What goes into running open-air museums like Shawnee Town or Mahaffie? Find out here

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into designing programs or maintaining collections for living history properties like the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm and Shawnee Town 1929, jot March 6-8 on your calendar. The two nonprofits are jointly hosting the Midwest Open Air Museums Coordinating Council’s conference.

The public can hear the pros talk about their beloved museums, but the final date to register for tickets is Feb. 28 (visit momcc.org/conferences). Workshops and information sessions touch on a wide variety of topics, and quite a few presenters are bringing their expertise from out-of-town museums.

“I love that we get to host this with other people who know what it’s like to live this life every day and to be working at sites that are so specific with real, hands-on elements,” said Hannah Howard, curator of education at Shawnee Town.

“It’s not a traditional museum style, and so it’s a small network of people who really know what this kind of work is like and can give each other good advice and good feedback and suggestions on what they’ve tried and what works.”

Although the professionals might make up a large portion of the attendees, there’s plenty of room for the curious public.

“We’re also excited to connect with students who are entering the field, reenactors who have so much to offer living history sites, especially volunteers (who) often come and share their interests and learn with us. It will be just a lot of fun and learning together,” said Katie Lange, daily programs coordinator at Mahaffie.

If historical clothing’s your thing, there are sessions on dyes, making reproductions of historical garb and more.

“What other conference is ever going to have a session on knitting suspenders or have a demonstration on how to plow with draft horses? That’s unusual,” Howard said.

Those interested in the agricultural side of things will find opportunities to learn about dairy farming and chicken processing, in addition to the draft horses.

“Somebody who likes food and cooking might get a kick out of the (early 19th century) condiment workshop. There’s also an opportunity to try out different leavening agents on a wood stove,” Lange said.

Howard is particularly interested in watching a Shawnee Town volunteer discuss caring for historic automobiles.

Visitors interest in hair art or home births, will find a lot of offerings for niche interests.

“The amazing thing about living history is the hands-on nature of it, and this conference offers people the opportunity to physically try things and to touch things and to see things that you can’t experience from your couch,” Lange said. “So I hope that people don’t look at this as just another conference but instead an amazing in-person learning opportunity.”

Broader topics for classes focus on collections management, dealing with hazardous materials and using technology to develop educational materials. Howard said she’s looking forward to talking about Shawnee Town’s new multimedia tours that will debut to the public in March.

Museum directors and staff also will discuss ideas for celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary in ways that are meaningful to different historical sites.

All the regular classes and workshops are located either at Mahaffie or at Shawnee Town. Field trips and other events are also open to attendees. One is a dinner that culminates with a shortened version of Shawnee Town’s Veteran’s Day lantern tour. Off-site trips include the Steamboat Arabia Museum, Truman Library and the National WWI Museum.

“This is a great chance to get hands-on in your local living history spaces at Mahaffie and Shawnee Town in a way that you won’t for any other public programs,” Howard said. “We hope they’ll be able to come and take advantage, be part of the conversations, enjoy some of the history and learn a little bit more about how museums work.”

For more information on the conference and how to sign up, visit momcc.org/conferences by Feb. 28. Attendees can choose to go to the whole thing or just a day or two. Discounts are available for students.

This story was originally published February 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.