The Digital Preservation Outreach & Education Network (DPOE-N) is excited to announce two new opportunities for funding available to cultural heritage professionals and institutions located in the United States and U.S. territories for digital preservation training and hardware support. 

About DPOE-N Funding

DPOE-N offers professional development support for cultural heritage professionals to attend online workshops and face-to-face training (when traveling is appropriate) focused on digital preservation and access. Funding can be used within a network of available professional development providers and can cover more than one workshop.

DPOE-N staff are also available to work with you to develop a professional development program that fits your needs. For more information on professional development support, and to apply, please visit: https://www.dpoe.network/professional-development-support/ 

DPOE-N has also set aside a modest amount of funding for emergency hardware support to small cultural heritage institutions that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are in need of new hardware to ensure the persistence of digital collections with enduring value. For more information about emergency hardware support, please visit: https://www.dpoe.network/emergency-hardware-support/

Interested in applying?
DPOE-N staff is available to help you with the application process and to answer any questions you may have. Please contact us at dpoe-n@pratt.edu.

About DPOE-N

DPOE-N is a network of training resources available to cultural heritage professionals nationwide to enhance their digital preservation knowledge and skills. We are motivated by the pressing need for libraries, archives, and museums to collect, preserve, and provide access to born-digital materials. DPOE-N is hosted by the Pratt Institute School of Information in collaboration with the Moving Image Archiving and Preservation (MIAP) Program at New York University (NYU)’s Tisch School of the Arts, and generously funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

To learn more about DPOE-N, please visit our website at https://www.dpoe.network/ and follow us on Twitter @dpoe_network.

WATERFORD, NY-- The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is now accepting applications for its IMPACT! Grant program. The grants range from $2,500 to $12,000 and will be awarded to municipalities, not-for-profits with a 501(c)(3) designation, and federally-recognized Native American tribes within the boundaries of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Applications are due by Friday, October 23^rd.

“Over the past 12 years, we have awarded 83 grants to communities and non-profit organizations that have spurred $2.35 million in additional investments in heritage preservation, recreation, and education,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “We are eager to provide much-needed funding to help organizations get projects off the ground this year.”

The grant program is competitive, and applications should focus on one or more of five key priorities: showcasing the canal corridor’s distinctive sense of place, protecting canal historic and natural resources, promoting recreational opportunities, creating “must-do” travel experiences, and spurring heritage-based economic growth.

A one-to-one match consisting of non-federal support is required and the awards are distributed on a reimbursement basis at project completion. Applications are due by Friday, October 23^rd. This grant program is made possible with support from the National Park Service and the New York State Canal Corporation.  

“Our state’s canals helped build the New York we have today, and the IMPACT! Grants program supports Governor Cuomo’s ongoing mission to both preserve the system’s rich history and showcase all that it has to offer New Yorkers,” said Brian U. Stratton, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation. “These grants have helped communities and organizations across the state boost economic activity while safeguarding the critical environments and historic sites along our canals, and during this exceptionally difficult time for New York, we are thrilled to once again support these efforts in partnership with the Heritage Corridor and the National Park Service.”

Applicants are strongly advised to contact program staff to discuss proposed projects prior to submitting an application. Please contact: Andy Kitzmann, 518-237-7000 x201, andy_kitzmann@partner.nps.gov. 

Learn more:  www.eriecanalway.org/resources/grants 

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY
Nearly 200 years after its construction, the Erie Canal remains an iconic symbol of American ingenuity and determination. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor works to preserve the Nation’s extraordinary canal heritage, promote the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and foster vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. It achieves its mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York.
www.eriecanalway.org 

William G. Pomeroy Foundation® Now Accepting Canal Marker Grant Applications Online

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The next grant round of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation’s Historic Transportation Canal Marker Grant Program officially opens today, Friday, Sept. 4.

This roadside marker program commemorates the historical significance of transportation canals in the United States. Grants cover the entire cost of a cast aluminum marker, pole and shipping.

Canal marker grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations, nonprofit academic institutions, and local, state and federal government entities within the United States. Often, municipal historians or local historical organizations (or related nonprofits) will apply for a marker on behalf of a property owner.

Those interested in applying for a marker grant should submit an online Letter of Intent to verify primary sources by Friday, Oct. 16. Primary source documentation is necessary to support the text on a marker. The final application deadline is Monday, Nov. 16.

