the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums
“From the President’s Pen” An unexpected weather change brought gloriously cooler temperatures to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in late August. Like flipping a switch, the air became crisper, the shadows cast by a sun lower in sky become longer, and the sky a richer blue. Miraculously, fall seems to have arrived early… Continue reading ALHFAM President’s Fall 2025 Message
As the 250th anniversary of America’s founding approaches, museums and other heritage destinations have a unique opportunity to come together and create unforgettable experiences for visitors. This milestone offers not just a celebration of history, but a chance to deepen collaboration across sectors, amplify shared stories, and strengthen communities through meaningful partnerships. Here’s how museums,… Continue reading 250th Spark: Collaborating Across Heritage Sectors
by: Jake Krumwiede The last eighteen months have been a challenge for all of us. Yeah, yeah, I know. Everyone knows that. As I typed it, even my own eyes rolled a little bit. We know that everyone has faced professional challenges in the last two years. We have adapted to remarkable circumstances. We have… Continue reading The Old Timers within Us All
I had great expectations for the keynote address at the ALHFAM conference in this year, and Dustin Growick, Audience Development Outreach Manager at Museum Hack did not disappoint. For those of you who could not be there or for those who might be in need of a reminder after returning to a desk piled with… Continue reading Museums are […..] Awesome! An ALHFAM 2017 Keynote Takeaway
Photos courtesy of Genesee Country Village & Museum You can mark experiencing a “white hot” off your bucket list if you join us at the opening reception for the 2017 ALHFAM conference. But wait! Don’t dig in until you’ve taken the official tutorial on building a “garbage plate” or a “beef on weck” sandwich. ALHFAM… Continue reading Have You Ever Had a “White Hot?”
Is your institution still stuck in the cycle of the dreaded, annual performance review? I am afraid mine still is, and frankly it’s awful. (I am sure some of my coworkers reading this will rat me out. It’s okay the Boss knows how I feel.) I agree with a Washington Post business writer who called… Continue reading The Dreaded Performance Review
The article Honest Museum Audio Tour from The New Yorker is a quick read and quite funny. Having worked in museums my entire adult life and visited countless others, I related to much of the commentary in the author's made-up audio tour: "Note this intricately carved chair, which was made in 1573. The first person… Continue reading A Chair No One Sits On
I realize the title of this blog could confuse. It is quite logical, given our organization's mission, that I might literally be referring to promoting ALHFAM in a field. However, in this case I'm speaking of the larger "museum field" at the American Association for State and Local History conference last week. Still bountiful but… Continue reading Promoting ALHFAM “in the Field”
“How many of us have cringed, if ever so slightly, when we encountered a costumed, overzealous re-enactor performing a historic narrative . . .” –The Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums. Two weeks ago I shared some impressions on the book quoted above. In that blog I said, “Living history, with the exception of a… Continue reading Is there “ . . . awkwardness in the pretense of the pretend . . . ?”
Good question. Logic would dictate that it is a heritage breed being carefully preserved at one of the ALHFAM member historic sites. Not the case. In ALHFAM, PIG = Professional Interest Group. There are many and they do important work. ALHFAM Professional Interest Groups give members the opportunity to explore and share information on specific… Continue reading What is an ALHFAM PIG?
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