Museum of History Receives Statewide Awards

On March 6, the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh received three awards from the N.C. Museums Council, a statewide organization for museum professionals. The museum received the 2008 Creative Award for the Best Education Interactive for the computer interactive “CSI: Roanoke,” featured in the previous exhibit Mysteries of the Lost Colony and A New World: England’s First View of America from the British Museum. The Mid-Career Professional Award went to Emily Grant, youth programs coordinator in the Education Section. Richard “Dusty” Wescott received the council’s highest honor, the Professional Service Award, for his accomplishments at the N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh City Museum and N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.

2008 Creative Award for the Best Education Interactive

Emily Procter, star of the CBS program “CSI: Miami,” narrated a computer interactive that received the Creative Award for the Best Education Interactive. The interactive featured several theories about what may have happened to the colonists at Roanoke Island. Visitors could deploy a kind of CSI process to answer questions about the colonists’ disappearance.

Mysteries of the Lost Colony was presented by the N.C. Museum of History in collaboration with the Roanoke Island Historical Association, producer of the outdoor drama “The Lost Colony.” A New World: England’s First View of America was presented in collaboration with the British Museum. The exhibit attracted nearly 58,000 people. Approximately 34,900 of these visitors were with school groups from across North Carolina.

Mid-Career Professional Award

Grant has developed many outstanding programs and events during her 15 years as youth programs coordinator. Each year, she plans the museum’s two largest events: the African American Cultural Celebration in January and the American Indian Heritage Celebration in November. Grant initiated both events, which attract thousands each year. For example, last year’s Twelfth Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration brought in more than 9,000 visitors from across the state. Grant works closely with the eight state-recognized tribes to plan this daylong event, featuring dancers in full regalia, drum groups, craft demonstrations, storytelling, traditional games and more.

Grant serves on exhibit teams and plans summer camps, Time for Tots and many other programs. Additionally, she is part of the museum’s Interpretive Planning Committee. Says co-worker Rachel Dickens, “The best word to describe Emily is ‘inspiring.’ However, ‘dedicated,’ ‘motivated,’ ‘inventive’ and ‘awesome’ are good descriptions, too.”

Professional Service Award

Wescott is an artifact handler and a special collections projects coordinator in the Collections Management Section of the N.C. Museum of History. Prior to arriving at the museum in 2007, he spent eight years at the Raleigh City Museum as a curator and as acting director. During the 1980s and 1990s, Wescott designed, fabricated and maintained exhibits at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.

He has been involved with the N.C. Museums Council for more than 15 years and has served as president, vice-president and treasurer. He is currently the Southeastern Museums Conference representative for the council and works to create new alliances for the organization.

“Dusty exemplifies what a museum professional should strive to be,” adds John Campbell, collections manager at the N.C. Museum of History. “He truly cares about museum standards and is always willing to lend a hand to other museums.”

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