Robert Long
Hernando’s Hall of History DeSoto County Museum sees growth with special exhibits and new programs.
With a mission to preserve and provide a fresh
“We’ve had some things in storage for many years
perspective on local history and an ever-expanding catalog of
that have just recently come out,” said Long. “Many of these
exhibits, the DeSoto County Museum on East Commerce Street
have existed in our collection but are now being presented in
is the perfect excuse for an educational afternoon getaway.
a new way.”
“History is all about presentation,” said Robert Long,
Long, an award winning journalist and author with a
curator of the DeSoto County Museum. “A museum is no
penchant for storytelling, served as the longtime editor of the
longer just a place where you just go and stare at a display.
DeSoto Times-Tribune newspaper for the past two decades,
It’s all about telling the story, and you have to present it in a
with the majority of his time spent working on the first draft
captivating way.”
of history for Hernando and its surrounding cities.
Since Long took over as curator in November of 2018,
“My two loves have always been writing and history,”
exhibition space has more than doubled, with dozens of old-
Long said. “When you’re telling a story or helping share
made-new items and full-scale exhibits on display.
someone else’s story, you learn to listen and try your best to
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