Dennison Railroad Depot Museum Inc

THE DENNISON RAILROAD DEPOT MUSEUM WILL UNDERTAKE A PROJECT TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO ITS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, ARCHIVES, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THIS PROJECT IS ALIGNED WITH THE MUSEUM’S 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AND AIMS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, PRESERVATION, AND ACCESSIBILITY. KEY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE UPGRADING COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, ACQUIRING DIGITAL EQUIPMENT FOR FULL DIGITIZATION OF 30,000 ARTIFACTS, AND HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR CATALOGING AND DATA ENTRY. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ENSURE BROAD ACCESS TO THE COLLECTIONS, BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE, SUPPORTING WIDESPREAD ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MUSEUM’S LOCAL HISTORY. BY DIGITIZING THE MUSEUM’S COLLECTIONS, EXPANDING DIGITAL ACCESS, AND IMPROVING INTERNAL EFFICIENCIES, STAFF WILL BETTER SERVE VISITORS, RESEARCHERS, AND THE COMMUNITY.

OPEN DREAMSVILLE, USA: EXTEND ACCESS TO THE DENNISON RAILROAD DEPOT MUSEUM, NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK [DENNISON, OH WAS NICKNAMED DREAMSVILLE USA BY WWII SOLDIERS THAT STOPPED AT THE DENNISON CANTEEN BECAUSE THE SERVICE THEY RECEIVED WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE. IN 2011, OUR DEPOT BECAME A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AS THE BEST EXAMPLE LEFT IN THE NATION OF A WWII HOMEFRONT CANTEEN. SINCE 1989, OUR MUSEUM HAS BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH A FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS 6 DAYS A WEEK, YEAR ROUND. HOWEVER, THE PANDEMIC CAUSED A DEVASTATING ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR LANDMARK, GREATLY LIMITING PUBLIC ACCESS DUE TO A FORCED CLOSURE AND LOST REVENUE. WE LOST OF ALL SCHOOL AND BUS TOURS, SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND FUNDRAISERS. WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO CUT OR LAYOFF STAFF AND SHORTEN HOURS OF OPERATIONS. THIS HAS TREMENDOUSLY REDUCED HUMANITIES PROGRAMMING AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS ON OUR SIGNIFICANT FACILITIES LEFT WITH ONLY A SKELETON CREW IN PLACE. WITH THESE GRANT DOLLARS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO RESTORE OUR STAFF, REOPEN ACCESS AGAIN AND BRING OUR FOCUS BACK ON TO OUR MISSION] [PURPOSE:'THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO RETAIN FIVE'STAFF MEMBERS - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACTING CURATOR AND REGISTRAR, SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR, MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR, AND THE MANAGER OF FRONTLINE EXPERIENCE ' TO CONTINUE THE OPERATION OF A MUSEUM PRESENTING AND INTERPRETING THE HISTORY OF THE LAST REMAINING HOMEFRONT'CANTEEN'WHERE OVER 1.5 MILLION SOLDIERS WERE SERVED DURING WORLD'WAR'II.''  ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ' DAILY OPERATIONS WILL RESUME TO MAINTAIN THE ARTIFACT AND ARCHIVAL COLLECTION, CONTINUE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION, CONTINUE OUTREACH AND ON-SITE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND MAINTAIN EXHIBITIONS AND INTERPRETATION AT THE MUSEUM. THE FEATURE EXHIBIT SCHEDULE WITH ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMMING WILL RESTART.  EXPECTED OUTCOMES:' THE GRANT WILL SUPPORT THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MUSEUM, PARTICULARLY ALLOWING IT TO RETAIN QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED PERSONNEL WHILE THE MUSEUM GETS BACK TO ITS REVENUE-GENERATING OPERATIONS.'THE MUSEUM WILL CONTINUE ITS MISSION TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, EXHIBIT AND INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF RAILROAD AND WWII HERITAGE AT THE SITE.    INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE AUDIENCES WHO BENEFIT FROM THIS MUSEUM INCLUDE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND TEACHERS, VISITORS TO THE HISTORY LOOP, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO VISIT THE DEPOT.   SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:'THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS. ]