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hilferty Initial Meeting Phase Report 08.12.2011 Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

RMP initial meeting phase report

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  • 1. Railroad Museum of PennsylvaniaInitial Meeting Phase Reporthilferty museum planning exhibit design 08.12.2011

2. RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 3. Table of ContentsIntroduction1Project Overview 5Observations & Insights 9Visitor ExperiencePreferred Option15Appendix 29InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt 4. IntroductionThe main goal of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Initial Meeting Phase is totake stock of previous exhibit plans and studies, as well as the approved buildingplans from the architectural master plan, and from there, reach consensus on ageneral overview for an exhibit plan to move forward with into the PreliminaryDesign Phase.The Initial Meeting Phase commenced on June 6, 2011 with a two-day workshopat the site attended by representatives of the Pennsylvania Historical and MuseumCommission (PHMC), Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (RMP), and Hilferty &Associates. The workshop included a site tour (buildings and grounds); a reviewof previous plans, studies, and present and future projects being considered; areview of the thematic outline and General Comments Regarding Exhibit Designprovided by PHMC and RMP; a diagrammatic exercise to explore possibleplacement and flow of main exhibit themes; and a discussion of delivery methods,wayfinding, and learning styles. Through this process, goals of the new exhibitswere identified and confirmed.The goals of the new interpretive exhibit are to communicate on many levels theimportant story of how railroads havechanged the way we live; enhance the visitor experience; increase the number of visitors, includingthose opting to sit in the lobby or goelsewhere while family members explorethe museum; entice visitors to make repeat visits; and increase patronage of and volunteerismat the museum.InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt 1 5. Desirable components to meet these goals are to attract westbound visitors to the site; improve access to the entry and the entrance experience; orient visitors to the site; orient visitors to the subject matter; create a WOW moment upon entering the rolling stock hall (RSH) while preserving open floor space for rental functions; blend stories and stuff to create a dynamic environment that will foster visitor curiosity, comprehension, and enjoyment; develop a sensible and safe connection between the RSH and the roundhouse; and balance conservation and interpretive needs in the RSH and outside at the rolling stock yard.The meeting moved forward with the reaffirmation that exhibit planning willemphasize the main overarching message: Railroads changed the way we live,and work with the five themes (see Big Ideas) that the site staff identified. Uponconclusion of the meeting, PHMC reviewed with Hilferty their tasks of submittingmeeting minutes (see appendix), developing bubble plan options showingproximity of topics and visitor flow, and providing narrative walk-throughs.Hilferty submitted three design concepts and three visitor experience options. OnJuly 11, PHMC, RMP, and Hilferty held a conference call to discuss the options.On July 25, PHMC communicated to Hilferty its preferred scheme for the designconcept and visitor experience. The preferred visitor experience option presentedin this report incorporates team concerns and comments as appropriate. Optionsnot selected appear in the appendix. This report will provide the basis for all futuredesign work.Workshop attendeesSteven Miller (PHMC)Ann Davis (RMP)Brenda Reigle (PHMC)Patrick Morrison (RMP)Michael Bertheaud (PHMC)Troy Grubb (RMP)Charles Fox (RMP) Craig A. Benner (RMP)Brad Smith (RMP)Sam Van Nostrand (Hilferty)Nick Jmijewski (RMP)Dean Clouse (Hilferty)Allan Martin (RMP)Gerry Hilferty (Hilferty)Deborah Reddig (RMP)Carol Perloff (Hilferty)2RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 6. Mission statementThe Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania collects, preserves, and interpretsPennsylvanias railroad history for citizens and visitors by preserving anddocumenting the contributions that Pennsylvania railroading has made tothe development of our Commonwealth and the nation.goalsThe Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, devoted to preserving and interpreting thebroad impact of railroad development on society, seeks to display over 100 locomotives and cars from the mid-19th and 20thcenturies, including the priceless Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Collection; pursue a major restoration program, which already has restored many ofthese unique survivors to their original appearance; conduct educational programs for all ages, provide tours, and hold specialevents, many in cooperation with outside organizations; house extensive exhibits of railroad artifacts, plus priceless artwork, books,photographs, and corporate railroad material; recognize that railroad history is alive and continues to be made in thisnew millennium; and enhance the museums world-class status through a process of steadyimprovements involving public-private partnerships.InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt3 7. 4 RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 8. PROJECT OVERVIEWProperty and Building historyThe Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is located on PA Route 741, about a mileeast of the center of downtown Strasburg. It sits across the street from the StrasburgRail Road, making it an ideal location to attract rail enthusiasts. Several othercultural and shopping attractions make this area a tourist destination.The initial museum building opened in 1975. It featured a large train displaybuilding and an operating turntable from the Reading Company. In June 1995 atrain shed-like addition doubled the indoor display space. In the summer of 2007,a new Art Deco entrance faade and gift shop were completed.Current building projects entail installation of a new geothermal HVACsystem in the museum, including the rolling stock hall, and construction of a16,000-square-foot roundhouse in the rolling stock yard. The HVAC project,scheduled for completion by October 2011, may be completed as late asJanuary 2012. The roundhouse, to be located on the site of the museumsexisting turntable, will provide permanent, climate-controlled storage for themuseums historic collection of PRR steam locomotives, among other items.Approximately fifteen to twenty percent of the space will be interpretive. Designof the roundhouse, by Erdy McHenry Architecture in Philadelphia, is scheduledfor completion by December 2011, opening for visitors in Spring 2013. Sitework to accompany the new building includes a paved pathway leading from thesouthwest corner of the rolling stock hall to the roundhouse.InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt 5 9. exhibit Project historyRailroad Museum of Pennsylvania (RMP) and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum(PHMC) staff and various consultants have taken several steps towards developinga new permanent exhibit for the museum in order to enhance the visitor experience.In October 2006, Interpretive Solutions, Inc. (IS) submitted an extensive exhibitscript that posed eight major themes of interpretation. In September 2007Hilferty and Associates, Inc. launched an exhibit planning phase. The Hilfertyreport, submitted February 2009, identified levels of interpretation, overarchinginterpretive themes, a visitor flow diagram, an interpretive experience walkthrough,an exhibit budget and schedule.In 2007 08, RMP conducted visitor and member surveys. Some of the moresalient results are as follows: The top three areas of greatest interest and value are the rolling stock hall, locomotives/cars open for self-guided tours, and the outdoor restoration yard. The three things visitors enjoy most are nostalgia, the significance of the collection (seeing and touching real things), and sharing time/interest with children and grandchildren. 75% of visitors to the museum do not bring children with them. Stewart Junction, the childrens area, is a visitor-favorite.The Initial Meeting Phase, the next step of the planningprocess for the permanent exhibit commenced inJune 2011. This consisted of a review andbrainstorming workshop attended by PHMC,RMP, Hilferty staff, and scriptwriter Carol Perloff.From this point, the project is structured to moveforward into subsequent phases of design,fabrication and installation, andpost-installation.6 RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 10. script statusMaterials from the interpretive report completed in 2006 provide a basis for scripts,artifact lists, and graphic lists. This will be one of many elements to be used as theproject team moves forward to craft a new exhibit plan. Before moving forward,it would be helpful to review the previous script content with PHMC and site staffto confirm what worked and was relevant to the story they want to tell, and whatmay have been deemed outside of the scope or beyond the space or collectionsof the museum. It would be very useful to for the design team to acquire any sourcedocuments or other background research that supports the script.artifact statusRMP has extensive collections on siteboth inside and outsideand has startedto match artifacts with the stories. The museum has an inventory of 43 locomotives,an Excel spreadsheet inventory for three-dimensional artifacts (catalog number,object name, object location), a Cuadra Star database for three-dimensionalartifacts (detailed and searchable information regarding history of use, material,manufacturer,etc.), digital photographs of all artifacts in the Cuadra Star database,and digital scans for about 30,000 historic images linked to the databases.Research status/PlanLooking ahead to the research component of the Preliminary Design Phase, thefirst step is to determine what research materials already exist from IS. The nextstep will be to identify holes/gaps in those materials (relevant to the approvedcontent outline) and to develop a strategy for how the site staff and scriptwriter cancollaborate to identify photographs, first person accounts, documents, and otherarchival resources. It is understood that the museum has archival databases forlarge portions, though less than half of its archival materials.InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt 7 11. 