How Our Community Changed Our Museum: Transforming the Gallery of California Natural Sciences
Bringing a fresh perspective to the exploration of California’s natural history, the renovated and reinstalled Gallery of California Natural Sciences spotlights seven real places throughout the state that reflect its enormous diversity of climate, geology, habitats, ecosystems, and animal life, while also telling the story of the impact of humans—both positive and negative—on our environment. Created in collaboration with community organizations and OMCA Members, the Gallery retains many of the beloved dioramas and habitat cases of the original exhibition that opened in 1969, while also connecting the natural world with our state’s cultural history and contemporary issues.
Project Overview
What we did, why, and how…
Introduction: Essay by Lori Fogarty
Adding Humans: Essay by Don Pohlman
Curatorial Perspective: Essay by Douglas Long
Photos
In-progress and completed project photos
Floor Plans
Natural Sciences Gallery Floor Plan
Natural Sciences Gallery AXO View
Research
The research we did before we started the renovation.
Diorama Literature Review: Schwarzer Sutton
Diorama Literature Review: Garibay Group
Diorama and Sense of Place Research: Garibay Group 2013
Diorama and Sense of Place Research: Garibay Group 2014
OMCA Natural Sciences Gallery Symposium 2008
Advisors Meetings
We received valuable input from our team of experts.
OMCA Advisors Meeting 2009
OMCA Advisors Meeting 2010
OMCA Advisors Meeting 2013
Evaluations
Self-evaluation and visitor feedback
OMCA Front End Summaries: 2003–2005
OMCA Implications Evaluation Summaries: 2013
OMCA Preview Evaluation Summary: 2012
OMCA Evaluation Instruments
Summative Evaluation with Appends: Serrell 2014
Now what?
A call to action for the future of museums and the planet
OMCA Human Nature Symposium 2014
Acknowledgements
We couldn’t have done it without you.
OMCA Donors 2009–2014
OMCA Advisors and Participants 2009–2014
OMCA Team 2009–2014