The Susan B Anthony House Inc

THE NATIONAL SUSAN B. ANTHONY MUSEUM & HOUSE INTERPRETS THE LEGACY OF THE GREAT REFORMER TO INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. WE PRESERVE AND SHARE THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK THAT WAS HER HOME AND HEADQUARTERS, COLLECT AND EXHIBIT ARTIFACTS RELATED TO HER LIFE AND WORK, AND OFFER TOURS AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS TO SHARE HER STORY WITH THE WORLD.

EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION. LIKE MOST ARTS AND CULTURE VENUES, THE ANTHONY MUSEUM HAS BEEN ADAPTING TO SERVE THE PUBLIC DURING THE ONGOING PANDEMIC. THE MUSEUM RETURNED TO AN IN-PERSON EVENT FOR THE ANNUAL SUSAN B ANTHONY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN 2022. MIMI AUNG, FROM NASA'S JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER, SHARING THE CHALLENGING AND INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF THE TEAM THAT DEVELOPED "INGENUITY," THE FIRST AUTONOMOUS CRAFT TO FLY ON MARS. THE THEME FOR THE EVENT WAS, "THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT!" ATTENDANCE WAS IMPACTED BY THE SURGE OF THE COVID-19 OMICRON VARIANT, BUT MANY WERE ABLE TO ATTEND VIRTUALLY. AS TOURISM CONTINUES TO RECOVER, THE MUSEUM IS EXPANDING ITS TOURS AND PROGRAMS. THE POSITION OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR WAS ESTABLISHED TO OVERSEE THE MUSEUM'S OPERATIONS AND VISITOR SERVICES.

PRESERVING AND SHARING OUR COLLECTION. IN SEPTEMBER 2021, WE EXPERIENCED A FIRE THAT DESTROYED THE ROOF AND RAILINGS OF THE EXTERIOR BACK PORCH OF 17 MADISON STREET. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ARSON. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED QUICKLY AND FOLLOWED ALL PROTOCOLS FOR A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, AND DAMAGE INSIDE THE HOUSE WAS LIMITED TO SMOKE EXPOSURE. THE STAFF WORKED WITH CONSERVATORS TO ASSURE THAT ALL DAMAGE WAS REMEDIATED. THE HISTORIC BACK DOOR WAS REPAIRED AND RESTORED, AND THE EXTERIOR "STORM" DOOR WAS REPLACED. PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO EITHER RESTORE THE PORCH AS IT WAS BEFORE THE FIRE, OR TO RESTORE IT TO AN EARLIER VERSION. THE MUSEUM PLANS A CAMPUS EXPANSION WITH A NEW BUILDING THAT WILL HAVE OPTIMUM STORAGE FACILITIES FOR THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. A COLLECTION STORAGE ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED AS PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS. THE POSITION OF CURATOR OF INTERPRETATION WAS ESTABLISHED.

TELLING THE BROADER STORY. THE MUSEUM IS PLANNING A CAMPUS EXPANSION THAT WILL INCLUDE A NEW INTERPRETIVE CENTER WITH 6,300 SQ FT OF EXPERIENTIAL EXHIBIT SPACE. THIS SPACE IS BEING DESIGNED AROUND THE THEME, "SUSAN B. ANTHONY CHANGED THE WORLD, AND SO CAN YOU!" IT WILL EXPOSE GUESTS TO THE MANY DIFFERENT SOCIAL ISSUES THAT ANTHONY SOUGHT TO ADDRESS, AND IT SHOWS HOW HER WORK IS RELEVANT TODAY. THE INTERPRETIVE PLAN IS BEING DESIGNED IN CONSULTATION WITH SOLID LIGHT, INC. SWBR IS THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM FOR THE NEW BUILDING, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED ON SEVERAL ADJACENT LOTS OF VACANT URBAN LAND WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE CURRENT CAMPUS OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES. THE CAMPUS EXPANSION WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY, ENHANCING THE URBAN "VILLAGE, AND BRINGING ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AND TOURISM DOLLARS TO ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST IMPOVERISHED ZIP CODES.