8 RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 12. Observations & Insightsapproach/ImpressionThe current museum signage, particularly from the east, does not convey to potentialvisitors that the building houses a museum about railroads with a spectacularcollection. There is a need for signing elements that combine three-dimensionalelements and graphics that strongly identifies the museum and encourages peopleto stop. These elements should include a variety of sizes from those that are visiblefrom the road and from across the street to others that are visible from the parkinglot and along the pathway into the museum. The elements should hint at experiencesto be had at the museum and build anticipation and excitement.This should extend into the lobby area where visitors are asked to purchasea ticket. In the current arrangement, once visitors enter the lobby, there is noenticement to purchase a ticket because they cannot see anything beyond thelobby and large ticket booth structure. Ideally visitors should be able to seesomething of interest beyond the ticketing point that encourages them to spendtheir money and hints at a worthwhile experience.Additionally, it is a future goal of the museum to make the pedestrian crossing fromthe Strasburg Railroad safer and more inviting to encourage more crossover visitors.facility orientationBecause the museum is large, complex, and includes both interior and exteriorexhibit elements, clear and comprehensive facility orientation is vital from themoment of arrival. Facility orientation should occur at the parking lots, along thepathway into the museum, and in the museum entry lobby. Wayfinding signageat decision points that include the parking lot, along the path, in the lobby, in therolling stock hall, and in the rolling stock yard will work with facility orientation tomake a visitors choices clear.The current lobby ticketing and orientation sequences do not work well. The deskattendant is hard to see behind the counter and themed bars in the ticket windows.Visitors who utilize the restrooms before purchasing a ticket can easily slip pastthe attendant and into the museum without paying. Large groups often create abottleneck in the lobby, making it hard for individual or smaller groups of visitors InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt9 13. to get past. Relocating and redesigning the ticketing counter to act as more of a control point for visitors will help ameliorate these issues. Groups can be led into the multipurpose room for orientation to avoid a bottleneck at the ticket desk. The visitor experience diagrams focus on a ground-level organization with core interpretation happening at this level; changing exhibits and special collections are located in the second level gallery space. The size of the rolling stock hall is potentially intimidating and the random layout of rolling stock and crossover points is confusing for visitors. To avoid this, the creation of a central crossover and program space (a central spine) through the rolling stock hall can serve as a central point for facility and subject orientation from which visitors can proceed into the aisles to explore. subject orientation Subject orientation should also begin at the parking lots, continue along the pathways, and into the lobby. Proper location and use of subject orientation will build visitors anticipation and excitement as they proceed into the museum and ultimately encourage them to purchase tickets. The museum staff has combined themes from previous interpretive planning exercises from six or eight to five. The visitor diagrams here focus on the distribution of those five themes identified by the museum. However, the synthesis of previous thematic organizations into five themes does create some uneven storyline distributions that can be adjusted as we further develop the script. exhibit design Challenges & opportunities The current exhibits at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania are a mix of displays that have been updated over the years, the end result being an array of styles and design approaches that compete with each other. The current effort to redesign the entire visitor experience at the museum is the perfect time to start afresh, creating a coherent and unified approach that is accessible for visitors. Due to the size and orientation of the museum site, the design approach needs to provide strong visual cues that tie the museums identity and visitor experience together and help lead the visitor from beginning to end. The design should10 RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 14. connect the entire storyline together and enhance the museums visual presenceand recognition.The design challenge is to create an environmental context and people storiesfor a world-class rolling stock collection. The thematic sections provide a structurewith which to do that. While the core message is historical significance,contemporary relevance should be imbued into the exhibit wherever possible.Presentation of exhibits will be thematic rather than strictly chronological. Whileacknowledging the national context of railroad history, the exhibit will stayfocused on Pennsylvania. Interpretation will cover stories of all Pennsylvaniarail lines. Humanizing the giant rolling stock by telling people stories whereverpossible will enrich the visitor experience and optimally expand the museumsappeal to a broader audience. The museum has a plethora of artifacts, rollingstock, photographs, video, oral histories, and archival resources of Pennsylvaniaprovenance with which to tell the overall story.Although the new HVAC system will improve conditions in the hall significantly,conservation issues will remain a consideration. Many items requiring stringentenvironmental control will need to be displayed in the upstairs gallery wherethe environment can be more tightly controlled. Some sensitive items might bedisplayed in climate control cases in the rolling stock hall. As an alternative todisplaying sensitive items, reproductions might be utilized instead.Railroads are a place for bells, whistles, smoke, and smells. The exhibit will takeadvantage of audio opportunities to make the exhibit multi-sensory. Kiosks forvirtual tours of railcars, low-tech interactive exhibits, and a new, more conciseyet powerful orientation videogermane to the five major exhibit themeswillenhance the visitor experience.The scale of the RSH poses an opportunity to WOW visitors. Design of thecentral spine will seek to create that marvel of having arrived at a destination whileproviding a core area for orientation to major exhibit themes.The ability to interchange, move, and update exhibits is key to the success ofinterpreting a collection that requires periodic exercising to keep the movingparts in working order. Any exhibits directly related to particular cars or enginesin the rolling stock hall will be mobile to accommodate the need to relocatethe collection on a regular basis. Museum staff has also requested space largeInItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt11 15. enough to accommodate after-hours programming and events, which mobile exhibits can easily provide, particularly when combined with the central spine area. The new roundhouse will provide a venue to supplement interpretation of How Railroads Work, Made in Pennsylvania, and Working on the Railroad as well as a place to view and preserve additional rolling stock. Main Message & themes The main message for the new interpretive efforts at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania as identified by museum staff is: Railroads change(d) the way we live. While poignant, this message is a little too broad and therefore does not provide adequate definition and direction for the interpretive efforts. Hilferty offers the following amended main message options for consideration:1. Pennsylvanias railroads connected people, places, and products like never before, fundamentally changing the way we live.2. Pennsylvanias railroads connect people, places, and products, forever changing the way we live. The first message fits nicely into the thematic outline as provided by the museum staff on May 25, 2011, which focuses primarily on the history of Pennsylvanias railroads and how it changed the way we live by connecting people, places, and products. The second option focuses more on the present day connection of people, places, and products and would require the addition of much more present-day information in the thematic outline than exists currently. In 201011, the RMP exhibit staff honed the thematic outline, consolidating it from the eight major themes identified in the previous script and the six major themes identified in the Hilferty Planning Phase report to five major themes: 1. Railroads and Their Impact 2. Railroads and the Pennsylvania Landscape 3. How the Railroad Works 4. Made in Pennsylvania 5. Working on the Railroad12RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 16. Two themes identified in the 2006 interpretive report have been deleted, withpartial contents consolidated into the revised outline: Legacy, Heritage and Future of the Railroads America on Board: the Railroad and American IdealsTwo themes identified in the Hilferty report also have been incorporated into thenew organization: The Cultural Impact of Railroading Railroads TodayThe cultural legacy (literature, arts and popular culture) is accounted for inthe current Cultural Impact of Railroading within Railroads and Their Impact.Opportunities, one of the American ideals, also find their way elsewhere as doesthe Industrial Revolution (part of the ideal of progress) in the sections Railroads andTheir Impact and Working on the Railroad.One chapter of the 2006 report seems to be completely absent from the revisedoutline: The States Become One NationThis material included topics such as nationwide networks, Civil War linksthe nation, transcontinental railroad, standardized time (covered elsewhere),communication networks (covered elsewhere), market opportunities (coveredelsewhere), states linked by a common culture (some of this can be covered in therole of the local depot), politics on tour, war and patriotism (can be covered in therole of the local depot), entertainment (perhaps could be referenced in shapingcommunities/lifestyles).The one chapter that is reconfigured from the 2006 report with a new title andexpanded content is: Railroads Changed the Way We LiveThe current working title for this section is Railroads and Their Impact. This sectionof the exhibit now embraces a disproportionate amount of content and sub-themescompared to the other four thematic sections. During the design phase, it will beimportant to find ways to disperse this content throughout the exhibit space andexplore pulling out a discrete story, like the legacy of the railroads, into a transitionto a coda for the exhibit. InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt 13 17. 