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Letter to editor The Columbus Dispatch
Submitted February 17, 2006 and published February 25, 2006
By William K. Laidlaw Jr., executive director, Ohio Historical Society
At the Ohio Historical Society, we embrace change and are hard at work to update our exhibits and programs so we can engage more people in the state’s rich heritage.
That is why we are embarking on a multi-year process of transforming visitor experiences at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus. We are not surprised that some people are critical of change (“Historical Society caused its own problems,” letters, Feb. 13), but we are perplexed that some in the Archaeological Society of Ohio have misunderstood our intentions.
Starting this spring, work will begin on creating new space for featured exhibits that will change every few months so visitors can see something new several times a year instead of once every year or two. We will also begin developing new long-term exhibits that will blend collections in archaeology, natural history and history. The museum floor layout will be revised to make it easier to navigate. We also are sprucing up the Center, built in 1970, and improving amenities. Recognizing that none of these changes will have value unless we actively invite people to visit, we are also increasing our investment in marketing and other forms of outreach.
Not everything will be achieved in a year or two – we expect a complete overhaul of the museum floor and other improvements to require at least five years of planning, hard work and significant fund raising, both private and public.
One of our first steps in moving forward involves saying goodbye to a 20-year-old friend, The First Ohioans exhibit, on March 26, its last day open to the public. Many of the unique and important artifacts in this archaeological exhibit will be on display again in July. Our future plans call for enhancing, not diminishing, the pre-European content we will present at the Ohio Historical Center.
Some in the ASO have incorrectly characterized our position related to stewardship of American Indian artifacts. The Ohio Historical Society complies with all federal and state laws related to the stewardship of these resources. Our efforts to upgrade the exhibits at the Center are driven by decisions regarding public service rather than any mandate regarding repatriation. We take seriously our responsibility to preserve and share the rich history of the State of Ohio and to respect the perspectives of those whose stories we tell.
We remain committed to maintaining one of the finest collections related to the archaeology, history and natural history of Ohio and we pledge to continue promoting and sharing our knowledge and collections with others, both at our flagship site in Columbus and at our historic sites and museums around the state.
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