The Palace on Gladstone Boulevard - Research Paper Example

The Palace on Gladstone Boulevard Introduction The Kansas Museum, also sometimes referred to as the Palace on Gladstone Boulevard, opened in 1940 and is the city’s regional and local earliest and most significant museum. It is located at the previous property of Robert Long, a civic leader and lumber businessperson. The location is adjacent to Cliff Drive and Kessler Park and has a view over Missouri River Valley. Originally, the museum has six structures. Currently, there are five remaining structures from the original six, which includes the Museum Visitor Center, the StoryTatium located at what was formerly the Conservatory, the Carriage House where the previous owner’s daughter Loula Long Combs displayed her trophies from being a famous equestrienne, and the Corinthian Hall, which is a four-story residence housing seventy rooms. At present, both the Carriage House and Corinthian Hall are closed to the public for renovation (Leathem nd Smith 8). Still, even if there are active renovations going on, the site is still open daily to accept visitors. Visitors need only go to the Museum Visitor Center so the museum can provide guides for visitors who are knowledgeable in the history of Kansas City and the family background of the previous owners of the land. At the StoryTarium, there is frequent showing of films with historical value, like Bad Blood, which is a classic pre-Civil war film. Around the museum property, there are colorful informational sections showing the expected outcome of the renovations being done at the Carriage House and the Corinthian Hall. There are regular picnickers who frequent the place to stay at the open areas and just enjoy the sight of Kansas City’s cityscape. Historical Background The long’s residence was completed in 1910 and the family lived there for 24 years. Robert Long’s two daughters were already married and living in separate homes, while his wife died in 1928. When Robert Long passed away in 1934, a two-day auction was held. After that, nobody occupied the house until five years later when the Kansas City Museum Association formed the museum in 1939 and held its grand opening in May 1940. Kansas City earned the property’s title in 1948, and in 1967, tax collection was established to fund the museum’s operations. In 1980, the property was listed under the National Register of Historic Places. The museum’s staff is comprised mostly of dedicated individual volunteers of the Musettes and the Women’s Division. They worked tirelessly in education, fundraising, exhibits, and collection development either on-site or within the community (“Museum, Kansas City” Usa 42). Detailed Timeline 1934  Robert Long passed away 1934 – 1939  The Great Depression caused more financial strains for the Long sisters. Siblings Loula Combs and Sally ellis moved to Longview Farm, leaving the property unoccupied for five years. In 1939, the Long sisters were burdened by the tax of a vacant property, causing the Corinthian Hall to be given to the Kansas City Museum Association. 1940 – 1948  For eight years, the Kansas City Museum Association had been burdened by the accruing debt due to the overhead expenses of the facility’s operation. They sold the property to Kansas City for 1 USD (Leathem 85). As new owners of Corinthian Hall, the City of Kansas City begins a gradual and changing process of including the estate in the maintenance and financial structure of city operations (“Museum, Kansas City” Usa 42).  1950s – present  The building became public. 1967 -  Collection of property tax was approved by voters to support the museum’s operations. 1970 – 1986  Grants and donations from private citizens and the National Endowment for the Humanities aided the museum’s expansion. 1980  The Corinthian Hall, which is the main structure of the property, was listed under the National Register of Historic Places. 1990  Kansas City government intended to put the Corinthian Hall into new use and encouraged the Kansas City Museum Association to vacate the structure.  2005  The City Government of Kansas began the restoration of the property, which is still ongoing as of today. 2011  To date, there are four stages of restoration done on the estate. The first was the restoration of the masonry and roof of the Long Residence. The second was the replacement of the Gate House Lodge roof. The third was the replacement or repair of the Carriage House and Corinthian Hall doors and windows (“Restoration of a Window” 17). According to one of the Education Aides, the fourth renovation, which is still ongoing, is the installation of a new temperature control system. Ongoing Renovation According the museum’s Education Aides, the renovation is already in its fourth stage. It was started last June 2010 and the administration expects the phase to be finished within the first quarter of this year. In the past, the museum ran using old radiator systems and antique boilers. The uneven temperature caused problems in the displayed artifacts. This is the focus of the fourth stage of the renovation since air conditioning, ventilation, and heating systems are very important in preserving the treasures of the museum. With the new temperature control system, the staff will be able to manage the temperatures to suit the preservation needs of the artifacts and provide a more comfortable experience for the visitors. After the renovation of the temperature control system, the next focus will be renovation of the interior