14 RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 18. Visitor Experience NarrativePreferred Optionsite treatmentPlacing the Metroliner in front of the museum on the northeast side of the buildingwill greatly enhance the look and feel of the site. This eye-catching artifact willprovide an unmistakable visual cue that this museum is about railroads.The main path from the parking lot to the museum is re-routed so that it leads directlyfrom the parking lot to the front entrance. The existing path along the buildingremains as a secondary option. Signage nodes at the beginning and end of theprimary pathway provide preliminary facility and subject orientation.The new path is lined with a few, select signal masts that underscore the museumsidentity. Two small, recreated suburban platforms (of the same era as the Metroliner)are placed along the path so that visitors may rest and seek shelter from inclementweather. The east covered loggia entryway might be framed by a signal bridge,which serves as a visual reference of the entrance location for visitors coming fromthe parking lot.design approachThe unifying design approach utilizes pen and ink style sketches representing themany people, places, and products connected by rail over time. Sprinkled in andamong the sketches are black and white photograph reproductions from the museumscollection. These representations might take form as standing graphic elements,silhouettes, hanging scrims or banners, applied graphics, or a combination and willbe shown in varying degrees of intensity. These elements are repeated throughoutthe museum, both inside and out, and demarcate a path for visitors to take from theparking lot, into the museum, and out to the roundhouse and rolling stock yard.The people, place, and products design approach will functionas a unifying aesthetic layer that goes on top of all manner ofexhibits such as graphic panels, interactives and activities, mediapresentations, artifact displays, etc. The purpose of this designicing is to provide a constant tie into the main message ofrailroads connecting people, places, and products. This idea willoccur time and again in the design as well as in the text, connectingthe major themes to people, places, and/or products.InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt15 19. Within this unifying aesthetic layer, subtly different, yet distinctive color palettes for graphics could help visitors understand and discern locations of content relating to the big themes. Additionally, use of design ideas and conceits may help in this identification. Graphics of people engaged in work (perhaps drawn from period color-tinted postcards?) could help identify exhibits relating to Working on the Railroad, while the use of a baggage cart motif as a base structure could provide an identity for all exhibits on Railroads and their Impact. Identity of and within the five themes will be balanced with the overall people places and products unifying aesthetic layer. For example, How the Railroad Works can be told through the lens of the connection of people, places, and products. The railroad is the epitome of the intersection of technology (people and their ideas) spurring an industry, which is driven by the need to physically connect products (goods and materials) to places (markets). thematic organization An introductory film in the lobby provides a quick overview of the main messages, followed by displays that lead visitors into the rolling stock hall. Audio-visual elements are placed strategically throughout the hall and in the roundhouse. The sounds of a train station play subtly in the background in certain areas and with punctuating effect. The select use of Doppler-effect audio, which can be used across a range of speakers, will create the feel of an arriving train, motion, and other dynamic effects. The exterior of several railcars are used as projection surfaces where moving images bring the cars to life. These might include a moving wheel effect, a steam effect, or historic film footage. The main presentations of the five main themes are located around the rolling stock hall. Supporting portions of the story are located on exhibit islands throughout the hall and roundhouse associated with the cars, engines, and displays that are most appropriate. The use of a different color palette and/or icon for each theme allows visitors to easily identify and follow the themes throughout the museum.16RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 20. Activities specifically designed for children are located in the current kids area aswell as sprinkled in with the rest of the exhibits. Hands-on exhibits will be logicallydistributed throughout the rolling stock hall to encourage involvement by visitorsof all ages. The second floor bridge over the rolling stock hall offers several railheight displays that provide fun facts and information relating to what visitors cansee from the overlook.The second floor gallery is for changing exhibits as well as semi-permanentdisplays of special collection items that require HVAC. Options for displays mightinclude a more dynamic recreation of the Pennsylvania Railroad boardroom andan open storage area specifically for sensitive items perhaps with touch screensmart labels that allow visitors to learn about the objects.Visitors can take a path from the rolling stock hall to access the roundhouse, wherethere are additional interpretive displays pertaining to the five themes. The rollingstock yard includes waysides that convey basic information about a selection of therolling stock located outside and relates them back to the main themes.InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt17 21. 18 RaIlRoad MuseuM of PennsylvanIa 22. GRAPHIC LEGENDFENCE RESTORATION SHOPSERVICEDRIVE (GUIDED TOURS ONLY)FENC E 1A 2A3A4A 5A6A 7A 12 3 4 5 A 6 FUTUREFENCE7OU ROUNDHOUSE 8STAIR TOTDO9OVERLOOK SERVICE 10ADDITION (FOOTPRINT DASHED) ENTRYPARKING11 ORROL12 LIN B 13OVERLOOK ABOVEEAST ROLLING STOCK GST TBELOW THE WEST RO TOCLOCOMOTIVE EXHIBIT HALLLOCOMOTIVE LLINGKY EXHIBIT STOCKARDTURNTABLEBISHOPROAD CHALL1915 STREET SCAPE DFENCE STAIR PRIMARY WALK FROM PARKING KIDSPACEENTRY OUTDOOELEV & STAIRSR RO NEW BUS DROP OFFLOBBY STAFF PARKINGLLIN ROUNDHOUSE AND PARKING EXISTINGG ST CONTROLMULTIUSEOCKEXHIBIT FENCE STAIRSYARPARKINGT TPOINT LOBBY D HALLMUSEUM SHOPLOADING DOCK & STORAGEHANDICAPPED PARKING & ARRIVALFUTURE BISPHOP PROPERTY SPUR SECONDARY WALK FROM PARKING (FOOTPRINT DASHED) OUTDOOR ROLLING STOCK YARDDROP OFF / TEMPORARY PARKINGFENCEFENCEPEDESTRIAN ARRIVALVEHICULAR ARRIVAL ROUTE 741STAIRDOWN TOROLLINGSTOCK OVERLOOKHALLS STRASBURG HISTORICRAILWAYRaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIa OVERLOOK Existing Museum Plan & ENTRYEXHIBITS Site Environs Including New SECOND LEVEL PLAN Roundhouse Exhibit Hall hilferty museum planning exhibit design25100400InItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt19 N050200 800 23. FACILITYSUBJECT /AMENITIESAUDIO-VISUAL VISITORSPECIAL COLLECTIONS/ORIENTATION ORIENTATION STORY IMMERSION Railroads and How RailroadsWorking on FLOW CHANGING GALLERYEXHIBITSEXHIBITS(NONE @ OPTION ONE) their ImpactWork the Railroad c1 2 3 4 5 k ARRIVALsofoav Railroads and theMade inKIDZONE: SEQUENCES Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Activities for Landscape Young Audiences GRAPHIC LEGEND RESTORATION SHOP(GUIDED TOURS ONLY) EAST ROLLING STOCK EXHIBITWEST ROHALLLLING SFENCTOCK EXEA1A 2A 3A 4A5A 6A 7A 1STAIR TO2 34 5 6 HALL HIBIT FUTURE FENCE7 FENCEROUNDHOUSE k 2av 43 4OVERLOOK4 38 9 OUADDITION (FOOTPRINT DASHED) CENTRAL SERVICE ENTRY 1 k510 11 TDO 54kORB 31 1 3 3 12 13so ROLLIN12 1 av 2 4 4 GS T T4 3 TOC 125BELOW THE3 KY LOCOMOTIVE 5 545LOCOMOTIVE3 5ARDTURNTABLE5BISHOP 3 4ROAD4 1 k OVERLOOK ABOVEC 4k 32 12 2k3 SPINE1215 4 2 4 1 1 51915 STREETSCAPE 5 1 3 1 av 3 4avD4STAIR major KIDSP k5ENTRYEXISTING SECONDARY WALK FROM PARKINGACE2OUTDOO 4 NEW 4METROLINER CAR (70)soLOBBYSTAFF PARKING R RO BUS DROP OFF LIMITED ARRAY OF SIGNALmajor ELEV & STAIRS so LLINROUNDHOUSE AND PARKINGBRIDGES & TOWERS ING STEXHIBITMULTI-OCKCONTROLMODULATED INCREMENTSALONG PATHWAYNEW PRIMARYav POINTPURPOSE fo YARFENCE PROCESSION STAIRSSPACED HALL FROM PARKINGfo TTLOBBY LOADING DOCK & STORAGEHANDICAPPED PARKING & ARRIVAL3 MUSEUM SHOPCOVERED LOGGIAOGGIA ENTRY COVERED LOUTDOOR ROLLING STOCK YARDsofoDROP OFF / TEMPORARY PARKINGfoPEDESTRIAN ARRIVAL FENCEFENCE VEHICULAR ARRIVALso ROUTE 741 STAIR DOWN TO ROLLING STOCK HALLSOVERLOOKRaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIaVisitorSTRASBURG HISTORIC RAILWAYExperienceOVERLOOKDiagram SPECIAL COLLECTIONS &Preferred Option PlanENTRY CHANGING EXHIBIT GALLERYc hilferty museum planning exhibit designSECOND LEVEL PLAN 2080 320InItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt 20N 040160640 24. VEHICULARSHADE STRUCTURE: METROLINER CAR:SHADE STRUCTURE:ARRIVAL & PARKING"Suburban Station" themedRelocated Car to serve as exciting prelude to Museum "Suburban Station" themed rest spot, with seating[from Rolling Stock Yard]rest spot, with seatingORIENTATION:PEOPLE PLACES PRODUCTS:SIGNAL MASTS, BRIDGE:Facility & Subject Orientation Kioskline drawings & interpretation selectively limited array of signal bridges and masts[exterior-grade graphics & structure] used along entry processionalong new promenade[exterior-grade graphic silhouette][exterior-grade graphics & structure] RaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIaConceptualElevationAt New PrimaryProcession from Parking hilferty museum planning exhibit designInItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt 21 25. FACILITY SUBJECT /AMENITIESAUDIO-VISUALVISITORSPECIAL COLLECTIONS/ORIENTATION ORIENTATION STORY IMMERSION Railroads andHow RailroadsWorking onFLOW CHANGING GALLERYEXHIBITSEXHIBITS(NONE @ OPTION ONE) their Impact Work the Railroad c 12 3 4 5kARRIVALsofoav Railroads and the Made in KIDZONE:SEQUENCES PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaActivities forLandscape Young AudiencesGRAPHIC LEGENDDSTAIREXISTING SECONDARY WALK FROM PARKING METROLINER CAR (70)BUS DROP OFF LIMITED ARRAY OF SIGNAL BRIDGES & TOWERS INAND PARKINGMODULATED INCREMENTS ALONG PATHWAY NEW PRIMARY PROCESSION FROM PARKINGSTAIRST MUSEUM SHOP OGGIAfoCOVERED L soSUBURBAN STATION / METROLIINER ERA COMMUTER STATION-THEMED COVERED REST AREAS RaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIaDROP OFF / TEMPORARY PARKINGfoVisitorExperience VEHICULAR ARRIVALsoDiagramEnlarged Plan:New Primary Processionfrom Parking hilferty museum planning exhibit design 1040160InItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt22N0 2080 320 26. FACILITYSUBJECT /AMENITIESAUDIO-VISUALVISITORSPECIAL COLLECTIONS/ ORIENTATION ORIENTATION STORY IMMERSIONRailroads and How Railroads Working onFLOW CHANGING GALLERY EXHIBITSEXHIBITS(NONE @ OPTION ONE)their ImpactWorkthe Railroadc 12 3 4 5 kARRIVAL sofoav Railroads and the Made inKIDZONE:SEQUENCESPennsylvaniaPennsylvania Activities for LandscapeYoung AudiencesGRAPHIC LEGENDKIDSPENTRY ACE STAFF PARKINGmajor ELEV & STAIRS soLOBBYCONTROL MULTI- POINTPURPOSESPACE so foSTAIRSmajor av TT foLOBBY LOADING DOCK & STORAGE HANDICAPPED PARKING & ARRIVALMUSEUM SHOP NEW PRIMARY COVERED LOGGIA PROCESSION ENTRY FROM PARKING OGGIA COVE RED L OUTDOOR ROLLING STOCK YARDRaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIafo VisitorsoPEDESTRIAN ARRIVAL FENCE ExperienceFROM STRASBURG RAILROAD Diagram Enlarged Plan: Lobby & Main Subject Orientation Exhibits hilferty museum planning exhibit design10 40160InItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt23N02080 320 27. FACILITYSUBJECT/AMENITIES AUDIO-VISUALVISITORSPECIAL COLLECTIONS/ ORIENTATIONORIENTATIONSTORY IMMERSION Railroads and How RailroadsWorking onFLOW CHANGING GALLERY EXHIBITS EXHIBITS (NONE @ OPTION ONE) their ImpactWork the Railroad c1 2 3 45 kARRIVAL so fo avRailroads and the Made in KIDZONE:SEQUENCES PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaActivities forLandscape Young AudiencesGRAPHIC LEGEND RESTORATION SHOP(GUIDED TOURS ONLY)CENTRAL SPINE AREA INCLUDES A WIDE PROMENADE--CENTERED ON THE OVERLOOK ABOVE--ALL AROUND WITH OPEN FLOOR AREA FOR VIEWS FROM ENTRY, PROGRAMMING, AND SPECIAL USE (DENOTED BY LIGHTER AREA)6A 7A 1 234 5 STAIR TO OVERLOOKintro3 44intro1introC E N T R A L33 intro1 introav4 5 BELOW THE LOCOMOTIVE intro3OVERLOOK ABOVEintro22 kS P I N Eintro 1915 STREETSCAPE intro11 RaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIa4intro