2017 MALHM Conference: Creating a House Museum Experience

Jane Pederson, Marketing Manager with Glensheen, presented at MALHM's fall house museum workshop.

At the 2015 MALHM Annual Meeting and Conference at Glensheen mansion in Duluth, the MALHM Historic House Museum Affinity Group met for the first time to share ideas and discuss common goals.

One of those goals was more training. MALHM responded last fall with a one-day house museum workshop at Ramsey house in St. Paul. It will also offer a session on house museums at the 2017 Annual Meeting and Conference in Walker:

Think Outside of the (Historic House) Box: How to Create Experience-Based Programming at House Museums  
Visitors, in ever-increasing numbers, are looking for experience-based programming at historic sites.  But what does that mean and what does that look like at a historic house museum?  This session looks at the nuts and bolts behind developing unique and creative programming for all ages.  Participants will have the opportunity to “think outside of the historic house box” and learn how to create programs that attract new audiences and encourage repeat visitation.  Discover what experiences historic houses can offer, while still staying true to their educational mission.

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Ramsey House docents in the kitchen.

Jayne Becker, program director for the Minnesota Historical Society's Ramsey and James J. Hill historic homes, will present the session along with Holly Johnson, manager of Hormel Historic Home in Austin, MN. Becker is chair of the House Museum Affinity Group, and Johnson is the vice-chair.

The conference will offer several other sessions of interest to house museum managers and staff, including a Facebook session by Glensheen Director Dan Hartman, as well as a variety of outreach and event sessions.

House Museum Affinity Group
The House Museum Affinity Group is one of two MALHM special interest groups. (The other is MALHM Curators.) The group has a Facebook page to share ideas. Follow the Facebook page for announcements of meetings and workshops, or contact us to be put on an email list.

Register now!
Registration is now open for the MALHM Conference, set for April 26-27 in Walker, MN. Register through our new online store. Attendees may also pay with a registration form and check by mail. With either method, attendees can indicate dietary needs, such as vegetarian and gluten free.

Registration deadline is April 10. Chase on the Lake will offer a discount to MALHM attendees who book by phone by April 4. For more information, see our Annual Conference page. If you have additional questions, please contact MALHM Coordinator Marci Matson or Conference Chair Jill Wohnoutka. Look for a full conference schedule soon!