Yellowstone County Museum is receiving a $3,000 grant which will be directed towards better preservation and storing of their Native American Collections. This will allow for a better viewing experience for guests to the museum. Here you can see Curator – Christian Coppedge (far left), Director – Terry Steiner (middle left), Dr. Joseph McGeshick (middle right), and the honorable Wayne Gustafson (far right) as they discuss their plans for the usage of the grant funding.
(Courtesy Photo by Yellowstone County Museum)
Yellowstone County Museum was awarded a $3,000 grant for the rehousing of their Native American Collection. “(We) applied for the grant to better understand our Native American collections and ensure they are properly stored to modern museum methods,” stated Yellowstone County Museum Executive Director, Terry Steiner. “The goal of this project is to use modern museum storage methods and materials to ensure the collection will be preserved for future generations.”
The upmost goal of the museum is to provide the best preservation methods for their Native American Collection, which is owned by the county residents. “First, the Yellowstone County Museum staff went through the entire collection to determine the materials required such as acid-free boxes and modern museum labeling materials,” commented Steiner. “Then, Dr. Joseph McGeshick went through each artifact with YCM staff to provide insights into the collection.”
The conservation of the collections will not only provide better protection for the artifacts, but allow for the museum to better serve their visitors. “Yellowstone County Museum has thousands of community members visit yearly,” said Steiner. “The staff regularly rotates displays to ensure a fresh historic experience for repeat visitors. Once the Native American collection is properly stored, and the staff has a greater understanding of the artifacts, plans for new exhibitions will begin. Innovative displays focusing on local indigenous groups increase the community’s overall appreciation and understanding of the past which in turn shapes how contemporary groups are viewed by the general public. This type of work will continue as long as the YCM doors are open. Preservation of the YCM Native American collection will safeguard the privilege of future generations to explore historic topics and cultures through not only words, but authentic artifacts and imagery.”
The safeguarding of history is crucial to the museum. “The YCM is dedicated to preserving the diverse cultures of the Yellowstone Valley, and different Native Americans groups have been using the land for over 12,500 years,” added Steiner. “Preserving artifacts from the first, and still thriving, cultures of the valley is imperative for the memory, edification, and future of our community.”