avVisitorExperience ENTRYSTAFF PARKINGDiagramEnlarged Plan: ELEV & STAIRSCentral Spine & MULTI-PURPOSE SPACETheme Introductions hilferty museum planning exhibit design 1040160InItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt24N0 20 80320 28. PRODUCTS:PEOPLE: RMP ROLLING STOCK PEOPLE:PEOPLE: PRODUCTS: RMP ROLLING STOCKPenn Central LocomotiveWorking on the Railroad People & Railroads in PAPassengers Early Steam Locomotive[transparent graphic [Audio Visual projection inside [Audio Visual projection on[Audio Visual projection[graphic on transparentsilhouette]of box car] side of box car]on side of passenger car]scrim material]PRODUCTS:EXHIBIT:EXHIBIT:PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS:EXHIBIT:of IndustryTheme exhibit Theme exhibit, withMachine Parts of Industry Theme exhibit[transparent graphic hidden A/V equipment[transparent graphic] [transparent graphicsilhouette]at reverse side silhouette]RaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIaConceptualElevationRolling Stock Hallhilferty museum planning exhibit designInItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt25 29. RMP ROLLING STOCK PLACES: BANNERS: RMP ROLLING STOCKOVERLOOK Modern Signal Bridge at Overlook & Central Spine area,with exhibits along railing[steel & graphics]placed so as to not interfere withviews [graphics on fabric] EXHIBIT:PRODUCTS: PLACES: PRODUCTS: CENTRAL SPINE / INTRODUCTORY AREA: INTRO TO THEMES:PRODUCTS: Theme exhibit Signal Mast Historic Signal House Locomotive Anatomy of Parts +/- 40 X 160 open area centered on overlook above, Exhibits introducing each of the 5Livestock [graphic silhouette][transparent graphic[graphic etched onflanked by THEME INTRODUCTION EXHIBITS themes occur along the[transparent graphic silhouette] transparent material]Central Spine silhouette]RaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIa Conceptual Elevation Central Spine & Overviewshilferty museum planning exhibit designInItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt 26 30. FACILITYSUBJECT/AMENITIESAUDIO-VISUALVISITORSPECIAL COLLECTIONS/ ORIENTATIONORIENTATION STORY IMMERSIONRailroads and How Railroads Working onFLOW CHANGING GALLERY EXHIBITS EXHIBITS(NONE @ OPTION ONE)their ImpactWorkthe Railroad c1 2 345 kARRIVAL so foav Railroads and theMade in KIDZONE:SEQUENCES Pennsylvania PennsylvaniaActivities forLandscapeYoung AudiencesGRAPHIC LEGENDFUTUREROUNDHOUSEADDITION (FOOTPRINT DASHED)TOILETSLOCOMOTIVE TURNTABLE3BISHOP5ROAD41 avfo5 RaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIa so4 4VisitorOUT DOOR RONEWExperience LLIN G STOCKROUNDHOUSEEXHIBIT DiagramYAR DEXTERIOR INTERPRETIVE NODES--FROM EACHHALL Enlarged Plan:THEME--AS APPROPRIATE FOR OUTDOORTurntable & FENCEROLLING STOCK YARD New Roundhouse3hilferty museum planning exhibit design 10 40 160 InItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt27N020 80320 31. FACILITYSUBJECT /AMENITIESAUDIO-VISUALVISITOR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS/ORIENTATION ORIENTATION STORY IMMERSION Railroads and How RailroadsWorking onFLOWCHANGING GALLERYEXHIBITSEXHIBITS(NONE @ OPTION ONE) their ImpactWork the Railroadc 1 2 3 45 k ARRIVALsofoavRailroads and the Made in KIDZONE: SEQUENCESPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaActivities forLandscape Young AudiencesGRAPHIC LEGENDROUTE 741STAIR DOWN TOROLLINGSTOCK HALLS5 OVERLOOK4 132EXHIBITS ABOUT EACH THEME (NUMBER AS APPROPRIATE; TWO FROM EACH THEME SHOWN) RELATING TO OBJECTS / PLACES VIEWABLE FROM OVERLOOK4 1 OVERLOOK53 2 ENTRY RaIlROad MuseuM Of PennsylvanIaCHANGING SPECIALCOLLECTIONScc EXHIBITGALLERY VisitorGALLERY ExperienceDiagramSECOND LEVEL PLANEnlarged Plan:Second Level hilferty museum planning exhibit design 10 40160 InItIal MeetIng Phase RePORt28N 02080 320 32. AppendixMeeting Notes: June 05, 2011Thematic OutlineUnifying Design Concept DrawingsVisitor Experience Diagram OptionsMeeting Notes: July 11, 2011InItIal MeetIng Phase RePoRt 29 33. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Meeting Notes Monday June 6 7, 2011 Initial Meeting Phase Participants Hilferty SV Sam Van Nostrand [email protected] DC Dean Clouse [email protected] Gerry Hilferty [email protected] CP Carol Perloff [email protected] BHSM SM Steven Miller [email protected] MB Michael Bertheaud [email protected] BR Brenda Reigle [email protected] RMP CF Charles Fox [email protected] BS Brad Smith [email protected] NJ Nick Jmijewski [email protected] AM Allan Martin [email protected] DR Deborah Reddig [email protected] AD - Ann Davis - [email protected] PM Patrick Morrison [email protected] TG Troy Grubb [email protected] CB Craig A. Benner [email protected] * denotes partial attendance Walk around museum 8:30AM 10:00AM 10:05AM We started the meeting with a big picture overview of what previous plans and studies had been completed, what projects were being undertaken presently at the site and what future projects are being considered. BR the plans resulting from efforts two years ago have some elements moving ahead and some that are not. Funding is a major factor in that determination. CF Master Plan has been useful for overall planning. RMP was successful in purchasing the Bishop Road property. Any additions to the museum building such as were suggested in the architectural master plan? CF No plans to expand for now. CF cautioned against augmentations to the building as it could chew up the budget. All acknowledge the funds allocated under this scope of work for the exhibits cannot be used for architecture. The current 1 34. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania projects under way are the HVAC (making the rolling stock hall (RSH) a conditioned space) and the design and ultimate construction of the roundhouse. - the HVAC project is scheduled to be completed by October 2011, may be as late as January 2012. - Roundhouse design is to be complete by December 2011 and open by Spring 2013. - The roundhouse architect is Erdy McHenry Architecture in Philadelphia. They are in the design stage, the structure is modern and sustainable brick and glass. Contact PHMC Barry Loveland to initiate getting plans and information for the roundhouse addition. Any rail yard or site work planned? CF A suggestion was to utilize special grasses, not likely to implement. There will be a nice paved pathway leading from the SW corner of RSH to the roundhouse. Any orientation for visitors from parking lot to the entry? CF was hoping to make that part of this meeting/phase discussion. No structures, only signage. Any interpretation of the rail yard or roundhouse? CF Not a great deal of effort has been spent on interpretive signage. Out of the 100,000SF RSH only 16% of it is interpretive. There wont be a lot of room in the roundhouse for interpretation. The challenge is RMP has a world-class collection, but its difficult to create environmental context and introduce people stories. Its presently a great place to see a lot of trains, but we can teach a lot more than that. CF Orientation is critical for visitors, letting them know what their choices are. Also, we need to get the five identified themes across right away. Have you matched artifacts to the stories? CF Weve started. BS We are working on creating virtual tours (360 panorama video) of the inaccessible train cars to be shown on existing (refurbished) kiosks. What opportunities are there to supplement the capitol budget? CF We have good relationships with Norfolk Southern and other railroads. Outside funds can be used to pay for virtual tours, architectural items, archive/library, etc. Other sources include North American RR Federacy, plus local entities and individuals Steinman. DR It depends on what the ask is, maybe specific community based groups would be interested in helping fund a particular item/exhibit. The same rules apply for how funds cant be used for architecture? BR right. CF Not for major architectural changes. SM The new administration believes history is important thats good news. If we can define the needs the Keystone Fund can be utilized, we can make a reasonable request. BR reminds that this is just initial planning, not a lot of detail will be included this will be a general overview. We can begin to scope out the needs. This will be the only phase Hilferty will provide services for under the current contract that expires in October. However if some specifics are included the report can be used for fundraising. BR will email CF confirmation that $4.5M is the budget for the interpretive effort. GH This includes everything interpretive from the parking lot, 2 35. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania to the front door, the museum, the rail yard, and the roundhouse? CF Yes, this is our opportunity to change the entire interpretive experience. There are a lot of made in Pennsylvania companies that are still going concerns; General Electric, Baldwin, Union Switch & Signal, etc. These are opportunities for partnerships; they can be support to the project. SM suggested looking for ways to utilize donors for specific opportunities. CF We are poised for significant growth in the next 5 years, we can truly reshape the museum. The HVAC project, the new exhibits, the roundhouse all will increase interest. The roundhouse is an attraction in itself and could pay for itself. What is current visitation? Presently about 130,000 visitors annually. 2001 was the best year since opening with 160,000 visitors. Whats the status of the Strasburg Railway? CF Its slowly slipping away, theyre not applying their attention to tourists. They are also operating as a short line railroad moving freight; the rehab shop is also a large part of their focus. They are separate and have a different focus than RMP. We are not going to be tied to what they are or arent doing, though we would like to capture the 300,000 visitors per year. The Deco faade needs help. CF We need to maintain the ability to change the rail stock in RSH every two years though that is not a focus of the exhibit. It helps to exercise the gearboxes, etc. We still intend to contextualize similar to the 1915 street scene. That is a good example/illustration of how railroads changed the way we live(d). Station Shops should become 1915 Street Scene - adding interpretation would be good. Railroads changed the way we lived, i.e.) citrus fruit from Florida. The most contemporary pieces of rolling stock are 1970s 40 years old. We must cover the stories of all rail lines not just the Pennsylvania Railroad. Ideally we would have chosen to have fewer PA RR locomotives. Can visitors access/board trains? Some, we could add more. Some are too detailed and fragile; the virtual tours would be better. BS We can achieve a balance between conservation and interpretation. There is an ongoing film digitization project. PRM old archive films are being converted to digital format and will be available for use in the new exhibit. We are a railroad museum with a bunch of trains that dont go anywhere. Some additional rolling stock could be placed at disembarking/parking. There is a long path leading from parking to the entrance with no shade/protection Please refer to the bullet point list of General Comments (GC) Regarding Exhibit Design Gleaned from Staff Discussions updated 5/25/11. The meeting (mostly) follows this list until mid-afternoon. [The notes are in sequential order following the meeting some out of sequence comments and discussions have a note referencing the GC# it best relates to.] GC- 1: We are focusing our current efforts on developing themes, stories, and relevant artifact lists -- leaving exhibit design work to Hilferty. That being said, we like the idea of dividing our fivethemes geographically perhaps focusing on two themes in Rolling Stock Hall(RSH) west, two inRSH east, and one in the roundhouse (tentatively scheduled for completion in March 2013). The3 36. