I N D I A N A S TAT E M U S E U M A N D H I S T O R I C S I T E S
CROSSROADS EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2023
Preparing for
Holiday Lead Interactive Developer John Segner works on model train track.
The Indiana State Museum will officially kick into holiday mode on Friday, Nov. 24, when Santa Claus’ bright red helicopter lands on the front lawn to open Celebration Crossing 2023. During this year’s festivities, which continue through Dec. 31, visitors can take a ride on the Snowfall Express, explore Santa’s Front Yard and meet the Jolly Ol’ Elf himself at Santa’s House, have lunch in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™, find their county’s unique ornament on the 92 County Tree and enjoy Holiday Sounds with performances by local choirs and ensembles. Creating all this and more holiday magic requires a huge effort involving nearly all our staff in some way, and the planning for this year’s Celebration Crossing began not long after last year’s event wrapped up. One of the earliest priorities for our programs and education engagement
team is getting Santa here. Director of Interpretation Hayley Wilson started coordinating the Santa schedule in the spring to ensure the big man will appear at Celebration Crossing each day. Plus, the team has been planning holiday-themed activities and programs for our visitors. This year, Santa’s house will have an allnew look thanks to the experience team. For months, staff members have been working behind the scenes to fabricate vibrant new décor pieces — lamps, snow globes, bookshelves, window scenes and much more — all based on colorful, inviting illustrations by local artist Candice Hartsough. Her illustrations are featured throughout Celebration Crossing, including in the whimsical woodland scenes surrounding the Snowfall Express. Installation for this year’s event began in mid-October. The week of Nov. 6 will bring big changes throughout the museum, as giant snowflakes will appear above the museum’s great hall and the Tea Room receives its holiday makeover. Before the end of the year, we hope everyone will come have lunch in the Tea Room (view the menu here), take a ride on the train, sit with Santa or simply enjoy the magic and wonder of the holidays at Celebration Crossing.
at
Celebration Crossing
Shifts
Full-time museum staff are asked to share in the excitement of the holidays and pull together for our busiest season by working two shifts during Celebration Crossing: one weekday and one weekend (or Thursday night). For more information on available shifts, reach out to Director of Interpretation Hayley Wilson.
e v i s InvaSpecies tackl ing
AT G E N E S T R AT T O N - P O R T E R
Conservation of nature is a big part of Gene Stratton-Porter’s legacy and a central message shared with people who visit the historic site. Part of that conservation message includes tackling invasive species. During Gene’s lifetime, not much was known about the harm invasive species could do to other plants in the area, and they were quite popular when gardeners wanted to fill in spaces quickly and create hedge rows. That was exactly what Gene had in mind for her cabin at Wildflower Woods. Unfortunately, the species she selected were bush honeysuckle and
glossy buckthorn, which are now known to both be aggressive invasive species. Thanks to our friends at NIPSCO and NiSource, we received a grant to help remove a section of invasives along Owl Avenue and plant some beautiful native shrubs including spicebush, buttonbush, black chokecherry, New Jersey tea and lead plant. Special thanks to Gardener Steve Brittenham and Maintenance Tech Jarrell Oliver for installing the plants (in the rain!). These will grow and create a hedge row that’s not only beautiful but also beneficial to birds that call Wildflower Woods home.
SECURITY UPDATE
with Tyriee and Dustin
See Something, Say Something
Contractor Policy Reminder
Monitoring 12 different locations across the state is a big task for our security team. Employees and volunteers can support that important effort by serving as the extra eyes and ears of ISMHS.
It is ISMHS policy that all contractors sign in through the security office at the museum or at the historic site location where site managers have scheduled work.
If you see anything you deem suspicious at the museum, please call the security office at 317-234-2455 or stop by the security office on level three across from the museum conference room.
The contractor log is maintained to keep records of the contractors’ names along with the locations and dates they are working throughout the ISMHS system, ensuring everything remains organized and running smoothly.
For the historic sites, please call local law enforcement to report anything you feel is out of the ordinary.
This log also improves accountability for those who are not normally on site and gives us vital information in the event of an emergency.
No matter what your concern is, it is always important — never bothersome. We would rather you err on the side of safety and caution.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dustin Chavez at DChavez@indianamuseum.org or Tyriee Love at TLove@indianamuseum.org
Always remember: If you see something, say something!
Director of Security Tyriee Love
Security Manager Dustin Chavez IMPORTANT NUMBERS TO PUT IN YOUR PHONE
Security Non-Emergency 317.234.2454 Security Emergency 317.234.2455 After-Hours Security Mobile 317.509.5396
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: DEVIN ROBINSON Devin Robinson joined the staff at the Lanier Mansion in September 2020. In his role as a program developer, he creates the many programs visitors enjoy and steps in to assist wherever help is needed at the historic site.
Tell me about your family. I live with my partner, Bastion, and my cats Tux and Pepper.
What is your favorite hobby or leisure activity? I love blacksmithing and metal working. However, those are not hobbies conducive to apartment living so I play a lot of tabletop role-playing games and miniatures games with my friends.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
What personal accomplishment are you most proud of?
