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Into the 21st Century:
The Campaign for Pilgrim Hall Museum |
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The Pilgrim Story - the hazardous
voyage, the 1620 landing, the fearful first winter, the First
Thanksgiving - is the treasured heritage of all Americans.
This dramatic saga of courage and perseverance has inspired the
American people throughout the nation's history. PILGRIM HALL
MUSEUM has the mission to protect and foster this heritage as a
dynamic national resource, providing physical and intellectual accessibility
through exhibitions and educational initiatives both onsite and
online.
PILGRIM HALL, the nation's oldest continuously-operating public
museum, houses an unmatched collection of Pilgrim possessions.
Among its irreplaceable treasures are William Bradford's Bible,
Myles Standish's sword, and the cradle of New England's first-born,
Peregrine White. The Museum contains over 600original 17th
century artifacts, books and manuscripts, in addition to a superb
collection of American history paintings, ranging from Henry
Sargent's heroic Landing of the Pilgrims to Jennie
Brownscombe's First Thanksgiving.
These national treasures are held in trust for posterity in PILGRIM
HALL MUSEUM. They must be displayed in an educationally
effective manner. Universal access is crucial, climate
improvement is imperative. The 182-year-old granite Hall, an
outstanding example of the architecture of the early republic, needs
immediate and extensive modifications to guarantee that this trust
is upheld.
PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM faces many challenges. The front entry
stairs are a barrier to unrestricted access; the physical site
precludes ramping. Without air-conditioning, the Hall's
original artifacts are at jeopardy and summer visitors are denied an
enjoyable educational experience. The current exhibition does
justice neither to the Pilgrim story nor the artifacts that
illuminate it.
PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM is therefore embarking on its first public
capital campaign to meet these urgent demands.
The campaign's priorities are: |
- climate improvements to safeguard the
Hall's original 17th century artifacts,
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- a new exhibition to interpret the Pilgrim
story to contemporary visitors, and
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- full accessibility to the Hall and its
resources for all visitors.
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| Specifically, the CAMPAIGN FOR
PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM will raise funds to meet the following needs: |
- The first substantial renovations since
1904 will preserve the Greek Revival portico while enclosing the
library in a new entry lobby, providing universal access and
adding exhibition and collections storage space.
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- An elevator will facilitate access and
traffic flow on both building levels.
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- Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning
installations in all museum areas will preserve the artifacts on
display and provide an enjoyable environment for visitors.
Humidity modification in collections storage areas will provide
additional environmental safeguards for the most sensitive
artifacts.
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- A new changing exhibition gallery will
allow for exciting temporary exhibitions and significant loans
from other institutions.
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| A new permanent exhibition will
enhance visitor involvement and understanding by incorporating new
interpretive media and exhibit techniques to present both the
history of the Pilgrims and the evolution of their role in American
culture to audiences of the 21st century. |
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These changes are critical.
If PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM does not transform itself, its original
artifacts will fade into decay and its Pilgrim story into
insignificance. This must not happen.
We are committed to revitalizing PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM through a successful
capital campaign with construction beginning in the Spring of
2007. When Plymouth celebrates the landmark 400th anniversary
of the landing in 2020, PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM will be prepared to
present the powerful story of the Pilgrims in a dynamic way as the
spotlight of public interest shines once again on this
quintessential story of America's beginnings. |
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| To learn more about Pilgrim Hall
Museum's plans for the future, click HERE. |
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Your
tax-deductible donation to the Campaign for Pilgrim Hall Museum
can be made online through the Catalogue for Philanthropy
by clicking on the icon below. 
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