition to our Museum.

NEW Stark County documentary on PBS

2009-07-09T13:55:00.003-04:00

Stark Contrast: A History of Stark County will air on Western Reserve PBS on Monday July 13 at 10:00 PM. It will repeat on Tuesday July 14 at 2:00 AM and Saturday July 18 at 5:00 PM.

Please check it out! They came to interview me a few months ago and also taped at the Soup at Six: "Meyers Lake Revisited," where I believe they spoke with our visitors about the park.

Click here to learn more!! (I happen to be in the first few seconds of the promo video too!)

Summer Science Splash TOMORROW!!

2009-07-09T09:11:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow July 10 is our Summer Science Splash from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM!

Click on the schedule below to see all the fun things we've planned!

Building the Victorian House

2009-07-08T15:10:00.004-04:00

Progress continues!!

John Zwick and his team are constructing the Victorian House in the former Industrial Hall, which will be part of The Stark County Story!

Here's what they've done so far:

We're getting so excited to see this project jump out of the plans and into reality!

Washington DC trip -- McKinley and Canton stuff!!

2009-07-06T19:25:00.014-04:00

Chris and I were on vacation in Washington DC all last week! What a great city. We had a fabulous time, but it was HOT. And a LOT of walking. I mean, a lot of walking. My feet have never hurt so much.

I took over 350 photos of our trip, but the following were particularly interesting to people who love McKinley or Canton history! So here you go...........highlights from DC!

These things were in McKinley's pockets when he was shot in Buffalo!
Smithsonian Museum of American History

This was a handwritten note about a plot to assassinate McKinley a few years before it actually happened -- it wasn't the same plot that killed him.
Smithsonian Museum of American History

The 1909 Wright Military flyer that the Wright brothers used to teach Frank P Lahm how to fly! I wrote about Lahm in Canton's Pioneers in Flight, so it was SUPER COOL to see this plane in person!
National Air & Space Museum

I also wrote about Bernetta Miller in both Canton's Pioneers in Flight and Canton's West Lawn Cemetery. She was the 5th woman in the United States to earn her pilot's license. It was 1912. She was way ahead of her time.
National Air & Space Museum

This is the Gordon Bennett Cup, the trophy given to the winner of the first international balloon race! Most people wouldn't even know what that is, probably, but I wrote about it in Canton's Pioneers in Flight because Frank P Lahm won it in 1906!
National Air & Space Museum

The mast of the USS Maine, which exploded in 1898 and was the catalyst of the Spanish-American War during McKinley's first term as President. Very powerful.
Arlington National Cemetery

The base of the mast.
Arlington National Cemetery

A cute little chipmunk running around the bottom of the USS Maine mast!
Arlington National Cemetery

Frank P Lahm learned to fly at College Park.
College Park Aviation Museum

Frank P Lahm artifacts.
College Park Aviation Museum

Bernetta Miller demonstrated the monoplane for the US government at College Park in 1912.
College Park Aviation Museum

THIS is the runway where all of it happened. Lahm and Miller both flew here. I swear as we stared out at the airstrip, we could actually SEE it happening. History coming alive...
College Park Aviation Museum

Car show TOMORROW!!

2009-06-26T09:32:00.002-04:00

It is going to be a BEAUTIFUL day tomorrow!!

If you have a classic car, or if you just want to see a bunch of neat rides, come to our 8th Annual Cruisin' Thru History CAR SHOW tomorrow!

Registration is from 9-12, and the car show is from 9-3. Museum volunteers will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled chicken, and Milk & Honey will be here again selling ice cream. You can stay all day!

Inside you can see all the changes in the history galleries, plus, of course, The Working White House exhibit.

There is no charge to view the cars, so come on down tomorrow!

Historical Hall update

2009-06-26T09:30:00.003-04:00

The ceiling is now painted black!

Today the painters are sanding the walls and painting them.

It is amazing how small the Front Porch mural looks in a big empty room with a black ceiling. I'm sure once the new exhibit is installed it will look huge again!

Fashion Finds comes back home

2009-06-24T11:09:00.002-04:00

Fashion Finds, my exhibit of 20th century costumes, closed this past weekend at the Canton Museum of Art.

Instead of putting all the dresses away, I decided to display them in the former Industrial Hall. We picked them up this morning and set them up in the corner. (Does the carpet look familiar? It was in the Victorian Parlor that used to be in the Historical Hall! Hence the funky shape.)

The dresses will be on view until mid-August when we begin installing The Stark County Story.

Today the painters are here to paint the former Historical Hall. Things are moving very quickly now!

Only 20 days left to vote!

2009-06-24T11:06:00.001-04:00

Please remember to vote for us for Best Museum by clicking on the logo in the upper right corner!

Only 20 days left to vote!!

More Historical Hall photos

2009-06-23T15:03:00.003-04:00

The drop ceiling has been removed. The walls have been prepped for painting. The new lights are going in.

It's exciting!!!

Keller Gallery schedule

2009-06-23T12:55:00.001-04:00

Here are my plans for the Keller Gallery:

Life in Miniature
October 16, 2009 - February 14, 2010
This exhibit will feature dollhouses and miniatures from the Museum's collection, as well as pieces on loan from the community. Please contact Curator Kim Kenney if you have a dollhouse you'd like to display!

A Stitch in Time: Highlights from the Quilt and Coverlet Collections
February 26 - June 6, 2010
View quilts and coverlets from the Museum's permanent collection, including McKinley campaign quilts, mid-19th century coverlets from itinerant weavers and colorful crazy quilts.

The Victorian Age
June 18 - November 21, 2010
Featuring furniture, dresses and other period artifacts from the Museum's permanent collection. Learn more about fan language, flower meanings and Victorian mourning customs.

White House Gardens
A SMITHSONIAN TRAVELING EXHIBITION!
December 3, 2010 - January 30, 2011
If the White House is the "People's House," then its gardens are truly America's gardens. From Easter egg rolls and ceremonies honoring fellow citizens, to treaty signings and receptions for heads of state, the gardens and grounds surrounding the White House bear the mark of history.

Celebrating the Sixties!
February - May 2011
Remember this tumultuous decade with funky clothing, hats, purses and more! We'll explore the fads, the headlines and the social movements that shaped the 1960s.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Coming in the future from the White House Historical Association:

White House Christmas
November - December 2011

White House Horses
Booked in 2012

White House Impressions
Booked in 2013

Working White House in the Repository

2009-06-22T09:20:00.001-04:00

Thank you again to Gary Brown for a wonderful article about The Working White House exhibit!

Click here to read about it!

The opening went well on Friday night. I hope you will all get to see it some time this summer.

More demolition photos!

2009-06-18T15:02:00.005-04:00

All set!

2009-06-18T14:27:00.003-04:00

The Working White House is ready to open tomorrow!

It has been one tough week of hard work, that's for sure. I finished up the quasi-exhibits in the former Industrial Hall this morning. I think we made it look nice, for the hodge podge of artifacts that it is!

Here's what it looks like now:

There are now mid-20th century hats, plus the furniture that is going into the new exhibit. I will be putting a few artifacts in one more case, as soon as Steve has everything cleared out from the new door. Those will be things that are going in the new exhibit too. The mannequins that are now at the art museum will be coming back next week and will go in the Industrial Hall too.

So very little will be closed this summer for visitors. Only the Historical Hall, and only when Steve is working in there.

I'm looking forward to the opening tomorrow night!!!

Audio tours of The Working White House

2009-06-17T11:04:00.002-04:00

I just got done listening to the audio tour of The Working White House.

One word.

AMAZING!!

The audio tour contains interview clips with the people whose photos and artifact are on view.

Perhaps the most wonderful discovery of all was that houseman Jerry Smith, who worked at the White House during McKinley's administration, was very close to the President. According to the audio tour, McKinley talked to him as if he was one of his advisers! Very cool.

Remember -- FREE OPENING this Friday night. If you can't make that, the exhibit will be on view all summer long.

Come see it! You will be impressed. I guarantee it.

28 More Days to VOTE!!

2009-06-16T08:31:00.001-04:00

Please take a second to vote for us in the Nickelodeon contest. All you have to do is click on the logo above right and it will take you right to the site.

We are holding steady at 53% for the past few days, but at our highest we were at 58%.

So PLEASE VOTE!!

Working White House opens THIS FRIDAY!

2009-06-15T15:30:00.003-04:00

This exhibit is phenomenal. Seriously, you will absolutely love it!!

There is a free exhibit opening this Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Please RSVP so we can get a good count for the evening.

You don't want to miss this exhibit! It will be on view through August 30 -- what a great place to bring your out of town guests this summer!!!

Goodbye Historical Hall!

2009-06-12T08:38:00.004-04:00

Docent Luncheon

2009-06-10T15:51:00.003-04:00

Today we had a thank you luncheon for the history and Discover World docents. As always, it was a grueling tour season, but everyone pitched in and we made it!!

