Beneath Dignity

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 12:47 am

Strasburg Rail Road facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/StrasburgRailRoad?fref=ts

across the road is Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with its own facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/rrmuseumpa

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:55 am

Randolph R. Ruiz wrote:

I was more closely involved with Orange Empire when they adopted the new Thomas-y logo, and I have to admit, I was not happy with it for two reasons. The first, is that from a design perspective, it is a hot mess. It is just a riot of color, shape, and to my eyes, clumsily stylized rail equipment. The second, and probably more important reason, is that I felt it created a set of expectations that the museum was unable to meet. Given how much it evokes Thomas™, the logo suggests the museum is more equipped to serve children than it is.

This is the logo that too much invokes Thomas?
http://www.oerm.org/sites/all/themes/oerm/logo.png

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 6:22 pm

Chris Webster wrote:

historian1960 wrote:

When I was growing up there wasn't any Thomas or Chuggington and somehow I've spent my life studying railroading and working in rail transit.

I don't know how old of a grumpy old man you are, but there were train stories for children back when you were a rugrat!

Perhaps you grew up reading Mariam Potter's The Little Red Caboose, a Little Golden Book, that was first published in 1953? My copy is from its seventeenth printing, dated 1973.

Or perhaps you read Virginia Lee Burton's Choo Choo, The Story of a Little Engine Who Ran Away, first published in 1937? My copy is from its 9th printing, dated December 1974.

The one that comes immediately to mind for me is "The Caboose Who Got Loose".

I should also point out that the public interest that can be generated by such a book or event can pay off in ways that we cannot image. Back in the 1940s, Hildegard Swift wrote a children's book about the Jeffrey's Hook lighthouse and the George Washington Bridge. The book was titled "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge". It was a best seller. In later years, the United States Coast Guard determined that the Jeffrey's Hook light was no longer necessary for navigation and proposed to demolish the lighthouse. Once that information was public knowledge, the Coast Guard quickly found itself inundated with letters from the public requesting that the lighthouse be saved. The story that the "Little Red Lighthouse" was facing possible demolition generated the public action that saved it. The possibility of negative publicity led the Coast Guard to donate the lighthouse to the New York City Parks Department.

historian1960 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:15 pm

It was announced today that, because of a dramatic drop-off of general admissions (a result of unrest in Baltimore early this year) but an increase in themed events like Chuggington, etc., the B&O Museum fired its small collections curator in order to focus that money more on events like Chuggington, etc. (A very brief and simplified synopsis).
At what point does a museum stop being a museum and becomes an amusement park? And for what purpose? To maintain the salaries of executive staff? What's it all for?
I know museum's have to bring people in to survive, but I'll ask the same question: what is a museum for? If it doesn't preserve, document and exhibit its collection for the purpose of research and education, then what is it? What had it morphed into? A fancy venue for expensive weddings?
And maybe if it can't survive on its own, being true to its purpose, then maybe it should fold, like many a railroad or other business did. I would venture a guess that many museums would salivate to get some or all of the B&O's collection.

Dave · **Posted:** Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:56 pm

B&O Museum is still doing all those nice warm and fuzzy things that make academics feel good, but are prioritizing their outreach efforts into bringing in more people to take advantage of them. That requires a bit more obviousness today thinks to the information clutter and ever diminishing attention span and multiplicity of other things people can find to patronize. If you don't get them in the door, there's no reason to preserve those artifacts or develop interpretive programming. If all we do is to please ourselves, we might as well close the door right now.

historian1960 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 24, 2015 7:24 pm

Quote:

If all we do is to please ourselves, we might as well close the door right now.

I'm not sure wanting a museum be a museum and not a playground or event venue is wanting to please myself. And concentrating on getting people in the door, you don't concentrate on presenting stories.

Again I ask the question, what is a museum for? At what point does trying to survive become a farce?

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Fri Sep 25, 2015 1:56 pm

historian1960 wrote:

It was announced today that, because of a dramatic drop-off of general admissions (a result of unrest in Baltimore early this year) but an increase in themed events like Chuggington, etc., the B&O Museum fired its small collections curator in order to focus that money more on events like Chuggington, etc. (A very brief and simplified synopsis).
At what point does a museum stop being a museum and becomes an amusement park? And for what purpose? To maintain the salaries of executive staff? What's it all for?
I know museum's have to bring people in to survive, but I'll ask the same question: what is a museum for? If it doesn't preserve, document and exhibit its collection for the purpose of research and education, then what is it? What had it morphed into? A fancy venue for expensive weddings?
And maybe if it can't survive on its own, being true to its purpose, then maybe it should fold, like many a railroad or other business did. I would venture a guess that many museums would salivate to get some or all of the B&O's collection.

Steve DeGaetano · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:06 pm **Posts:** 174

historian1960 wrote:

what is a museum for?... What had it morphed into? A fancy venue for expensive weddings?

Why does it have to be either/or?

David Dewey · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2015 3:10 am

It is symptomatic of society today. Three years ago the City of Oroville, with 5 museums, eliminated the full-time Curator Position (me!). The only paid museum personnel left is the part-time Chinese Temple guide. Volunteers now do everything & their numbers are dwindling. When the new City Administrator came to town he told me "This is a small town with Big City Museums, and we cant afford them. " So I suspect this is all part of a plan he put into action (He's gone now) and the current administrator is his clone, so. . . . No volunteers, no museums.

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:19 am

The small collections curator was laid off.

How many other curators are employed?

How much of the budget goes to collections conservation, restoration, and storage?

If the change in focus keeps the cash flowing to the other preservation activities, it is a smart business move.

historian1960 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2015 2:52 pm

Steve DeGaetano wrote:

historian1960 wrote:

what is a museum for?... What had it morphed into? A fancy venue for expensive weddings?

Why does it have to be either/or?

It doesn't. I believe there should be and has to be a balance. If all you are focused on is getting people to pay the admission and maybe buy whatever trinkets are featured that week, then you don't have a museum anymore.

historian1960 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2015 3:00 pm

softwerkslex wrote:

How much of the budget goes to collections conservation, restoration, and storage?

Who knows? Their annual reports of late have just given a summary and not a budget.

I can say that in the past not much of the budget went to "museum" activities; much of it went to salaries.

CO 2666 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2015 3:08 pm

This isn't entirely relevant to the thread, but I just wanted to point out that the B&O railroad museum is still being productive and turning out some good quality restorations of their collection. This could only have been completed with the help of dedicated volunteers, and a strong leadership core.

Back to the topic, I am not too shocked that the museum has been experiencing a general decline in admissions, especially considering some recent events that have taken place in Baltimore (Freddie Gray). On the other hand, I am quite surprised that the museum has deemed this enough to warrant the firing of one of their more important employees. Hopefully the B&O museum's "October Steam Month" and "The War Came by Train" events help the museum to regain some lost ground.

/Andrew

Quote:

I am pleased to announce that the final steam locomotive damaged in the famous B&O roundhouse roof collapse, B&O #600 "J.C. Davis" has been beautifully restored by the B&O Railroad Museum restoration team. The locomotive was just unveiled a few days ago on September, 4. I have attached some before and after photos for comparison below.

/Andrew

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/bomuseum/bo600.jpg

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=414107

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainmann ... otostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainmann1/21033888120/

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sun Sep 27, 2015 11:12 am

You get to decide whether this--from a press release that hit my inbox while I was in Arizona--is germane to the discussion at hand:

Quote:

The B&O Railroad Museum Announces Service to
the North Pole Onboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

BALTIMORE – The B&O Railroad Museum will begin service to the North Pole onboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride starting November 27, 2015. The magical story comes to life during a one-hour experience at the B&O in Baltimore that includes a 25-minute train ride to the North Pole.

Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™. Once onboard, hot chocolate and treats are served as passengers read along with the classic children’s book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. Santa and his helpers personally meet families at the North Pole in B&O’s historic Roundhouse, where each child is given the first gift of Christmas – a silver sleigh bell.

The journey begins Friday, November 27 and runs through Sunday, November 29. Exact fares and times are available by calling 410-752-2490, or by visiting www.borail.org. Ticket prices for children (ages 2-12) range from $28 - $48 and for adults from $38 - $58, depending on the class of service. Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the experience!

[More verbiage snipped..............]