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania exhibit should incorporate the lobby, the kiosks, the 1915 Street Scene, the yard and the newroundhouse. The five themes are; Railroads and their Impact, Railroads and the Pennsylvania Landscape, How the Railroad Works, Made in Pennsylvania, and Working on the Railroad. GH asked to confirm it was the intention to move one of the five themes out to the roundhouse? Yes. GH cautioned removing one of the five (20% of the story) has a challenge in that weather becomes a factor in visitors accessing the theme based in the roundhouse as access is by a hardscape pathway without a roof/cover. CF offered that the roundhouse based theme become an elaboration of a theme visitors will be introduced to inside the main museum building. CB Not seeing everything on a first visit may encourage repeat visitation. PM Give each of the themes an icon. Some of the exhibits will cover multiple stories and icons could serve to key visitors into identifying the themes. SM related the success and recent State discussions/strategies to incorporate the use of cell phone access to interpretive programming. One challenge here is that cell coverage isnt complete. PM did relate trial cell phone stations tried previously did not have enough visitors using them to be effective. QR codes? SM described PAs autumn based campaign. The State is thrilled with the technology, it appeals to a new audience. It opens up the opportunity for visitors to link and communicate with each other. GC-2: Our visitors occasionally need help finding their way through the Museum, so orientingvisitors will be an important component of the exhibit. If we want visitors to follow a specific path,we could perhaps establish a suggested route which visitors follow with the idea that repeat orless-interested visitors will likely take their own path. An orientation map of some sort might help.GC-3: The new-staircase-to-the-second-floor concept, discussed in our site master plan, is too ambitious toincorporate into this exhibit project. Without such a staircase, we should continue using the first floor as theprimary traffic flow point into RSH.GC-4: The staff consensus regarding an orientation theatre is as follows: the current video is too long, and thecurrent theater location is less than ideal. We do feel that we need some sort of orientation video but we needto keep it short (4-5 minutes) and we need to present it as an option to visitors before they enter rolling stockhall. In addition to an orientation video, we envision that video related to various exhibit themes could bepresented in other areas of the hall.GC-5: We want a core message presented forcefully in an introduction, emphasized throughout our themes,and then reiterated in our conclusion.GC-6: Use the lobby to orient visitors and present our introduction; present our conclusion here as well. GC-7: Design the walk-through to RSH as if it were a concourse connecting a head house and train shed. Regarding orientation; Visitors need both facility orientation and subject orientation. - Facility Orientation is critical in a multi-venue site and will help visitors know what is available at the site (how to spend their time) and how to get around (way finding). 4 37. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania -Subject Orientation will be the introduction of the 5 main themes, it will give visitors an idea of the magnitude of railroads in Pennsylvania. The two types of orientation need to be clear and not directly mixed (confusing). BS agrees; where are the bathrooms?, how do we get out to the rail yard? Likes having a central area where visitors can get their bearings. Maybe have footprints to take people to the yard. See GC 4: The current orientation video is about 15 minutes long, does not reference/follow the five themes, and doesnt directly/clearly address railroads changed the way we live. It falls short, some basics are covered, and it meanders. Should be scratched and start over, 15 minutes is too long 5 minutes duration is the goal. See GC 4: BR We can change its physical location, move it closer to the door and make it more evident. Its presently located in the baggage room. Would like to return it to a baggage room. GH A small-scale presentation is not equal to the magnificence of the subject. The intro AV should set the tone for whats to follow let visitors know. Facility Orientation CF likes maps as an effective orientation tool. GH or simple models What do we need to let potential visitors know? CF should utilize the walk from the parking lot to inform visitors. The current visitor admission is $10 adults, $9 seniors, $8 kids PM Visitors avoid the desk; esthetics is an issues as well as location and appearance. GH mentioned at Pennsylvania Military Museum Hilferty has plans to add a kinetic attract just beyond the ticketing desk as an enticement to visitors deciding whether to buy a ticket. Let visitor know in the lobby how exciting it will be. CF points out the current use of large AV monitors to impart information to visitors. DR suggested another place to connect with visitors is in the connecting hallway into RSH. CF agrees. GH wanted to explore ways of moving visitors upstairs first. Advantages are a wow moment entering into RSH onto the bridge with an overview of the collection. CF disagrees. The wow moment is when you walk up to the locomotives stagger at the size of them. CF stated after a lot of thought RMP has come to the conclusion that the first floor entry is easier financially, architecturally, and it fits with their goal. PM added visitors are immediately immersed into the 1915 town. MB described it as the Pitt tunnel effect when you enter Pittsburgh there is a definite wow when you exit the tunnel and are hit with the vision of downtown. Entry on the second floor ramp diminishes the scale of the trains. CF is reminded of similarity to riding the Reading RR when he was a child youre right down amongst them. SM asked if canted panels are used? Yes, it creates a pinch point. PM acknowledges the upstairs view is good for a large group orientation. CB said the front area is wasted space. 5 38. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania CF would like to use video to support the educational mission. Overall Circulation/Routing Lobby, ticketing, orientation show, tunnel (must deliver). GH It customary to organize around a central area such as cathedrals and malls. TG likes idea of having a core exhibit area in the middle of RSH. DR reminds that we must maintain a central area for rentals; weddings and dances need a clear centralized space maintain revenue-generating area. AM clarified that the present movable crossovers are not safe, they arent flush with the floor on either side. GH asked if they are movable? Yes, with a pallet jack. We need to look at new ways to get people across the tracks BS described how and why the old wooden car is strategically placed under the RSH bridge for protection from potential roof collapse. Is there power available to middle areas of RSH? Along the perimeter, not in the center. Can we place a bulls-eye at the far wall (South) of RSH to pull visitors through? Maybe a window into the restoration shed? CF not architecturally practical, but bulls-eye is a good idea. MB said adding such an element will create a desire that cant be fulfilled this is as close as you can get. AM tours are available. PM described the bridge as underutilized. GH suggested that the overhead directional signage is too close to authentic it should be significantly different and not themed in a period fashion. AM It would be good if the automatic doors leading into RSL could be replaced with automatic sliders. NZ questioned if the doors are even still needed after RSH is conditioned? Also, can we eliminate the upper level doors? Suspicion is that the environmental seal must be maintained. Whats possible? Second architectural firm concerned with RSH retrofits. GH Can we get a read from them? Yes. GH Sound should be considered at RSH entry area. CF yes, it should be a part of the experience. Theres a lot we could do. The 1915 streetscape provides opportunities. Altoona is actually like a railroad town. Any oral histories? Yes. Still collecting? Not presently. Oral histories are a valid and valuable opportunity. Yes, they can make the exhibits come alive. NZ RMP is looking at digitizing tons of existing old footage (film). CF mentions the idea of a railroad theater to show some of this historic footage. BS, Come on boys housewives are waiting. GH WWII, any Rosie stories? Yes, also significant cultural stories black porters, immigrants, Irish building the railroads. GH What access is there to the new roundhouse? Out the NE exit into the rail yard on to a 150 yard walkway. CF We need to keep visitors focused, not give them too many options. Disembarking GH Orientation for visitors upon arrival as you get out of the car, any possibility of having a rain shelter? Built in kiosk? Shared idea at Drake Well Museum of small 6 39. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania distinctive sign leading from the parking lot with factoids. AM suggested having a sign near the parking lot with hours of operations, and lights. Any possibility of placing a train in the front between the parking lot and the entry? Difficulties include grade problems and identifying an appropriate piece of rolling stock that will hold up the weather. CF explained that the building windows are being replaced with insulated glass as part of the HVAC upgrade there are windows in the NE corner of the building between the parking lot and the entry. Presently there are lots of trains in the yard as visitors arrive from the east giving visitors the sense of what the complex is all about. Arrival from the west is quite different in that no trains appear on the west end of the building. PM brought up the idea of muralizing the west end of the building. Other ideas include utilization of exterior photos, murals, banners, sculpture, and digital projection of trains during operating hours. Visitors are visually drawn to the themed Strasburg Railroad across the street. GH restates the need for a way to draw visitors form the parking lot and direct them to the front door. There s an existing iron bridge thats not installed. Could we put a train on the iron bridge? The type of bridge it is has the train on top of the truss so it would be up in the air. Could we use the bridge as part of the pedestrian way? Or create a layered silhouette sculpture of a train with dramatic lighting. CF wrapped up with a caution that we dont spend too much on the exterior and slight the interior exhibits. Lunch 12:30PM 1:45PM After lunch it was the focus to wrap up the General Comments and move on to exploration of the five theme areas. GC-9: Core message should reflect historical significance, but also emphasize contemporary significance, with something contemporary highlighted in each theme. GC-10: We could develop small icons for each theme (e.g. a silhouette of PA for the Pennsylvania Landscape theme), to get around the fact that it will be difficult to keep the representatives of each them physically united. GC-11: The finished exhibit will ideally contain a nice blend of stories and stuff using PA examples to tell the overall story. The railroad is alive and well today. GC- 12: The introduction will present our core message: Railroads changed the way we live. In addition to presenting this message, the introduction will present the basic gist of our five themes. GC-13: A conclusion should reiterate the five themes and our core message. GC-14: The exhibit should be thematic rather than chronological. Each theme should have its own introduction and conclusion. Themes should include contemporary materials where possible. GC-15: The exhibit should be multi-sensory and include sound, smell, etc. GC-16: The exhibit should allow for changeability (within the exhibit) and for movability. Theme areas will need to be somewhat mobile, like the baggage cart idea. Emphasize the main overarching message, Railroads changed the way we live 7 40. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania The five themes will be reiterated upon departure as a reinforcement of what were trying to impart. The collection resides at RMP: it includes over 500,000 images and 150 movies. GC- 17: Materials from Interpretive Solutions should be used as a basis for scripts, artifact lists and graphic lists, but will ultimately be only one of many elements we use as we work together to craft a new exhibits plan. Hilferty inquired who will, in the design phases, assemble the data (stories, collections, images) into a draft script matrix? Will it be more similar to Pennsylvania Military Museum where the State takes the lead or like Pennsylvania Lumber Museum where the contractor takes the lead? BR clarified the contractor will take the lead and collaborate with the RMP and PHMC teams. BS referred to the list of where they matched artifacts to story. GC- 18: We would love to see interactive exhibits that will engage visitors who learn best by doing. However, we are much less interested in high-tech due to the fact that tech-based exhibitry could become get outdated quickly and present potential maintenance problems. What about the big screens? CF, not really high tech. We dont want science center computer interactives. OK with mechanical interactive exhibits? Yes, we do have a diesel simulator. See Stewart Junction, lots of lift panels and simple interactives. Also see our coal shoveling interactive. Thresher too high tech? it has AV that doesnt work. CP What about remote access videos to see inside rail cars? RMP is working with Media Dimensions, Timonium, MD http://www.mediadimensions.com/ to make 360 videos of the interior of 50 cars. CF Kiosks will allow visitors to pull up key information on rail cars. GH would like to integrate into the overall exhibit approach. PM Other simple technology similar to a previous wall mounted lobby exhibit that was showed steam and fire inside of a locomotive using bypassing cellophane graphics. MB offered another effective simple interactive is stacking stone fences at Sturbridge Village. GC-19: While not exactly exhibit-related, we desperately need a new ticket desk, located in a better position, that includes separate ticketing and information stations. GC-20: We envision changing our rolling stock hall layout to meet interpretive needs. However, when it comes to the equipment stored in rolling stock hall, conservation needs are of paramount importance. Need to list objectives: maybe an information desk, maybe concessions. Food can work if its placed correctly. BR suggested having more restrooms. There is a version of the theme outline sheet that had the addition of an alphanumerical outline key so particular sections could be referenced . Themes are numbered 1-5, bullet points are alpha, and the hollow bullets are numerical all in order/hierarchy of the way the document was originally assembled. 8 41. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Theme One: Railroads and Their Impact 2:15PM CF this is the heart of the entire operation, a massive topic. TG Encompasses a lot. Platform 1 lends itself to this with the photo studio, general store, hotel bar, and workers house. Want to turn the present AV room back into a baggage room intended to be storage. BR If street scene is 1915 how do you intend to show earlier or later periods? CF - we use this because 1915 is close to the apex of steam technology. PM The exhibit introduction is 1915 and we can use icons to tie other eras into the intro areas. What about the utilization of the core of RSH as the introduction of the 5 main theme areas? CF OK with core area as base. BS the story has to expand beyond the street scene to include the industrial revolution see England as well. GH agrees that the street of shops is immersive, but not conducive to entire story. BS referred to the fixed facades of warehouses/industrial buildings along South wall, near the SW corner of RSH. The service pit offers opportunity for interpretation ties into theme 5 Working on the Railroad. In section I.B.1-5 we have a lot of stock mentioned. There was shipping of Searss houses, cars, etc. At I.C.3 this nice passenger equipment, but maybe not appropriate. We can interpret the same car on 2 sides with different stories. Another impact was the communication story and how the telegraph impacted doing business. GH In the immersive area how much interpretation do you accept? It should be subtle enough it doesnt ruin the illusion, but not so its missed. Hidden in crates and barrels with lift flaps is OK. Cultural Impact Do we include literature, music, loss of jobs, and pop culture? Yes, plus whats listed in I.F.1-3. American Politics o 1916 threatened strike, Adamson Act o 1894 Ry. Safety Appliance o Civil War 1st mobile war (see new document collection), Cumberland Valley Coach 1855 o Campaigning by rail o Wild Wild West, Thomas Tank Engine, Boxcar Children o Current events B&O, high speed rail, cities doing their own systems o Germans in 1940s came to US to emulate success now were a joke to them. o Collapse of railroads relates to the collapse of current car industry. o For a long while US Government wouldnt allow lines to stop passenger service o Some areas are seeing a reversal and are going trails-to-rails 9 42. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Museum is interested in maintaining ability to mount changing exhibits for additional interpretation. BR reminded everyone that in all of these considerations concerning the new exhibits that a today component needs to be included in the stories. Theme Two: Railroads and the Pennsylvania Landscape II.A see Horseshoe Curve The railroad was based on extractive resources. Look at it from a business aspect as well as the natural resource aspect. The landscape was changed much more than just the additional of tracks. This theme could be based in the SE corner to have a visual connection to the exterior through the large windows. Illustrate how the aggression of the railroad was at its peak in 1916. There are presently 52 railroads (common carriers) operating in Pennsylvania now. The Pennsylvania Turnpike was built on land that was being prepared for installation of a new railroad it lay fallow for 60 years. Theme Three: How Railroads Work BR Railroad morons need simple diagrams. A mention was made of an electric driven model of how steam works. For railroad morons start with why you need an engine. How to build trains. Interjection may have access to decommissioned Alto tower from Altoona. PM maybe this theme doesnt have a home base could have a scavenger hunt throughout the site. CF or it could be a mix of some home base with switching, signaling, Alto tower capture logistic in an area. BS stated it was a goal to have less of just hardware. They want to find a balance with people stories. RMP has a labeled locomotive that is a good place to start and possibly to have coal shoveling interactives. GH confirmed that the new roundhouse is only housing steam locomotives yes, 6 total. o In 1908 NYC banned steam locomotives electric only BR asked if a modern story can be covered in the roundhouse No, only steam locomotives. CF knows of a roundhouse that is being taken down that still has all of its contents intact, working. Maybe we could get some ambient sound. Would like to get some of the items and create as an exhibit. What is the maximum size of items that can be on the platforms? Theme Four: Made in Pennsylvania BS there are many things to discuss in this section. BR Any current manufacturing? o GE in Erie 10 43. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania o Union Switch & Signal o Westinghouse (Wab tech) o Ambridge Company GH Any new innovations such as magnetic levitation not in PA It was legislated that there would be interchangeability of parts across equipment brands it was pretty widespread. Todays trains must be compatible and work with other manufacturers components. Theme Five: Working on the Railroad There is a vast scope of jobs associated with the railroad both directly and indirectly. In 1920s 1 in 5 worked in a railroad related job hotels, restaurants, coffee shops With the present increase in railroad related jobs one of the lines has built a new RR hotel in Harrisburg for employees. PM & TG see cases and tours telling railroad stories and utilizing oral histories. This area could be artifact and personal story heavy. TG This is a good place for interactives: inspecting cars, sorting mail, shoveling coal CF tell people stories like the call boy runner. BR Bring the story up to today. GH asked about why RMP is located in a cornfield not in a traditionally train dense urban local? They were strategic in locating in an active tourist area, plus being across from a major destination of RMPs target audience. For contemporary stories show what they can do; capacities, efficiencies, etc. See Extreme Trains on television. Can access recruitment films. Not too many boilermakers left. The railroad industry has been through cycles of centralization and de-centralization. Add awareness of railroad conservation. Adjourn 5:00PM Tuesday June 7, 2011 9:10AM As the meeting was running ahead of schedule, the client group decided they would like to cover several topics; delivery methods, lots-o-info, wayfinding, and learning styles. Delivery Methods some have been tried and worked, some have not worked PM To match the variety of visitors RMP gets we need to have a variety of content delivery methods. This includes reading labels, tactile exhibits, and utilizing the spoken word (recordings, docents). In addition to learning styles there is a great variety in the audience ages. Parents want to act like kids, fathers are interested in trains, what is there for the mothers/women to do? MB How did the railroad change the lives of women? BR inquired if there are any audience surveys? No, its been a few years, will check and lets us know what they can find. Maybe the 2008 accreditation surveys would be helpful will research and forward to Hilferty. 