Canal markers must be installed near an existing or former canal site and recognize a historical fact that occurred more than 50 years before the year of the grant application. Currently that year is 1970.

The colors of the markers in this program are light blue with black trim and lettering. Grant applicants have the option of selecting between two canal-themed logos.

To apply for a grant or review application guidelines, visit the Foundation’s historic canals webpage: https://www.wgpfoundation.org/history/historic-canals/

About the Pomeroy Foundation

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation is a private, grant-making foundation established in 2005. The Foundation is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history; and to raising awareness, supporting research and improving the quality of care for patients and their families who are facing a blood cancer diagnosis. To date, the Foundation has awarded over 1,100 roadside markers and plaques nationwide. Visit: https://www.wgpfoundation.org/

Twitter: @wgpfoundation
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WGPFoundation
YouTube: William G. Pomeroy Foundation

#  #  #

CONTACT

Steve Bodnar

Communications Consultant

William G. Pomeroy Foundation

steve@wgpfoundation.org

315-913-4060

Image: David Bunn Martine, "Mandush, Shinnecock Sachem of the 17th century," 2013. Oil on canvas, 22 x 28 in. Collection of New York State Museum, E-2020.08. 

Preservation Long Island is pleased to announce the launch of a new virtual exhibition, Indigenous History & Art at Good Little Water Place, on view at www.preservationlongisland.org beginning September 3, 2020. Artwork from nine contemporary Indigenous artists centers the exhibit. Offering an inquisitive look at the history and on-going relations between Indigenous people and land, the show reminds viewers of a shared responsibility to recognize our common histories and know how they impact our connections to place. 

Organized by Preservation Long Island with guest curators, Jeremy Dennis, artist and a tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton, NY, and Dr. Gwendolyn Saul, Curator of Ethnography, New York State Museum, the exhibition features objects from the collections of Preservation Long Island, the New York State Museum, and the Southold Indian Museum. 

“We are thrilled this important exhibition, that began as a collaborative endeavor with the New York State Museum in the Fall of 2019, could be reimagined in the virtual realm”, said Alexandra Wolfe, Preservation Long Island’s Executive Director. “Thanks to the efforts of the project curators, partner museums, and artists, the provocative insights that Long Island Indigenous art offers about history and environment, and the future of our relations to both is now accessible to a wider audience online”.

Guest curator and artist Jeremy Dennis (Shinnecock) notes, "The exhibit features indigenous presence and expression from 10,000 years ago to the present - and I am proud and excited to be a part of representing this collective." 

"I'm honored to be part of a project that directs attention to the diligent, on-going, and talented work of Indigenous artists and intellectuals of what is now known as Long Island," said curator Dr. Gwendolyn Saul (NYS Museum).

The exhibition will open with a special Curator Conversations virtual event featuring Jeremy Dennis and Dr. Gwendolyn Saul on September 3, 2020 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Advance registration is available via the exhibit’s Eventbrite online event page.

Indigenous History & Art at Good Little Water Place, on view at www.preservationlongisland.org beginning September 3, 2020, is sponsored by an Action Grant from Humanities New York.

About Preservation Long Island

Preservation Long Island is a not-for-profit organization that works with Long Islanders to raise awareness, appreciation, and support for the protection of our shared past through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections.

http://preservationlongisland.org

Preservation Long Island maintains and interprets historic sites and collections that embody various aspects of Long Island’s history including:

 

Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/joseph-lloyd-manor/

Custom House, Sag Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/custom-house/

Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Setauket http://preservationlongisland.org/sherwood-jayne-farm/

Old Methodist Church and Exhibition Gallery http://preservationlongisland.org/methodist-church/

 

 

About the New York State Museum

The New York State Museum is a center of art, science, and history dedicated to exploring the human and natural history of the state. Established in 1836, it is the oldest and largest state museum in the country. From its beginning, the Museum has been home to some of the nation’s leading scientists, including the founders of American paleontology, ethnology, botany and mycology. Its collections rank among the finest in many fields and total more than 16 million scientific specimens and one million cultural objects. The New York State Museum is a program of The University of the State of New York / The State Education Department / Office of Cultural Education. http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/

 

 

About Southold Indian Museum

The Southold Indian Museum is dedicated to study and education surrounding archaeology and natural history. It is owned and operated by the Incorporated Long Island Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association. The museum houses an extensive collection of Native American artifacts, and specializes in Long Island Algonquian material culture. https://www.southoldindianmuseum.org/

