The Springfield History Museum houses over 11,000 artifacts related to the history of Springfield and rural east Lane County, and makes those objects available to the public for research, programs, exhibits, and more. Museum staff are responsible for the long-term care of these items (ranging from photographs and handwritten letters to farm tools and textiles) so that we can continue to learn from them long into the future.
Caring for this huge collection of important items takes space, dedication, and most importantly-attention and time. For these reasons, the Springfield History Museum will be closing its door to the public from January 1 through July 11, 2024 while staff and volunteers work to process and conserve as many artifacts as possible. During this time, our 2023-2024 Illumination exhibit, focused on the Black and African American experience in Springfield and rural east Lane County, will be on display in our front windows facing 6th and Main Street. The Museum will reopen for the July 12, 2024 Downtown Second Friday Art Walk with a new exhibit focused on the outcomes of the collections care project.
Curator Maddi McGraw says that while the Museum will be closed to the public during this period, “focusing our work on caring for these precious artifacts is truly in the public’s interest. If we lose these objects through neglect, we lose the story of our community.”
Stay up to date with our progress, learn more about caring for museum artifacts, and find ways to access exhibits and more through our Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldMuseum and our Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/springfieldmuseum_oregon/. If you are interested in learning more or volunteering to help with the project, contact Maddi McGraw at 541.726.3677 or mmcgraw@springfield-or.gov.
What: Springfield History Museum Collections Care Closure
When: January 1-July 11, 2024.
Where: Springfield History Museum, 590 Main Street, Springfield, OR
Additional Information: Maddi McGraw, 541.726.3677 or mmcgraw@springield-or.gov
Instagram: @springfieldmuseum_oregon Facebook: @SpringfieldMuseum Website: https://wheremindsgrow.org/your_library/museum