11 44. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania To assure visitor get the message illustrate the story in a couple of ways. Is there a railroad music library? Some music is available see Smithsonian. Any Irish work songs? see Library of Congress. Also see the labor movement libraries. Tried and true. PM older exhibits have relied on model, the problem is with accuracy. Slides dont work. Panels at entry to RSH do work people take time to read them. BS guard against overexposure of similar objects, i.e.) lanterns. Some collections are stored in the warehouse fronts on the SW wall? Yes, we have to look at rotating the ones on display. CB we need to show journal boxes and explain what they are. Same with sand and ashes. CF Do the exhibits have to carry the full responsibility or can they be augmented with docents? people like to talk to people. PM Working on the Railroad tour is popular because its hands-on. Some volunteers have come up with their own tours. There are accounts where women traveling with a family group elect to sit in the lobby and forgo the RMP ticketed offerings altogether. Any ideas for a womans tour? TG having the 1915 street completed will help with addition of the store and home. Also stories of women helping during wartime, and working as telegraphers. MB What about women in advertising. CF Dont fall victim to the idea women wont be interested. PM We have introduced some gender and race based tour components. SM Marketing shows women make the majority of vacation decisions, followed by children, then the males. DR Dont make the mistake women arent interested in technology. What about women who dont come in? DR the lack of HVAC has played into why some dont come in. CF We must be an advocate for visitors. CP Can you do a focus group with your current members? Any other under served population segments? Some discussion regarding accessibility. RMP does have one free electric scooter and three wheelchairs. SM Call out green features of facility for those who are interested. Dr this has been included in announcements on facebook, etc. GH is there any monitor/read out showing savings? No SM At Drake Well Museum a popular tour is a behind the scenes showing the new geo-thermal system. GH Railroads have always been know as energy savers. CP Any special needs programming? PM we always adapt the programs to their particular condition BS wrote a proposal for a grant, but it was denied. The grant was for a tour for the visually impaired. 12 45. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Lots-o-Info How does it fit? MB We have a fascinating, but overwhelming, amount of information. CF The best is person to person communication i.e.) volunteers PM reminds that there are supplemental ways to cover the breadth of stories that cant be in the exhibit; special events, speakers, changing exhibits CF Though we have a national context we must still stay focused on Pennsylvania. GH assured all that Hilferty will for this phase and future ones if were selected accommodate a variety of learning methods so visitors can find their own level. SM suggested utilizing QR codes to allow interested visitors to drill deeper into content. GH One to one (ideal) isnt always going to work. SM Younger folks want to self-direct. CF Related at Penns Manor they put out a calendar of events scheduling activities. i.e.) every 3rd week a turntable event. GH said at Kansas City they have docent engineers. Visitor Wayfinding How do we Direct Visitors? TG Although we have a central hall, how do visitors make their way through the exhibit? CP A good orientation could help Ideas abounded o Tools o Street Signs o Go over map o Reinforcement o Big Board o Foot prints PM Communication and how to navigate is difficult. CF RSH is similar to a grocery store add isle signs. MB Its just a building. SM Visitors cant underestimate their lack of understanding CF the central core idea will help. GH People learn and enjoy more when they understand how to navigate and where they are within the facility and visitor experience see Judy Rands Visitors Bill of Rights. TG Visitors dont read signs. Maybe arriving in a new environment is disorienting. GH Thats why the path from the parking lot is important its a decompression period. PM Sometimes were asked if there is a recommended path or an express route if they can only stay for short time. CF see Yorktown method, and Intrepid SM Cautioned, dont under spend on pathway from parking lot to point of sale if you dont get them in , its a wasted effort. SV 2007 art deco lobby, what was the conceptualization? To get people across the street. It has some good points, but it doesnt speak railroad more movie theater. Not popular with the locals, signage doesnt read well. Would like more of a train station if we could get it. GH observed Strasburg Railroad has a split rail fence impeding visitors direct access to RMP site. Yes, and also port-a-johns sometimes line the road. 13 46. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Inside the RMP lobby there are some things that are not working. The cage hides the staff member who is oriented toward right side and has back to visitors who ran to the restroom first. At times many visitors arrive at once from across street (300) some of whom have purchased a combo ticket from Strasburg and think they can just circumvent the whole desk/check point and go right in. This creates difficulties with reimbursements from Strasburg. Its difficult with the present configuration to handle a large group arriving all at once. Previously had an airline counter with a one-way exit gate. It was suggested having a separate point of sale and information desk. Info first (requires volunteers), then ticket model TG Mobilization of large groups in the lobby interferes with single visitors. PM Had looked at the gift shop maybe the meeting/multipurpose room as a staging area for large groups. The storage room is available, but it also serves as the HVAC return plenum and computer server room. CF Complete trains chew up a lot of space. Can we rethink? i.e.)1915 train has three baggage cars, we could loose some of them. Only useful if youre doing a compare and contrast. Basic ideas to get across: describe how a railroad works [people versus freight], basic anatomy and evolution of a train, why do trains need water? The example of Stewart Junction is that it tries to educate on a basic level, but we should try to do that throughout the exhibit. Approximately 93% of the collection is catalogued. There is some ongoing de-accessioning. Next Steps BR explains the contract Hilferty is working under expires this Fall so this phase is as far as the project will go until a new contract is written likely in early 2012 with the selected firm(s). Maybe Hilferty, maybe not. Hilferty will submit meeting notes for review, comment and approval. Hilferty will send some bubble plan options showing proximity of topics and visitor flow for review and comment (tentatively the week of June 27th). Hilferty will schedule a phone call for a walk-through of the plan options (tentatively the week of July 11th). A week after that, comments are due to BR for forwarding to Hilferty. Hilferty will incorporate those comments received and submit a draft phase report followed by a final with noted changes. 14 47. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (PRM)Thematic Outline from PRM 5.25.11Hilferty edits noted 6.6.11 Railroad Museum of PennsylvaniaThematic OutlineMain Message/Introduction: Railroads changed the way we live.1. Railroads & Their Impact Message: The railroads and related industries of Pennsylvania profoundly transformed American life, and they remain vitally important to our nation today. a. Railroads facilitated the Industrial Revolution b. Railroads changed the products available to us Suggestion: Railroads offered an unprecedented level of connectivity for people and productsi. Adams Express, Railway Express Agency ii. Fruit Growers Expressiii. Livestock Carsiv. Railway Post Office Service v. Sears & Roebuck, Ford, etcvi. Question: what kinds of products? c. Railroad changed the way we travel Suggestion: this becomes subtheme of previous suggested bullet pointi. Railroads made an immediate impact ii. Connecting the nations towns 1. Stations and depotsiii. Pullman, Blue-Ribbon Trainsiv. Commuter rails and the growth of suburbs 1. Suggestion: PA city example? d. Railroads changed the face of American Businessi. The PRR was the worlds largest corporation ii. Negative aspects of the railroadiii. Railroad advertisingiv. Mergers that failed and succeeded v. PA Shortlinesvi. Modern Class One Railroads in PA vii. Railroad interests in coal, lumber, etc. (this sort of repeats a bit of theme two. Is that ok, or should we keep this to a single section?) e. Railroads influenced communication and timekeeping f. Cultural Impact of Railroadingi. Orphan Trains ii. Immigrant Trainsiii. Hobo cultureiv. Suggestion: art, music, movies, books? g. Railroads of Pennsylvania changed the face of American politics Suggestion: Railroads have long been a subject of political attentioni. The mainline of public works ii. Progressive Era Legislation targeted railroads (Ry. Safety Appliance and Adamson Acts)iii. World War One and the USRAiv. Interstate Highway Act, Conrail, Amtrak, Staggers Act (moved to here from eliminated section)Hilferty Museum Planning & Exhibit Design 1 of 3 48. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (PRM)Thematic Outline from PRM 5.25.11Hilferty edits noted 6.6.11 v. Modern freight giants: NS and CSX; to a lesser extent, perhaps CN and CPvi. Government underwriting of passenger servicevii. Suggestion: current events in rail transportation, federal funding for high speed rail under Obama, cities building their own like Atlanta, perhaps get visitor feedback and opinions2. Railroads & the Pennsylvania Landscape Message: Pennsylvanias unique geography influenced the development of its railroads. Suggestion: Pennsylvanias unique geography both shaped and was shaped by the development of railroads.a. Railroads were essential for extracting Pennsylvanias abundant natural resources of lumber, coal, iron, and oil i. Anthracite Roadsii. The Reading and Anthracite (this sort of repeats a bit of theme one.Is that ok, or should we keep this to a single section?) Gearedlocomotives and logging railroadsb. Railroads used creativity and ingenuity to conquer the formidable Allegheny Mountains i. Allegheny-Portage Railroadii. Horseshoe Curve and Galitzin Tunnelsc. Topography influenced the route of right-of-ways and the design of railroad structures i. Rockville Bridge, Tunkhannock Viaduct, Starruca Viaduct, KinzuaBridge, Salisbury Viaductii. Gravity Railroads, switchbacks iii. Low-grade lines, track re-alignments iv. Railbanking, rails-to-trailsd. Railroads and the urban landscape3. How the Railroad Works Message: Railroad networks and equipment were and are complicated works of technology, engineering and coordination.a. Mechanics i. Steam1. How did it work?2. Why was it the best technology 3. Why was it replaced?ii. Electrification 1. Northeast Corridor and the GG1 2. DD1, B1, Metroliner iii. Diesel-Electric Locomotives and other steam alternatives 1. PRR E7 No. 5901 2. GP7/GP9 iv. Rail-busses and Doodlebugsv. Secondary technology 1. Air Brakes, Couplers vi. Ideas that FailedHilferty Museum Planning & Exhibit Design2 of 3 49. