What are we doing?
Since 1985, the Jekyll Island Museum has experienced enormous growth and change.  Through the hard work of staff, volunteers, and other interested parties, we have preserved in accurate detail many of the buildings and landscapes of the Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark.  Envisioning the future needs of the Jekyll Island Museum, the Museum Staff has established the goal of submitting our first application for full accreditation through the American Association of Museums and seeks to become recognized as on of the top 10 historic sites in the country by 2005.

In order to reach these goals, there are many activities that must be planned and accomplished over the coming months and years.  This involves significant attention to three primary areas: interpretation and exhibition, education, and collections storage and management.  Creating a new interpretation of the National Landmark District, which places our site within not only the historical context of Jekyll Island, but also the dynamic of United States and World events, is the most basic and important issue to address.  Interpretation includes but is not limited to the houses as artifacts, the historic landscapes, accurate fully researched interior plans that allow for proper visitor flow and object security and care, interactive opportunities for guests, new exhibits, and special tour options.

Why are we doing it?
The driving force behind these efforts has been feedback from staff, volunteers, guests, consultants, residents, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (via the MAP III and CAP grant programs).  Everyone has agreed that our current tour operations have been inadequate in many ways: crowded group tours, tired dialogue from staff, tour length (too short for some, too long for others), security problems for objects, inability to provide adequate storage and care for objects, etc. These facts, coupled with continued recognition and investment in the site demand a well thought out and professionally developed response.

Who is doing it?
The Jekyll Island Authority has entered into a contract with Threshold Studio of Alexandria, Virginia, to help guide us through some of these issues.  Threshold brings a team of nationally recognized talent in exhibition and interpretive planning to direct and intensive focus on our site.  Their experience includes work at the Smithsonian, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of American Jewish History, the Virginia Historical Society, the Jordan National Museum (Amman, Jordan), America’s First Law School: the Litchfield Historical Society, the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, South Street Seaport Museum, and Historic Deerfield, and includes two faculty members of George Washington University’s Museum Studies Program.  This team is working closely with the Curatorial and Management staff of the Jekyll Island Museum to integrate the complex specifics of a complicated site dynamic.  These dynamics include ongoing Circulation improvements, new exhibit ideas, a new interpretive approach that addresses historical accuracy, museum security, and professional appearance in addition to reaching our goals of becoming a leader in the field.  This team is dedicated to these goals.

We envision an evolving role for volunteers and community leaders throughout this process.  As we develop the content, structure, and appearance of our exhibits, we will have targeted sessions with interested parties to help critique our work.  We also see future volunteer assistance with staffing, specific research needs, and “vignette” exhibit completion.  All of our works in progress will be made publicly accessible at times to help us test new ideas and thoughts.

When?
This process has actually been in progress since the inception of the current museum in 1985.  It has always been the goal of the museum to create the best experience possible for our visitors.  We have done this many times with old-fashioned ingenuity, sweat, and creativity.  These works have served us well, but the time has arrived when we need to move past making do, planning for the short term, and creation on the fly, and realize the potential of the Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark as a Museum of a National Caliber. 

In the short term, this means completing the Interpretive Planning that has been in progression since April 2000.  Our target date of April 2 has been established for creation of new exhibitry in Villa Ospo and the “prototype” under development in Indian Mound, the transition to the tram as a people mover, offerings of more focused special guided tours, and self-guided/staff augmented tours within the homes.

In the Intermediate future, this vision will expand with the completion of each phase of the Circulation Plan.  These phases include the addition of interpretive signage and way-finding signage throughout the district enhancing the visitor experience.  It is also coupled with funding that will be available for a proper collections storage facility, and finished professionally produced exhibitry in the homes and Stable facility.

Upon a satisfactory level of re-orientation to the interpretation (the stories we endeavor to tell), we then have a solid base for development of exciting and comprehensive approaches to education. This will include a planned program tied to the curriculum requirements of the state, expansion of walk-in educational opportunities such as lectures and special presentations, and a widened second tier learning offering for undergraduate, graduate and extended learning groups.

In the Long Term, we envision all of these changes: interpretation, circulation, and exhibitry will help us reach our goals for 2005- accreditation with the American Association of Museums, and the position of the Jekyll Island Museum as a leader in the museum world. The site will be constantly revealing and achieving new potential. It will offer new and more engaging ways for our visitors to envelop themselves in our rich and fascinating history in a manner that will excite but relax them; and it will enrich their understanding of our culture and the world.