Pilgrim Hall Future4

PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM: A GLORIOUS FUTURE, continued

The Lower Hall is devoted to an accurate presentation of the 17^th century experience of the Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony. The visitor’s “voyage” into the past begins (as did the Pilgrims’) on a ship. Coming into the Lower Hall, the visitor enters into the hold of a 17^th century sailing ship, the Mayflower, and begins to look at the actual events and lives of the Pilgrims. A primary focus in this area is the Pilgrims’ religious motivation with artifacts such as the Bradford and Alden Bibles on display.

Our visitors will leave the 20^th century behind as they enter into the “hold of the Mayflower” and are introduced to the Pilgrims and their reasons for sailing to America. Plans drawn by Christopher Chadbourne & Associates.

Leaving the Mayflower behind, the visitor enters a space creating the feel of the Common House, the colonists’ first permanent structure, to see a short media presentation about the Pilgrims. A "Native American corridor" introduces the Wampanoag, the first inhabitants of the Plymouth area. The next area focuses on the “Early Years,” with household items and personal effects on display, presenting the challenges faced by the Pilgrims and their relationship with the native Wampanoag and with other Europeans colonists, as well as their difficulties in meeting the demands of their financial backers. The final exhibit area, the “Later Years,” will tell how Plymouth grew from a frontier settlement to the capital of a prosperous colony; the more sophisticated artifacts on display reflecting the colonists’ ability to devote money and time to craftsmanship.

The reinstallation of the permanent exhibition, along with its companion changes - climate improvements, universal access and additional space - has transformed Pilgrim Hall Museum into an institution that will thrive and prosper in the 21^st century, preserving our Pilgrim heritage for future generations.

In order to bring about this transformation, the Pilgrim Society embarked on The Campaign for Pilgrim Hall Museum.

The Campaign for Pilgrim Hall Museum has raised funds for these critical changes:

·        The first substantial renovations to Pilgrim Hall since 1904, preserving the Greek Revival portico while enclosing the library in a new entry lobby, providing access and adding exhibition and collections storage space.

·        An elevator that will facilitate access and traffic flow on both building levels.

·        Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning installations in all museum areas that will preserve the artifacts on display and provide an enjoyable environment for visitors; humidity modification in collections storage areas that will provide additional environmental safeguards for the most sensitive artifacts.

·        A new gallery for changing exhibitions that will allow for exciting temporary exhibitions and significant loans from other institutions.

·        A new permanent exhibition that 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 21^st century.

The transformation of Pilgrim Hall Museum comes with a price tag, of course – a price tag that is considered modest by many in the world of philanthropy, but is significant for an organization that has never before, in its 186-year history, gone outside its own Board of Trustees The number is $3.7 million. A challenge, indeed, but one that we absolutely must face. Pilgrim Hall Museum must grow – to better serve its visitors, to better preserve its priceless artifacts, to better tell the compelling and dramatic Pilgrim story to new generations.

The Campaign for Pilgrim Hall raised over $4 million from our Trustees, supporters, key businesses, and foundations. Some of our gifts are in the form of checks or stock transfers, other gifts come in the form of pledges made over three, four or even five years.

All of these gifts were made by people who believe that preserving history is important, people who understand the importance of museums – such as Pilgrim Hall Museum – in integrating history in American’s lives, people who share our commitment to preserving the Pilgrim story.

Pilgrim Hall Museum has a unique role in the Plymouth historical landscape. We are the only museum with actual artifacts that belonged to the Pilgrims. Those priceless artifacts bring the Mayflower voyagers to life. I believe this is important.

History is a powerful tool for understanding who we are and who we can be. And I think we can all agree that there is no more compelling or important story in American history than that of the Pilgrims. But, in order to make that story interesting, in order to make that story REAL for each new generation of Americans, we need Pilgrim Hall Museum to remain healthy, to thrive and to grow to meet the needs of coming generations.

For nearly 200 years, Pilgrim Hall Museum has perpetuated the memory of America's ancestors through outstanding exhibits and remarkable public programs. We now look to our friends and “family” to help us keep Pilgrim Hall Museum strong and vibrant so that our rich collection of rare and irreplaceable artifacts, our shared Pilgrim heritage, will be around for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to enjoy. The Campaign for Pilgrim Hall Museum has had a dramatic impact on the Museum as a whole. It is now our joyous responsibility to live up to the potential that we have created.

For more information about the Pilgrim Society or Pilgrim Hall Museum, please contact Director Peggy Baker at (508) 746-1620 Extension 2 or by e-mail at pegbaker.pilgrimhall.org

Interested in learning more about the long and illustrious history of Pilgrim Hall Museum? Click HERE.