Enriching Museum Interpretation for the Public in Arthurdale

FAIN: TA-296572-24

New Deal Homestead Museum (Arthurdale, WV 26520-1113)
Elizabeth Satterfield (Project Director: June 2023 to January 2024)
Katharine Donnelly (Project Director: January 2024 to present)

Creation of a new interpretative plan for a museum about the history of the nation’s first New Deal community.

Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. (AHI) aims to assess and evaluate our formal museum and enrich its interpretation for the public. This grant will enable AHI staff to hire an outside consultant who will provide professional guidance and recommendations to modernize and update exhibitions in our New Deal museum to be more engaging, interactive, inclusive, and accessible. This project will assess current interpretation and offer strategies to transform the outdated museum at Arthurdale Heritage into a modern, thought-provoking, and engaging space. Drawing upon rich primary sources of the 1930s and 1940s related to Arthurdale’s distinct history as the nation’s first New Deal community, this project will lay the groundwork for full implementation and renovation of the museum’s exhibitions. By diversifying and modernizing our interpretation as well as rethinking layout and accessibility, the museum will enhance learning opportunities and better serve the public of all ages and abilities.