 

 

About Humanities New York

Humanities New York (HNY) is a nonprofit organization and the sole state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more than 40 years, Humanities New York has worked with community groups throughout the state, using the content and tools of the humanities to address issues of civic engagement and trust. HNY Action Grants offer funding to implement humanities projects that encourage public audiences to reflect on their values, explore new ideas, and engage with others in their community. https://humanitiesny.org/

 

 

Contact:

 

Andrea Hart, Public Affairs Director, Preservation Long Island ahart@preservationlongisland.org; 631.692.4664x108

 

Lauren Brincat, Curator, Preservation Long Island

lbrincat@preservationlongisland.org: 631.692.4664x102

This article originally appeared in the August 2020 newsletter as a guest article by James Sauter, Partner and Co-Founder, Rove Marketing, Inc.

We have preliminary insights from Rove Marketing’s COVID Response Satisfaction Program to share.

Whether you are already open or are planning your reopening, listening to visitors feedback and remaining flexible in adapting measures is the key to winning consumer confidence.

What is the most important COVID safety protocol? What did first time visitors think of their experience? Understanding visitor expectations and perceptions is more important now than ever. Continual visitor feedback not only generates valuable insights but also demonstrates that you care and want to create a safe experience for your visitors. 

Rove Marketing, in collaboration with MANY and NYSTIA, launched a low-cost survey solution designed to help museums monitor visitor feedback on safety and satisfaction of their experience.  Data is collected at the state level so museums can benchmark their performance against state averages. Members are encouraged to participate in the program, and it is not too late to register.  

As restrictions are lifted and tourism re-opens, museums will need to win consumers’ confidence by balancing new COVID safety measures while delivering a great experience. Their ability to meet expectations will be key to accelerating the recovery.

Here are the top 5 insights from the data collected this far:

1. Visitors list hand sanitizer pumps and physical distancing as the biggest areas to improve on.

When asked what COVID measures museums can improve on, the top two answers were to add more hand sanitizer pumps and have better physical distancing protocols.

2. First time visitors are more difficult to satisfy

When looking at key measures such as a visitor’s intention to recommend (their Net Promoter Score), meeting expectations on safety, and value for money, first time museum visitors are scoring New York State museums lower compared to repeat visitors.

 

*Refer to the footnote following this article to learn more about the Net Promoter Score.

3. Younger consumers are more challenging to please

Consumers aged 35 and younger are less likely to recommend, have higher expectations on safety measures, and see lower value for their money compared to consumers aged 35 and older.

4. Consumers say the staff is great but ask for better signage and more value for their money

Across the state, museum staff are getting top grades for hospitality. But visitors generally find there is room to improve on signage and value for money.  Value for money is the number 1 driver of a strong Net Promoter Score – intent to recommend.

5. Consumer expectations are getting higher with time

The statewide museum Net Promotor Score is an impressive 82. However, since late July this number has dropped to 79 – suggesting that as we acclimatize to the new COVID reality, consumers expectations are increasing over time putting more pressure on museums to do more.

Many of the leading museums across the state, large and small, have registered to participate in the program.  Museums such as the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Strong, the Wild Center, Intrepid, Fort William Henry Museum, Waterville Historical Society, and the Long Island Children’s Museum to name a few are benefiting from real time visitor data to improve their experience. 

“The information we've collected with the help of Rove Marketing has been invaluable over the past 5 months.  In a time of uncertainty, the survey result data has helped The Wild Center make informed decisions on the fly.  It has helped us make strategic marketing decisions and change on-site operations to provide a more satisfying experience for our guests.”

-The Wild Center

It is easy to register.  Simply complete the online registration form here to start collecting data on your museum.

Or for more information, please contact james.sauter@rovemarketing.ca.

• Net Promoter Score:

The Net Promoter Score aims to measure the loyalty between a customer and company.  It is based on the simple question: How likely is it that you would recommend our company to a friend or colleague?

The Net Promoter Score is calculated as the difference between the percentage of Promoters and Detractors. The NPS is not expressed as a percentage but as an absolute number lying between -100 and +100. For instance, if you have 25% Promoters, 55% Passives and 20% Detractors, the NPS will be +5.

