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We have around 130,000 objects in our collection. So how did we narrow those down to 100 for Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years?
Our collections staff didn’t just choose their favorites. They had help! They gathered insight from a broad spectrum of people, including the exhibit development team, academic advisors, museum board members, museum visitors, participants in our Museum Apprentice Program, among others.
Community members also weighed in to help us understand what was important to them. If someone made, used, or donated an object, we wanted their valuable insight. It gives these objects a more complete story.
Several factors were carefully considered, including:
- Could the object spark discussion and interaction between family members?
- Does the object have a compelling story by way of its owner or its cultural or historical significance?
- Is the item a visitor favorite or one that has rarely—or never—been displayed?
- Does the object reflect the diversity of the museum’s audiences?
- Do the items represent a wide range of categories, such as sports, natural sciences, and history?
- What story does the object tell about the museum’s 100-year history and the museum’s relationship with communities in Indianapolis and around the world?
