London Town Foundation Inc

SECRET CULTURE, PUBLIC LIVES: SLAVERY IN THE COLONIAL CHESAPEAKE

21ST CENTURY MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM

REINTERPRETING THE C.1760 WILLIAM BROWN HOUSE [THE WILLIAM BROWN HOUSE RE-INTERPRETATION PROJECT WILL ADVANCE THE INTERPRETATION OF THE C.1760 NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK FROM AN OUTDATED MODEL FOCUSED SOLELY ON THE COLONIAL PERIOD AND ITS EPONYMOUS ARCHITECT TO ONE TELLING A MORE COMPLETE STORY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED, WORKED, AND TRAVELED THROUGH THE BUILDING. THE GRANT WILL SUSTAIN 3 STAFF POSITIONS: THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS, PUBLIC HISTORY SPECIALIST, AND THE VISITOR SERVICES COORDINATOR/COLLECTIONS MANAGER. THEY WILL DRAFT A NEW INTERPRETIVE PLAN AND SIGNAGE FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUALS' STORIES, AND UPDATE EACH ROOM'S INTERPRETATION WITH NEW MATERIAL CULTURE. EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, UPDATING THE BUILDING?S INTERPRETATION HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A KEY PRIORITY IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WITH THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA NEARING, IT IS CRITICAL TO BEGIN THESE EFFORTS NOW, SO THAT THE MUSEUM CAN REINTERPRET THE BUILDING BASED UPON THE NEW INTERPRETIVE PLAN AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE PROGRAMMING FOR OUR GROWING AUDIENCE.] [PURPOSE:? TO SUPPORT REINTERPRETATION OF LONDON TOWN?S WILLIAM BROWN HOUSE TO INCLUDE THE STORIES OF THE ENSLAVED, BOUND LABOR, LOWER ECONOMIC STATUS TRAVELERS, AND ALMS HOUSE RESIDENTS.   ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: DRAFTING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTERPRETIVE PLAN AND SIGNAGE FOCUSED ON THE HISTORY OF THE RANGE OF PEOPLE WHO INHABITED THE WILLIAM BROWN HOUSE BUILDING FROM THE SEVENTEENTH TO TWENTIETH CENTURIES. UPDATE INTERPRETATION IN EACH ROOM OF THE HOUSE WITH FURNISHINGS AND NEW EXHIBITION ELEMENTS.   EXPECTED OUTCOMES: A COMPLETED INTERPRETIVE PLAN AND INSTALLATION OF NEW EXHIBITION ELEMENTS. RETENTION OF THREE INTERPRETIVE STAFF MEMBERS WHOSE JOBS WERE THREATENED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.  INTENDED BENEFICIARIES:  VISITORS TO THE LONDON TOWN PROPERTY AND THE WILLIAM BROWN HOUSE.  SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:?THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.]

HISTORIC LONDON TOWN AND GARDENS IN EDGEWATER, MARYLAND, WILL RELAUNCH ITS HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS BY REHIRING A HORTICULTURAL EDUCATOR TO JUMPSTART THE PARK'S NEW GARDENS-BASED CURRICULUM. BEFORE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FORCED THE PARK TO REDUCE ITS STAFF, THE PARK HAD A ROBUST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOCUSED ON COLONIAL HISTORY. THE NEWLY REVAMPED GARDENS-BASED PROGRAMS WILL PROVIDE PRE-K AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH OUTDOOR, IN-PERSON, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NATURAL WORLD. THIS WILL FULFILL A CRITICAL CURRICULAR NEED FROM THEIR PARTNER, ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND COMBAT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF REMOTE LEARNING, INCLUDING SOCIAL ISOLATION, DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY. THE PARK'S HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AIM TO SERVE AT LEAST 1,500 PRE-K THROUGH THIRD GRADERS ANNUALLY, LAYING A FOUNDATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY.