George Read II House Museum, Environmental Conditions Improvements for Sustainable Collections Preservation

FAIN: PF-249698-17

Historical Society of Delaware (Wilmington, DE 19801-3091)
Michele Anstine (Project Director: December 2015 to June 2018)
David W. Young (Project Director: June 2018 to March 2025)

The installation of new energy-efficient HVAC, fire detection, and water drainage systems to help protect the collections of furniture, paintings, decorative items, and archaeological materials contained in the George Read II House, a historic landmark and museum.

This project addresses the implementation of environmental improvements for the Delaware Historical Society’s collections of the nationally significant George Read II House Museum, situated in the Old New Castle (DE) National Historic Landmark District. The on-site Read House collections provide opportunities for wide-ranging humanities-based research and scholarship, interpretive programs for all ages, and undergraduate and graduate training. The application requests support for carefully planned improvements at the George Read II House Museum to improve preventive conservation measures, to improve the environmental conditions for collections, and to improve safety and security of collections with both non-mechanical measures and energy-efficient mechanical systems upgrades. Preventive measures that anticipate changing climate and storm intensities will reduce the threat of future episodic moisture intrusion.