NEW YORK CITY, NY (August 3rd, 2020) – Humanities New York (HNY) today announces Amended, a new podcast commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment by deepening our understanding of this historic event.

Most Americans learn one, specific version of the history of woman suffrage: that a few bold, white women led a movement for equal voting rights and achieved victory 100 years ago, when the United States ratified the 19th Amendment. That, we’re told, enabled all American women to vote. But history is never as simple as the stories we tell about it. After that historic milestone, more women could cast a ballot than ever before, and yet the fight for women’s equal voting rights was, and still is, far from over.

Amended travels from the 1800’s through to the present day to show us a quest for women’s full equality that has always been as diverse, complex and unfinished as the nation itself.

The host of Amended is Laura Free, a historian of women and politics. She is joined by other groundbreaking scholars whose work broadens our understanding of the struggle for equal voting rights. Guests Include Sharia Benn, Bettye Collier-Thomas, Martha Jones, Lisa Tetrault, and Judith Wellman. Through vivid storytelling, they highlight some important but under-recognized women who fought injustice based on race, citizenship status, and class, in addition to advocating for the rights of their sex. Together, they’ll talk about what’s been gained, lost, and still left to be done.

"As a white historian, part of my scholarly work has been to call out and interrogate the racism of some of the icons of the suffrage movement,” said Free, the podcast’s host. “But that work is only a small part of a broader project that so many historians are engaged in right now to recognize and lift up the voices that typical suffrage histories have marginalized or neglected in the past. I’m so glad to get the chance to be a part of a project like Amended that is doing this work. I’m also so excited to share stories about these amazing activists with our listeners."

"We felt a huge responsibility to convey some of the complexity that is so often left out when we hear stories of women from history, so every writing and editing decision was painstaking,” said Producer Reva Goldberg. “To achieve our goals we had to create something new and different. Luckily we had some incredible shows to look to for inspiration, like Uncivil , Scene on Radio, Civics 101, 1619 and more."

Listen to the Trailer. Now available on iTunes, Spotify, Sticher, iHeartRadio , Pocket Casts and other major platforms.

Learn more about the host, guests and project at amendedpodcast.com

Review episodes are available now upon request.

About Humanities New York:

The mission of Humanities New York is to strengthen civil society and the bonds of community, using the humanities to foster engaged inquiry and dialogue around social and cultural concerns. Established in 1975 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities New York is a private 501(c)3 that may receive Federal, State, regional, and private funding.

Visit Humanities New York online:

https://humanitiesny.org

https://instagram.com/humanitiesny

https://twitter.com/humanitiesny

Learn more here: https://www.sitesofconscience.org/en/2020/08/complimentary-virtual-consultations/

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will reopen to the public on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 9 a.m. The Museum has been closed since January for the installation of a new state-of-the-art Hall of Fame experience as well as multiple new and updated exhibitions. The Museum has put in place a number of enhanced safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is a Saratoga Cares Stay Safe Pledge institution with a commitment to the health of Saratoga County residents, workers, and visitors.

The Museum will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame, will initially be shown at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. daily. Per New York State health policies, the Museum will open with a maximum of 24 visitors admitted every two hours. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online at www.racingmuseum.org beginning Aug. 31. Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the Museum and the floor has been marked to create an easy-to-follow route through the building, with added markers reminding guests to practice social distancing. Face coverings are mandatory for all guests. Museum members have special access to make reservations before the general public beginning today through Aug. 28. Members wishing to do so are invited to call (518) 584-0400 ext. 109.

“We’re very excited to be open to the public and have the opportunity to share with everyone all the incredible projects that we’ve been working on,” said John Hendrickson, the Museum’s president. “We set out with an ambitious goal of being the best and most interactive hall of fame in the country. I believe we have accomplished that goal. Our great sport deserves a showcase venue that everyone can be proud of. This is a game-changer for the Museum and it is everything we hoped it would be when we began the process to reimagine and enliven our institution. The Museum is now an essential destination that can’t be missed.”

What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame is a 16-minute film that brings viewers on an amazing journey through the various aspects of thoroughbred racing and examines the rare honor — given to less than one percent of the sport’s participants — of reaching the game’s pinnacle and earning a coveted spot in the Hall of Fame. The immersive theatrical experience conveys the exhilaration of the sport of thoroughbred racing in America, the passion behind the heritage of the game, and the thrill of exploring the stories of  “what it takes” to be among the greatest of the greats in the Hall of Fame.

