Guest Editorial

This past Sunday afternoon, from 1 o'clock to 3, I served as host at the Odessa Historisches museum.

Well, I would have served as host if anyone had come to visit.

But they did not.

I probably should have spent that peaceful couple of hours in industrious pursuits on behalf of the museum, but I must confess I did not.

I spent about 10 minutes walking around with the host instructions, trying to find all the various light switches.

Then I spent another 10 minutes trying to remember how to run the flag up the pole correctly. I haven't been a Girl Scout in at least 45 years.

I ate my lunch at the office desk (but please don't tell anyone.)

I wandered around and looked at displays and photographs and tried to familiarize myself with who, what, when and where.

Then I sat down and worked on an applique project.

At 3 o'clock I took down the open sign, lowered and folded the flag, turned off all the lights and exhibits, and locked the door.

And then I started thinking. I started out thinking about the movie "Night at the Museum," which is one of my favorites. And that led into a great deal of speculation about how we could make our museum both more interesting and more meaningful. It would be wonderful if our museum could be an attraction for not just our residents or former residents but for tourists as well.

I'm pretty sure we won't ever have displays coming to life in the middle of the night, but what if we added a little life of our own? What if, instead of static displays, we provided hands-on demonstrations of some of the items or equipment? What if, instead of "hosts," we provided actual guided tours with running patter? What if we turned it into a sort of theater-museum? What if we added a couple of high school kids to move around in the exhibits, behaving like people who were actually living in the era depicted? Wouldn't that be a great way for a student to get in those volunteer hours?

What if we actually started changing the displays? What if the museum was arranged chronologically instead of by item type?

What if we were open all weekend instead of just two hours on Sunday afternoons in the summer?

What if we offered refreshments for travelers? Coffee, soft drinks, water and cookies, all free (although donations would be gratefully accepted.)

What if we offered hosted access to the research room one day a week?

What if . . .what if . . .what if . . .

Finally, I want everyone to know that I'm not criticizing. A lot of time and effort has gone into our museum, both by the visionaries who established it and by those who work hard to fund and maintain it. Nothing I say here is intended to hurt or insult anyone who is now or ever has been associated with the museum. I admire and respect them all, and they should be very proud of what they've accomplished.

I suspect there are many reasons why none of these ideas would work.

And that's OK.

Because just thinking about them was a bit like my very own "Afternoon at the Museum."