Historic spaces face many challenges. These include upkeep, visitor engagement, program development, and collections care among many others. These challenges require a balancing act between time, resources, and use of the space.

They need to provide opportunities for guests to enter and interact with their spaces and collections, while also being sensitive to the preservation and conservation needs of the structures and objects on exhibit. When done right, this balancing allows guests to interact with the histories of the space in fun and engaging ways.

This last week, the Gorgas House served as an event venue on two occasions. The first was a farewell dinner for Dr. Hilary Green. Dr. Green’s work explores the history of race, slavery, and memory, and her Hallowed Grounds project explores the history and legacy of enslavement on campus. We wish Dr. Green all the best!

Later in the week, The University of Alabama’s Division of Strategic Communications held a luncheon on the Gorgas House grounds for campus communicators. We were fortunate to be able to provide tours of the museum and share stories about its history, objects, and how things have changed over time. These events bring opportunities for collaboration. We met historians, scholars, researchers, and communicators who see the space in interesting and compelling ways. By introducing our campus colleagues to the space through events like luncheons and dinners, we open doors for future projects and new visitor engagement.

Have a great week!

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