Filmed and produced by Donna Lawrence Productions of Louisville, Ky., and narrated by famed broadcaster Bob Costas, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame, features original footage shot in 8K resolution from various racetracks and thoroughbred farms throughout the country. Numerous Hall of Fame inductees are highlighted in revealing interviews about their experience in the sport and what it took for them to earn racing’s highest honor. Hall of Famers featured include Bob Baffert, Javier Castellano, Angel Cordero, Jr., Pat Day, D. Wayne Lukas, Richard Mandella, Chris McCarron, Shug McGaughey, Bill Mott, Carl Nafzger, Mike Smith, Gary Stevens, and John Velazquez, among others.

Following the film, guests are invited to learn about the careers of the Hall of Fame inductees on the theater’s nine interactive stations. Each of the 459 Hall of Fame inductees are represented through an in-depth digital plaque, media gallery, and achievements page. More than 100 videos and 2,100 photographs are included in the interactive Hall of Fame exhibit with more media content to be added and updated regularly. Each visitor will be provided a stylus with admission to use on all the touchscreen interactive exhibits throughout the Museum.

Along with the new signature film and interactive Hall of Fame experience, the Museum has made several other exciting new additions and updates. Some of those include:

Race Day Gallery

The Museum’s new Race Day Gallery provides both a gateway to build excitement for the Hall of Fame experience and a transition for visitors following the show. Three areas of the racetrack experience are featured — The Paddock, The Track, and The Winner’s Circle — introducing visitors to the essential elements of a day at the races.

The Paddock section explores the relationship between racehorses and their human connections prior to a race. Artifact cases showcase the equipment used during races, while large graphics and a slideshow of images from the Museum Collection illustrate the beauty of various paddocks at American racetracks. The Track section is where America’s most famous racing venues are highlighted, noting their historical significance through the use of imagery, graphics, and artifacts that showcase the unique characteristics of each course. A cross-section of racing surfaces is also on display in The Track to educate visitors on the unique composition of America’s racetracks. The Winner’s Circle area allows visitors the opportunity to bask in the joy and glory of being a champion while viewing memorable winner’s circle photographs and an historic trophy from the collection. The Winner’s Circle also provides a memorable photo opportunity with a sculptural horse and rider.

The Race Day Gallery also features a mural by artist Greg Montgomery and a lush soundscape that adds detail and ambiance to the experience through the use of traditional sound elements found at the track, including famous race calls.

Call the Race

Museum guests will have the opportunity to call some of the sport’s most famous events just like a professional track announcer in a new interactive exhibit located in the Race Day Gallery. Featuring an introduction by legendary racecaller Tom Durkin, Call the Race provides guests an opportunity to study the race’s video before making the call. Each race is digitally recorded and can be downloaded to keep and relive the experience and share with others.

The Jockey Club Gallery

Since 1894, The Jockey Club’s primary responsibility has been the maintenance of “The American Stud Book,” ensuring the integrity of the thoroughbred breed in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The new Jockey Club Gallery transforms the Museum’s previous changing special exhibition space (Contemporary Racing Gallery) into a new exhibition devoted to The Jockey Club and its contributions to racing in America. As part of the Hall of Fame Education Experience, The Jockey Club Gallery will feature artifacts and archival materials from The Jockey Club’s collection on loan to the Museum and two interactive touchscreen stations filled with multimedia content on the history of the organization, the services it provides the racing industry, selected race footage and statistics, and the digitized certificates of registration and foal photographs (submitted in the registration process) of some of the sport’s greatest thoroughbreds.

The Paintings of Martin Stainforth

British-born Martin Stainforth (1866  ̶ 1957) began his career as a wood engraver but turned to illustration before moving to Australia in the early 1900s. He took an interest in the thoroughbred racing scene in 1911 while living in Sydney and became known as the preeminent equine artist in Australia, receiving portrait commissions from owners and racing associations.

Known for his realism and ability to capture the personality of his subjects, Stainforth moved to the United States in the mid-1920s and continued to paint the likenesses of some of the top racehorses of that era, including the Hall of Fame members featured in this Museum collection spotlight exhibition in the Link Gallery.

