Photo Credit: Dennis Pilaske
It’s been 19 years since the installation of the Ecosystem Gallery at Chippewa Nature Center in Midland, Mich. According to the Executive Director, Dennis Pilaske, the exhibit has seen “all of the expected use and then some, by a wide variety of visitors.” Yet, there is no plan in the works for a major exhibit overhaul. This is because the Ecosystem Gallery was built to last. Physically durable, thematically relevant, and well cared for, this long-standing exhibit that shows little sign of its age is a nature center’s dream.
The funding opportunities for designing and building a new exhibit for a nature center, visitor center, or small historical site are few and far between. At the same time, as anyone who has worked at one of these sites knows, exhibits tend to be not just used, but abused. Therefore, exhibit longevity is a major concern for anyone thinking about a new exhibit.
Plan Twice, Build Once
The first step for creating a long-lasting exhibit is understanding how it will be used by visitors and cared for by staff members. Ask plenty of questions: