“One of the Missions of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad and the National Heritage Area Commission is to collaborate with the community to discover, share and celebrate the powerful stories of the people who lived and worked here to meet the challenges of their times, and to connect their past with the opportunities of the present.” – Bill Bradberry, President and Chair, Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Commission
As we wrap up exhibit fabrication for the Underground Railroad Heritage Center, USA had a great opportunity to share the exhibit development process with students from the Lincoln University Museum Studies Program. We view students as our future colleagues, and we love to share ideas and information that will help prepare them to enter the museum field.
Our presentation took students through the development process including significance of the museum site, story and object selection, content development, exhibit design, shop drawings, and fabrication. Discussions ranged from student interest and focus, process and teamwork, to increasing inclusion and diversity in the museum field.
Students also had the opportunity to explore exhibits in our shop, and talk directly with our project managers, fabricators, and artisans on fabrication methods and techniques. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting this talented and passionate group of students, and can’t wait to see how they contribute to the future of museums!
–Learn more about the Lincoln University Museum Studies Program
–Plan your trip to Niagara Falls to visit the museum
Speakers included:
Blake D. Bradford, Director of the Lincoln University-Barnes Foundation Museum Studies Program; Bill Bradberry, President and Chair, Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Commission; Ally Spongr, Director and Curator, Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center; Seth Frankel, Principal, Studio Tectonic; Emily B. Saich, Director of Museum Services, Universal Services Associates, Inc.