Photo Finish: Juried Photography Exhibition

Amateur and professional photographers from across North America submitted 183 photographs for consideration in our call for submissions, with the only requirement being that their images must reflect the sport of thoroughbred racing in America. This second annual Photo Finish exhibition in the Museum’s von Stade Gallery features 45 photographs by 34 photographers from 13 states and one Canadian province. An additional 26 photographs will be featured in the online exhibition, bringing the total representation of this second annual exhibition to 71 photographers from 19 states and one Canadian province.

Edward P. Evans Gallery current exhibitions

The Edward P. Evans Gallery showcases treasures from the Museum’s permanent collection and honors the legacy of Mr. Evans and his passion for the sport of thoroughbred racing with a series of thematic trophic exhibits. Current featured exhibits include:

 

·       Selections from the Edward P. Evans Trophy Collection

·       The Triple Crown

·       Selections from the James E. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons Collection: trophies from the Hall of Fame trainer’s career, including the trophy won by Nashua in his 1955 match race against Swaps at Washington Park

·       The Legacy of Man o’ War: trophies won by descendants of Hall of Fame legend Man o’ War, including the 1937 Triple Crown trophy won by his son War Admiral

·       The Grand National: examples of trophies from the American and British editions of this major steeplechase event

·       Tiffany & Co. in the National Museum of Racing Collection

·       A Salute to Hollywood Park

·       *NEW for 2020* Seventy Years Ago: highlighting the racing achievements of 1950 and showcasing trophies won by Hall of Fame Pillar of the Turf George D. Widener, Jr. (including the 1950 Travers Stakes trophy won by Lights Up) and the 1950 San Juan Capistrano Handicap trophy won by Hall of Fame horse Noor, among others.

McBean Gallery current exhibitions

Located off of the Museum Lobby, the McBean Gallery is the Museum’s main special exhibitions gallery and hosts three distinct exhibitions. Current featured exhibits include:

·       Women in Racing: featuring an interactive exhibit, a timeline of firsts, artifacts, photographs, and artwork from the Museum Collection and on loan, this special exhibition honors the women involved in every aspect of thoroughbred racing in America, including the seven who are inducted into the Hall of Fame.

·       Hall of Fame Heroes: this semi-permanent exhibition celebrates the horses, trainers, jockeys, and Pillars of the Turf who made the sport of thoroughbred racing what it is today, with art, memorabilia, and multimedia on display. Hall of Fame Heroes also features trophies from the John Nerud collection.

·       Paintings from the Charles H. Thieriot Collection: this permanent exhibition features paintings by masters of British sporting art, including two monumental works by John E. Ferneley, Sr.

New Gift Shop

The Museum’s Gift Shop has been completely redesigned and features an extensive selection of racing-themed products, including clothing, books, photography, artwork, items related to Hall of Fame members, and much more. Museum members always receive 15 percent off their purchases.  

For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, please visit www.racingmuseum.org or call (518) 584-0400.

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• Jamestown, NY – August 19, 2020 – The Roger Tory Peterson Institute announces a weekend celebration of Peterson’s 112^th birthday.

  RTPI is launching a new tradition – a full weekend of fun to celebrate the birthday of Roger Tory Peterson. Native Son. Father of the Modern Field Guide. Artist, bird lover and international ambassador for nature – all rolled into one.

  Officially, Roger’s birthday is Friday, August 28. RTPI’s party will kick off on Saturday morning, August 29 at 9 am, with Yoga with the Birds. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert at the crane pose, yoga led by Kara Bemis outdoors on RTPI’s back patio is the perfect way to start any weekend.

  Speaking of birds, at 10 am, Twan Leenders – RTPI’s Director of Science and Conservation – will host a bird banding demonstration in RTPI’s nature preserve. If you’ve never seen a live warbler or flicker up close, now’s your chance to be amazed and inspired.

  At 11 am, the outdoor party really gets rocking with live music on the back patio and great food outside our front door. What better singer-songwriter could RTPI choose than Rebecca McIlvain, whose debut album is entitled, “Cardinal Call.” What better way to spice up the day than with the Cajun cooking of Kev’s Kitchen food truck. And what better way to cool your tongue than with a taste of the grape from Bag & String or a cool brew from Big Inlet.

  Of course, it’s not a birthday party without cake – or, at least cupcakes, baked special for RTPI by Ecklof’s. RTPI will have enough single serving cupcakes on hand to mark Roger’s 112^th birthday.