This year we had 200 more kids than last year in April & May! That is really something to be proud of. We have a quality education program here and teachers know it.

We took a minute to brief everyone on what's going on upstairs. After so many years of hard work, we are starting to see it all come together!!!!

Going smoothly.......

2009-06-10T15:49:00.001-04:00

Things are happening now!

The Keller is empty and ready for the installation of The Working White House. All of the cases have been moved to the Industrial Hall. The furniture from the Historical Hall that will be in the new exhibit has also been moved into the Industrial Hall. The Late Victorian Parlor is completely gone! Steve has started ripping up the floor in preparation for the new door to be cut in 2 days.

This is an exciting time at the Museum! Lots of work, but it will all be worth it in the end.

Progress

2009-06-09T11:07:00.002-04:00

So many things going on at the same time!

The Masons came this morning and cleared out the Keller. So painting will begin this afternoon! The Working White House arrives Thursday.

I have recorded all the numbers of the remaining items in the Historical Hall. Some are being used in the new exhibit and will be displayed this summer in the Industrial Hall. Some will be going to our off-site storage facility, and some will be moving into an on-site storage area.

When the dresses come back from the art museum, I am going to make a quick display out of them in the rest of the Industrial Hall. Since we have no room to store the Working White House crates AND all our unused cases in the Keller, I will also be adding some cases in the Industrial Hall for the summer. Some will house hats from the 50s, 60s, and 70s to go with the dresses. The rest will have some of the artifacts that will be going into the new exhibit.

Between now and the end of July, Steve will be working in the Historical Hall on lighting, the ceiling, and the floor, as well as cutting a new door between the galleries and tearing out the old room settings.

Yesterday Steve and I talked about what to do with the cases in the Industrial Hall when Split Rock comes to install the new exhibit. The installation will overlap with the final two weeks of The Working White House.

So, we will move the cases downstairs into the Auditorium for the last half of August. After The Working White House closes, we will create a false wall along one wall of the Keller Gallery and hide all the cases behind it. The Keller will be empty for the month of September as we prepare for the grand opening of The Stark County Story at the White Glove Affair on September 25. During September, Steve will have the opportunity to clean and wax the Keller floor.

AFTER The Stark County Story opens, people will be bringing in their dollhouses for the next Keller Gallery exhibit Life in Miniature, which opens October 16.

So as you can see, this is a well-orchestrated plan that will be evolving as we get into this process!

My immediate concern is PAINTING, which I shall begin after lunch!

Keller Gallery changing!

2009-06-08T15:36:00.001-04:00

Today we began taking down the Masons in Ohio exhibit! Tomorrow that will be finished.

Next I will paint (hopefully will finish it tomorrow, but it might go into Wednesday). The Working White House arrives on Thursday!

Busy week for sure!

End of School Tours.........and the Historical Hall!

2009-06-04T15:32:00.003-04:00

Today marked the end of our busy season! :-)

Special thanks to all the volunteers who made this season possible! It was as busy as ever, and I was more involved than usual, so I got to see a lot more of the process this year. Everyone did a great job! I think we had the best kids and teachers this year. It made things run very smoothly.

And for the school year, Chris's numbers are UP! We can all be proud of that. We have a great museum, and schools and teachers recognize that. The economy is not that great right now, so retaining schools is extremely important. When schools get funding back, they always come back to the museum for a field trip, which is just fabulous.

As you know, I have spent the month of June slowly removing small artifacts from the Historical Hall. I did not remove things that I knew the docents talked about on their tour, such as the candle mold or the hair receiver and hair wreath.

At 1:00 today, as soon as the last tour was over, I was upstairs with three carts to remove the rest!

All that is left now are large and medium artifacts. We will be removing those in a few days to make room for all the work Steve needs to do, including removing the drop ceiling, painting, installing lighting, etc.

All week people have been working on the floor in the Industrial Hall. There were various carpets glued down in different spots, so we needed to have the entire floor ground down. When that process is finished, we will be setting up mini "exhibits" with some of the furniture from the Historical Hall. And the "construction site" will shift to the Historical Hall.

Throughout this process, as I've said before, all of our visitors will be able to see all of the galleries that are not being worked on. The path might change, depending on what is being done. We will try to keep everyone informed.

Stay tuned!!

42 Days Left to Vote!

2009-06-02T11:37:00.001-04:00

Have you been voting for us every day? We have slipped from 60% of the vote about 10 days ago to 57% today.

Don't let us slip further back!! We're doing so well competing against Cleveland's museum. Please vote! Just click on the link above and to the right.

Thank you for your support!