Do you speak more than one language?
I’ve managed to maintain a very close network of friends out of college and into adulthood – and made close friends since moving to Madison.
Saying I “speak” it would be exceptionally generous, but I did take four years of Latin classes in high school.
What is your favorite food or meal? I love a good smoked BBQ pork.
What is your favorite movie, TV show or book?
Romania, honestly because it’s Halloween time when I’m writing this and creepy old castles with dark pasts are the vibe.
My favorite movie is the 1982 “Conan the Barbarian” with Arnold Schwarzenegger. My second favorite movie is “Star Wars: A New Hope.” I’m a sucker for science fiction, and sword and sorcery.
What’s your favorite song?
Who is your celebrity crush?
“Northwest Passage” by Stan Rogers.
Bruce Campbell circa 1993.
Where did you grow up? Indiana. I am a corn-fed and basketballtrained Hoosier.
What is a skill that you would like to learn? I’d jump at the opportunity to learn how to fly a plane!
If you won the lottery, what would be your first purchase? A house, quickly followed up by the tank I saw on Facebook Marketplace the other day.
NOVEMBER
NEW
KATIE BARBOUR
JAMES FRADY
Archaeology Specialist — 18 years
Security Specialist
JOHN BAUGH
MARALEE JOHNSON
Lead Mount Maker — 12 years
Early Childhood Program Coordinator
MELISSA BOWLBY
CHRIS REISING
Accounts Payable/Contracts Accountant — 5 years
AV Systems Technician
LORI WILLIS
JULIANA ROSENBERRY
Regional Landscape Manager — 3 years
Out of School Time Educator
PETER HAINES
CARA STROMAN
Interpretive Program Engagement Specialist — 2 years
Corporate & Foundation Relations Manager
ANNIVERSARIES
TEAM MEMBERS
JUDYKAY MACGREAGOR Security Specialist — 2 years
AMBER BUNNELL Engagement Specialist Supervisor — 1 year
ROBERT CLARK Security Specialist — 1 year
REINHART DIXON Gallery Engagement Specialist — 1 year
PAUL FORD Construction Manager — 1 year
STACEY POAGE Intermittent Interpreter, Gene-Stratton Porter — 1 year
Dates to remember Nov. 1-12
Nov. 11
Nov. 4
Nov. 13
Nov. 4
Nov. 23
Heroes from the Heartland (ISM) Stargazing and Night Hike (GSP) Marsh After Dark (Limberlost)
Nov. 7
General Election Day (state holiday)
Nov. 8
Honor Among Friends: Quakers and Native Americans (Coffin)
For the Win: Hoosier Game Expo (ISM) Staff, Board and Volunteer Holiday Lunch (ISM) Thanksgiving (state holiday)
Nov. 24
Celebration Crossing Opening Day (ISM)
Nov. 24-25
Nights Before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes (Lanier)
Nov. 10
Veterans Day observed (state holiday)
Visit indianamuseum.org/calendar for a complete list of ISMHS programs and events!
INDIANA STATE MUSEUM AND HISTORIC SITES
IN THE NEWS
Amber Bunnell and Carla Knapp promoting Night at the Boo Bash on Life.Style.Live.
Click on the blue names below to see the news. Spooky season events earned lots of coverage this month from news outlets across the state! Vincennes’ Frightening Feature Night was highlighted by the Washington Times Herald while WTWO-TV in Terre Haute featured other haunted happening in the southwest region. Literally, A Haunted House presented by the Friends of Culbertson Mansion was listed among the area’s top haunted houses to visit for Halloween by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Plus, our southeast region’s spooky season events were featured by the Jeffersonville News and Tribune. Haunted happenings in the central region were included in an article by the Lebanon Reporter. The Indy Star mentioned Twilight Tales in its Halloween events roundup. And mad science experiments were the highlight of a Life.Style.Live segment all about Night at the Boo Bash, featuring Director of Communication Carla Knapp and Gallery Engagement Specialist Amber Bunnell. Curator of History Mary Figueroa was interviewed about the Indiana tradition of senior cords for an episode of the Articles of Interest podcast. Media outlets across the state, including WRTV and The Bloomingtonian, shared the callout for artists to paint Gov. Eric Holcomb’s official portrait. Northern Regional Director Tiffany Parker gave an insightful interview on Gene Stratton-Porter’s legacy and love of nature in a travel story showcasing GSP for Journey Indiana or WFYI/WTIU. Limberlost and the history of Gene Stratton-Porter were featured in a travel story in the Current. The Courier Press interviewed Southwestern Regional Director Mike Linderman about the decision to stop holding cross country meets at Angel Mounds. Program Developer Lauren Oxley was interviewed by WANE-TV about programs at GSP that highlight northeast Indiana’s connections to the Underground Railroad.
SHARE YOUR STORY IDEAS! Carla Knapp, Director of Communication | 317-234-8146 | cknapp@indianamuseum.org