  For those who haven’t yet seen RTPI’s newest exhibition – Stefan Savides: Birds in Bronze – they’re in for a real treat. More than 30 exquisite bird sculptures grace the galleries alongside a curated selection of Roger’s original paintings. Special guided tours at 11am and 2pm.

  Also on display in the library – for one weekend only – will be hidden treasures from the Peterson Collection. RTPI harbors the largest collection of Roger’s artwork, films, slides and related materials. “There are so many intriguing items in the Peterson Collection,” says Jane Johnson, RTPI’s Director of Museum Operations. “I can’t wait to share some of my favorites – seldom if ever on display any other time of the year.”

  RTPI’s birthday gift to the community will be to offer a $2 discount on museum admission and a 20% discount on Peterson Guides purchased from our Snowy Owl Museum Store. The cupcakes, music, and wine and beer tasting are free to all museum visitors. Food may be purchased directly from vendor.

  In addition to the food and fun, everyone’s health and safety will be – as always – our number one concern. Guided by the CDC and other agencies, our plan calls for:

• 1.     Most activities to be held outdoors to ensure plenty of room for social distancing,
• 2.     Limiting the number of visitors for indoor programs to one-third our capacity, and
• 3.     Requiring all indoor visitors to wear masks “right” and maintain "an eagle wingspan" apart.

*          *          *

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History was founded in Peterson’s hometown of Jamestown, New York to preserve his lifetime body of work. Peterson, the only artist-naturalist to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is best known for his field guides. The first – A Field Guide to the Birds – published in 1934, sparked a worldwide movement to connect people with nature as never before. Peterson authored and illustrated dozens of guides – for birds, plants, insects and other natural flora and fauna – selling millions of copies and becoming an international ambassador for protecting our natural resources.

Today, the Peterson Collection anchors a robust exhibition schedule that also features the artwork or some of the world’s most revered nature artists. The collection is available to artists, researchers and scholars, and is used to anchor an array of education and research programs – all geared toward inspiring appreciation and protection of our natural world.

NORWICH, N.Y. – The Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) recently honored the individuals and organizations who supported school field trips during the 2019-2020 academic year.

Thanks to a grant from the Chenango County Youth Philanthropy Council, second graders from all Chenango County public school districts had the opportunity to be immersed in programs designed to enhance school curricula with hands-on activities. Interactive sessions featured pre-history, Native American culture, pioneer living and westward expansion, Victorian influences, the discovery of electricity and its impact, a lesson in the Ross Schoolhouse, the role of the Chenango Canal, and the influence of local agriculture including a tour of the Loomis Barn exhibits.

To celebrate a successful season, each member of the Field Trip Experience team was recently presented with a commemorative CCHS sun catcher crafted by the oldest glassworks in America, Pairpoint. Every piece was individually crafted in the glasswork’s Cape Code facility. Examples of Pairpoint Glasswork’s timeless designs can be found in museums across the country, including the decorative arts collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Members of the Field Trip Experience team include: Gail Merian (team leader), Lane Anderson, Joyce Bliss, Diane Bootie, Laura Carey (posthumous honors), Dave Moyer, Pat O’Donnell, Betty Sherrod, Rebekah Thompson, Jeanne Urie and Judie Wright. The team was supported significantly by the American Legion Auxiliary (Norwich Post 189 - Lt. Warren E. Eaton, DSC), Birchwood Archeology, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (James Madison Chapter).

The Field Trip Experience team is currently developing virtual offerings for the 2020-2021 academic year, and the group is continuously recruiting volunteers. Visit www.chenangohistorical.org/get-involved for additional details.

The primary organization dedicated to actively and comprehensively preserving the history of Chenango County, CCHS celebrates local culture – unique traditions, noteworthy residents, and unusual stories. First established in 1939, CCHS received an absolute charter in 1956. Ward School No. 2 was acquired in 1958 with renovations beginning immediately. Since reopening as a museum in 1962, Ward School No. 2 has been the home of the CCHS for more than five decades.

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Caption: The Field Trip Experience team and representatives of the American Legion Auxiliary (Norwich Post 189 - Lt. Warren E. Eaton, DSC) were recently recognized by the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) for supporting school field trips during the 2019-2020 academic year.

About CCHS: The mission of the Chenango County Historical Society and Museum is to lead and support the advancement of research, education, and enjoyment of Chenango County history.