The University of Alabama‘s Finals Week brought many students, families, and friends through the doors of the Gorgas House Museum. Some seniors often come to the museum to visit and walk through for the first time saying say they didn’t know they could come in. This is a phrase we’ve heard before.

To counter this, we try to provide as many experiential learning opportunities as possible, provide a physical space for them to enjoy and call their own on, and foster a sense of student-led community through student group engagement.

Hands-on stations provide physical points of contact with history. Rocking chairs on the portico provide a space to sit, relax, study, and reflect. And The University of Alabama Museums’ Student Group provides opportunities to develop a sense of community through coffee hours, activities, and social media content creation.

In addition to these offerings, the Gorgas House is sometimes fortunate to be a part of memorable moments created by other university departments. As a sign of appreciation and farewell, UA’s Department of Gender and Race Studies held a luncheon for their graduating graduate students and families.

Congratulations to all graduating students and have a safe and enjoyable summer!

– Written by Brandon Thompson, Director of the Gorgas House Museum