design. Education Staff, Facilities, and Programs The two Education Aides were more than happy to introduce other administrative and educational aspects of the museum. According to them, there are several educational programs offered by the Education Staff. Usually, the focus of the education is the legacy of the Long family and the history of Kansas City and its citizens. The main purpose of the Education Staff is to make the visitors, mostly children, enjoy and appreciate the city. The staff dedicate themselves to ensure that the learning experiences they offer are easily accessible to children and families. However, school tours are temporarily unavailable during the restoration of the Corinthian Hall, but offers of outreach programs to communities and schools are still ongoing. StoryTarium Additionally, the StoryTarium showcases history-oriented programs such as lectures and films in the afternoon, from Tuesdays to Sundays. These programs are available to museum visitors for free. The StoryTarium is one of the main facilities of the museum that offers a large amount of historical information on Kansas City. The auditorium has a capacity for 40 visitors. Security System According to the Engineering Manager, since museums are usually open to the public, the are at high risk of attracting theft and robberies. He said that in every museum, including the Kansas City Museum, security is always a major concern. The primary aim of museum security is to ensure that they are open to the public in a responsible way, especially since the artifacts are housed inside historic structures in the property, which makes the guarantee of security more complicated. He mentioned a couple of security systems installed in the property. There are alarm systems on all levels of the structures, and attached particularly to doors, windows, and even the building’s outer shell. Also, the administrators never allow the most prized items to be placed near any opening that could serve as getaway paths. Also, the museum staff is very strict about guiding visitors along a dedicated route when viewing the exhibit. It was said to counteract and discourage smash-and-grab attempts. CCTV also plays a significant role in ensuring the security of the museum’s treasures. The CCTVs in the museum are installed at strategic areas and locations, mostly hidden from the visitors. Also, the museum staff are all trained to handle unexpected situations and emergencies such as accidents and man-made or natural calamities. Staff The two Education Aides offered a valuable amount of information regarding the responsibilities of each staff. The names of the individual staff were also provided by the Aides. Christopher Leitch - House Director. The House Director acts like the CEO in companies, as he is in-charge of everything and is responsible in ensuring the smooth operation of the museum. He also acts as the main representative for significant outside communication that involves decision-making and other major events. Ericka King, Administrative Assistant. The Administrative Assistant is in charge of the museum’s finances and other administrative responsibilities. She is the one taking care of the bills and other expenditures. Rebecca Schroeder, Curator of Education. The Curator of Education is the one responsible for the planning of educational programs offered by the museum. She is the one who plans the exhibits that would aid the museum’s goal of educating the visitors on the historical significance of the artifacts. She works with the Education Aides to come up with plans and ideas that would help in achieving the museum’s goals. Andrew Mouzin, Community Relations Specialist. The Community Relations Specialist makes announcements to inform the public about scheduled activities and events at the museum. He is also the one who creates a smooth path to encourage donations for the museum’s operations. Todd Sharbono, Engineering Manager. The Engineering Manager is the one in-charge of the safety and security of the museum and its visitors. He ensures that every area of the property lives up to the security standards to guarantee that the artifacts are free from possible thefts and robberies. He also oversees ongoing and other future needed renovations while providing guarantee to museum visitors that the area is free from possible dangers or avoidable accidents. Janet McGuire and Nina Ramirez, Education Aides. The Education Aides welcomes the visitors of the museum. They serve as the guides around the property, giving visitors brief information about each and every aspect of the place. They usually inform visitors of the rules and regulations while inside the museum, and serve as the front liners who answer every visitor question. References Guide to the Archival Collections. Kansas City, Mo: The Museum, 1986. Print. Leathem, Karen T. "Kansas City Museum." The Public Historian. 27.4 (2005): 85-86. Print. Leathem, Karen T, and Jay Smith. "Review of Kansas City Museum. Kansas City, Missouri." The Public Historian. 27.4 (2005): 8 McGuire, Janet. Museum Education Aide Students name. 5 February 2011. "Museum, Kansas City, Usa - Steven Holl Architects." The Architectural Review. 222.1328 (2007): 42. Print. Ramirez, Nina. Museum Education Aides Students name. 5 February 2011. Restoration of a Window: Art Glass in the Breakfast Room at Corinthian Hall. Kansas City, Mo: Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall, 2009. Print. Sharbono, Todd. Engineering Manager Student’s name. 5 February 2011. Read More