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (PRM)Thematic Outline from PRM 5.25.11Hilferty edits noted 6.6.11 1. Duplexes, turbines, etc.vii. Emerging technologies (make this section modular, since it could beoutdated in 5 years) 1. Green technology 2. High-speed rail 3. Remote control units b. LogisticsSuggestion: Logistics becomes subcategory under each type of technology i. Block Signaling and Centralized Traffic Controlii. Classification Yards iii. Maintenance of Way iv. Stations and Terminalsv. The Inter-modal Boom (relocated from old section 6; might also fitunder section 14. Made in Pennsylvania Message: Pennsylvania was and continues to be a leader in railroad-related manufacturing. a. Baldwin Locomotive Works: the worlds steam locomotive leader made history for its sheer volume of output and longevity b. Altoona Shops c. Budd Company: pioneers in stainless steel d. General Electric e. Innovators: Richard Imlay (sleeping car inventor), Charles Schoen (steel car patent holder), George Westinghouse f. Raw material contributors g. Other possibilities that emphasize the diversity: Altoona, Reading Shops, Camelbacks, Westinghouse, Vulcan, Union Switch & Signal, Billmeyer & Smalls, Porter, Pressed Steel Car Company, Richard Imlay (sleeping car inventor), Cambria Iron, Budd, Heisler, Climax, American Car & Foundry (Milton and Berwick), Pullman (Butler), Norris, etc. h. The process and innovation of railroad manufacturing i. From drafting desk to the erecting shop floorii. Interchangeability of parts i. Suggestion: todays story?5. Working on the Railroad Message: Railroads required an army of workers, and every railroader played a vital role. At the peak of railroading, one in five Pennsylvanians worked for a railroad or railroad related industry.a. Train Crews, shop workers, track gangs, surveying parties, etc.b. Railroad opportunities for immigrants, minorities and womeni. Duffys Cut workersc. Railroad Unionsd. Railroad Townse. Impact on employees working long hours for low pay at dangerous jobsf. Duffys Cutg. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877h. Contemporary railroad jobsHilferty Museum Planning & Exhibit Design 3 of 3 50. ACCOMPANYING THE CLOUDS OF CONNECTIVITY ARE GRAPHICS, ARTIFACT CASES, INTERACTIVES, ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN; SOME FIXED, OTHERS MOBILE, SOME FOLLOWING BAGGAGEABSTRACTIONS OF STEAM, SMOKE &CART AESTHETIC.WHEELS FORMS A CONNECTIVE VISUAL TISSUE THAT VISITORS CAN FOLLOW.ABSTRACTIONS OF STEAM, SMOKE &WHEELS MAY FOLLOW A SUBTLE COLORWAY SHIFT THAT SIGNIFIES A DIFFERENT THEME. DESIGN CONCEPT A: CLOUDS OF CONNECTIVITY Abstract and artistic visual references of steam, smoke, and wheels begin at the parking lots and lead visitors into the museum. The visual cues may take a variety of forms such as paint or pavement stain, a sculptural or standing graphic element, scrims or applied images on the windows, hanging banners, or a combination of any of these. These elements are repeated throughout the museum, both inside and out, and demarcate a path for visitors to take from the parking lot, into the museum, and out to the roundhouse and rolling stock yard. Placing a portion of the railroad bridge and the metroliner in front of the museum along the pathway will greatly enhance the look and feel of the site. The juxtaposition of the two items will convey the range of time periods and artifacts in theCEILING ART INSTALLATION museum as well as provide an unmistakable visual cue that SCULPTURALLY INTERPRETS THE IDEA OF BILLOWING SMOKE. this museum is about railroads. Visitors can walk alongside the bridge and metroliner on their way into the museum, following the clouds of connectivity design cues that might be attached to the bridge.DESIGN CONCEPT A: CLOUDS OF CONNECTIVITY 51. A/V ART INSTALLATION INSIDE VEHICLE. CAMERA OBSCURA PROJECTIONS ON EXAMPLE ROOM INTERIORS. INTERIORS & EXTERIORS OF CARS COME TO LIFE WITH A/V ACTION & STORIES WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE BUSTLE AND CLAMOR OF THE RECREATED TRAINSTATION ENVIRONMENT.ACCOMPANYING A/V ARE GRAPHICS, ARTIFACT CASES, INTERACTIVES, ACTIVITIES FORCHILDREN; SOME FIXED, OTHERS MOBILE, SOME FOLLOWING BAGGAGE CART AESTHETIC.DESIGN CONCEPT B: WITNESS HISTORY This design approach will echo an unmistakable railroad icon: the train station. Playing-off the different time periods and styles represented by the current collection and museum buildings, the design will draw from multiple time periods and styles so that it can timelessly represent any train station in the state or an amalgam of several. Audio-visual elements are strategically placed throughout the hall and in the roundhouse.VIDEO PROJECTIONS ON EXAMPLE The sounds of a train station play subtly in the background and the exterior of severalBUILDING INTERIORS/EXTERIORS. railcars are used as projection surfaces where moving images bring the cars to life. The inside of several passenger railcars come to life with projected video of passengers talking together and telling their stories, allowing visitors to witness history. This witness history approach could extend to first person interpretation in the form of docent-led tours or discussions based upon different railroad personalities from different eras. The train station motif begins with the site treatment proposed in Visitor Experience Diagram Option C. The east exterior wall of the museum shop and admin building becomes a trompe loeil or bas-relief graphic scene of a station with a passenger car pulling in. The portion of the car not seen from the outside might be represented inside the lobby area. The audio-visual treatments inside the hall and roundhouse would also enhance the train station design by providing sound and dynamic movement to the otherwise still rail hall. DESIGN CONCEPT B: WITNESS HISTORY 52. PLACES:PLACES:RailyardsSignal Towers PRODUCTS: of IndustryPRODUCTS:PRODUCTS:LivestockMachine PartsPLACES: Signal BridgePEOPLE:PassengersACCOMPANYING LARGE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE GRAPHICS, ARTIFACT CASES, INTERACTIVES,LINE DRAWING ILLUSTRATIONS--MORE OR LESS TO FULL SCALE--OF THE PEOPLE,ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN; SOME FIXED, OTHERS MOBILE, SOME FOLLOWING BAGGAGE PLACES & PRODUCTS OF PENNSYLVANIAS RAILROADS FORM A CONNECTIVE VISUALCART AESTHETIC.TISSUE THAT SURROUNDS EXHIBITS, MAKING A TRAIL FOR VISITORS TO FOLLOW.DESIGN CONCEPT C: PEOPLE PLACES PRODUCTSThe People Places Products unifying design approach is based on penand ink style sketches representing the many people, places, andproducts connected by rail over time. These representations might takeform as standing graphic elements, bas-reliefs, hanging scrims orbanners, applied graphics, or a combination and will be shown invarying degrees of intensity. These elements are repeated throughoutthe museum, both inside and out, and demarcate a path for visitors totake from the parking lot, into the museum, and out to the roundhouseand rolling stock yard.The site treatment at Visitor Experience Diagram Option C workshand-in-hand with this design approach and includes placement of aboxcar (representing products) in front of the museum. Signal bridgesand towers frame the entry to the museum from the parking lot, andmay reappear at times within the rolling stock halls and elsewhere. DESIGN CONCEPT C: PEOPLE PLACES PRODUCTS 53. Overview The following three visitor experience diagram options map the main components of the visitor experience to the site plan. These components include facility orientation, subject orientation, audio-visual elements, exhibit themes, and visitor flow. Mapping these components to the site plan provides a visual synopsis of their adjacencies and relationships. General Observations Approach/Impression The current museum signage does not convey to potential visitors that the building houses a museum about railroadsThe grand scale of the rolling with a spectacular collection. There is a need for signing that combine three-dimensional elements and graphics, stock halls easily creates the which strongly identifies the museum and encourages people to stop. These elements should include a variety offeel of a train station -- a sizes from those that are visible from the road and from across the street to others that are visible from the parkingfeeling that can be amplifiedwith new interpretive exhibits. lot and along the pathway into the museum. The elements should hint at experiences to be had at the museum and build anticipation and excitement. This excitement should extend into the lobby area where visitors are asked to purchase a ticket. In the current arrangement, once visitors enter the lobby, there is no enticement to purchase a ticket because they cannot see anything beyond the lobby. Visitors should be able to see something of interest beyond the ticketing point that encourages them to spend their money and hints at a worthwhile experience. Facility Orientation Because the museum is large, complex, and includes both interior and exterior exhibit elements, clear and comprehensive facility orientation is vital from the moment of arrival. Facility orientation should occur at the parking lots, along the pathway into the museum, and in the museum entry lobby. Wayfinding signage at decision points that include the parking lot, along the path, in the lobby, in the rolling stock hall, and in the rolling stock yard will work with facility orientation to make a visitors choices clear. The current lobby ticketing and orientation sequences do not work well. The desk attendant is hard to see behind the counter. Visitors who utilize the restrooms before purchasing a ticket can easily slip past the attendant and into theThe 1915 streetscape in the west rolling stock hall. The passenger cars here, as well as the immersive structures in the streetscape, present excellent museum without paying. Large groups often create a bottleneck in the lobby, making it hard for individual oropportunities for engaging visitors by taking them back in time to a train station setting with dramatic interpretation of subject matter. smaller groups of visitors to get past. Relocating and redesigning the ticketing counter to act as more of a control point for visitors will help ameliorate these issues. Groups can be led into the multipurpose room for orientation toOne of the many activites for kids avoid a bottleneck at the ticket desk.inside Stewart Junction, also known asKidspace. One idea is to spread some Because museum staff did not favor utilizing the overhead walkway on the second floor as a beginning point forof these activities--as the coal loading facility and subject orientation, the following visitor experience diagrams focus on a ground-level organization. Theactivity does now--out to other points size of the rolling stock hall is potentially intimidating and the random layout of rolling stock and crossover points iswithin the interpretive exhibits. confusing for visitors. To avoid this, the central spine through the rolling stock hall can serve as a central point for facility and subject orientation from which visitors can proceed into the isles to explore. EXISTIN