Monday, August 31, 2009

The Working White House is now CLOSED

Today we spent the entire day taking down The Working White House.

I was sad to see it go because it has been so popular! And summer was just beginning when we opened it on June 19. Those weeks sure flew by fast!

The next Keller Gallery exhibit will be the dollhouse exhibit Life in Miniature which opens on October 16. The Keller will be part of the grand opening festivities for The Stark County Story, so it will remain closed for the month of September.

For the rest of the week I will be finishing up artifact placement in The Stark County Story.

Lots to do!!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Installation FINAL DAY!!!

Even though Split Rock is going home today, there is still a lot that needs to happen before the exhibit is ready to open to the public!

Here are some highlights of the FINAL DAY of major exhibit installation!


Joyce hanging the Army Navy E flag -- she sewed a sleeve on it last night so we could hang it!


Steve helping to hang the flag


Chris and Ryan moving a Radio Shack TRS-80 computer


Final touches on the flag


The TRS-80 in place


A nursing uniform


THE LAFFING LADY!!


The flag all hung


1930s dresses


Wiring the radio


Bricklayers finishing up


Opera House case


1890s dress in Victorian House


Working on the radio


WWII nurse


Weapons from 1937 steel strike


Moving the compass


Compass in place


Split Rock loading their truck with their tools and equipment

We will be working next week on taking The Working White House down and finishing up what we can do on our end for The Stark County Story.

There are still some shelves yet to come, and some other details that we need to complete.

But it is ALMOST done!!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Installation Day Ten

Things are moving right along!


The arrival of the giant Timken bearing ride


Moving the Four Aces


Moving the Four Aces


Removing the track from the old Four Aces case


The workings of the Timken bearing ride


The Timken bearing ride in place


Joyce with the Laffing Lady


Ryan polishing the Four Aces


Split Rock showing Steve the security features of the new vitrines


Jerry with the restored high wheel bicycle


Placing glass in the WWI case


The Timken grinder


The new banners


The banners from the second floor


Setting up the scaffolding on the other side of the pendulum to hang the other two banners

We did a walk through of the exhibit this morning and worked out a few details. It's going to be a wonderful addition to our museum!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Installation Update

I wanted to post an update yesterday, but as usual things got busy!

Here are some updates from the weekend and Monday:


Entrance to Gallery A -- that wooden scene will be a small blacksmith's shop


One of several newsboys who will have "newspapers" for visitors to read with extended Stark County history


The Holmes automobile


The school and health care section


Native American history in the lobby before you officially enter the exhibit


Across from the Victorian House


Where the Gibbs plow will go


The compass!!

We are working out final details over the next few days. I am planning to begin placing small artifacts in their vitrines tomorrow.

Progress continues!!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Installation Day Five

Here are some highlights from the day......


Gallery B


Gallery B -- one of my favorite panels, since I LOVE Canton's aviation history!!


Measuring in Gallery B


The layers of content islands in Gallery B


The archway from Gallery A to Gallery B


This is part of what visitors will see when looking in the doorway to Gallery A


Working on the curved wall that will block Gallery B from the lobby

While the rest of the weekday staff is off for two days, these guys will continue plugging away!

For once I'll be excited that it's Monday morning to see what they've gotten done over the weekend!!!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

THANK YOU to all who VOTED!

We have been named Best Museum in the Cleveland area in the 2009 Nickelodeon Parents' Picks contest!

Thank you to all who voted. We are honored to be recognized like this!

Lobby improvements

We are also working on a new look for the main lobby!



Steve and his crew have been re-painting the two wall cases to coordinate with the new gray and black cases we added a few months ago.

The wood panels up the steps and along the balcony are going to be replaced with glass panels as well. Every other one will be etched with the presidential seal.

It is going to look like a whole new museum when everything is finished!