Alabama Museums and COVID-19

Skyler Browder
Posted: 4/9/2020

Museums across the U.S. are currently shut down just like we are here at the Historic Trust. Each museum has different ways of staying in contact with the public and keeping the public involved. Many of the museums are using Facebook to reach out to the general public, showing parts of their collections, sharing videos, and providing activities to either participate in or to use to educate the public. While I was doing my research, I noticed that some of my favorite museums and sites in Alabama are doing some great activities. 

The Alabama State Archives is asking for volunteers to transcribe old letters and documents that they have in their collection. Another thing that the Alabama Department of Archives and History has for the public is recorded public programs that are about the state’s history. The programs cover anything from music to the space program, from food to war. 

             

The History Museum of Mobile is asking the public to create its own history during the pandemic. The way that they are doing this is by asking for volunteers in the city of Mobile to submit emails, letters, texts, or social media posts to their collection. Another way they are asking for the public to participate is by asking people to mail in or keep a journal online to be made digital. 

The History Museum of Mobile has also recorded a guided tour of the exhibits they have in their museum and posted it online for the public to still be able to experience the museum in the fullest. 

Old Cahawba, Alabama’s first state capital, is now a ghost town in Central Alabama. The town was abandoned and is now an archeological site. During this trying time, they are posting pictures of some of the gravestones and explaining meanings behind the different symbols and emblems. The site is also working with the University of Alabama to create a 3D rendering of the site, showing what the once grand buildings of the city.