Stumbling Upon the Hoosier-ness of Volusia County

On a recent vacation we visited a local gem of a museum. Among the exhibits of fine art, Rockwell sketches, indigenous handiwork and a really big sloth. I'm talking bigger than your old man big. Over 9 feet tall of sloth. Amidst all that was a display that would make any Indiana museum proud.

The Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences is very worthy of your visit. TripAdvisor ranks it ninth among over 100 things you can do in Daytona. I agree. It has wondrous variety. It is very professionally curated. It has a planetarium feature. They even display the items they don't have on exhibit. And if you go in late July, it's air conditioned. That's probably true throughout the year, but it is an important consideration on a mid-summer day. In Florida. If you're a pale white guy. Or gal.

Fig. 1 - Sign pointing sun-blinded Yankees to the Doorway of Coolness.

Since I want to share some of the features of MOAS with fellow museum volunteers here in God's country, I fully intend to bore you with things I found interesting. Things like signage.

Fig. 2 - Exhibit sign

This exhibit sign has a lot of information, but not too much.

It admits the unknown and provides as much detail as is known.

It acknowledges the donor and includes the accession number, so volunteers can tell where it is kept when not on display, and where to look for more research data on the artifact.

All that on a small, neatly printed foam core board.








Things like seating.

I just found this cool. Versatile.

Fig. 3 - Crate Bench

Fig 4 - Crate stools showing construction

This bench is really four three-sided stools put together for convenience. A couple or small family can stop and sit together for a moment to view a particularly interest display. The stools can be borrowed and moved to another point in the room if you want to sit alone to admire another display. Staff can probably safely stand on one if a step is needed.

Bonus. They stack on a rolling cart.

Fig. 5 - Cart of stacked stools

Things like lighting.

A butterfly collection is illuminated to intriguing effect.

Fig. 6 - A butterfly collection is illuminated to intriguing effect ...

Fig. 7 - ... using LED strip lighting hidden behind the display frame.

Fig. 8 - Small items that would be lost on the bare, high wall are framed by lights from the track bars.

And finally, top lighting through a glass-topped case and onto an open lateral file drawer presents these unlabeled displays very pleasingly.

Fig. 9 - Glass tops and sides allow overhead lighting to illuminate displays

Fig. 10 - Flat file for storing small items

Now, about the Hoosier-ness.

Indoors in Florida is the last place I expected to see a familiar historical marker. The Root family has donated so many items to this collections and has been very generous in ensuring they are preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Fig. 11 - Historical marker

The collection includes vehicles, elements from an old drug store, and Coca-Cola memorabilia. 

Fig. 12 - Delivery vehicle

Fig. 13 - Signage over parlor booth

Fig. 14 - Coca-Cola clock advertisement

Fig. 15 - Coca-Cola dispensers and signage

One of the things I enjoyed about touring this museum was the sense of space. There was much to see, but it generally was not crowded. When a collection was crowded, it was intentional and it worked well for me. 

Fig. 16 - Stuffed animal display

 The final thing I want to share about this trip was the idea of displaying stored items. You saw that in the picture of the file drawer above. The following figure explains the concept.

Fig. 17 - Helene B. Roberson Visible Storage Building

Here are some other items displayed on glass shelves, on sliding wire walls, and as small static displays. 

Fig. 18 - Furnishings

Fig. 19 - Bowls and vases

Fig. 20 - Artwork

These items are unlabeled. We know nothing about them except they are part of a large collection. They are simply arranged and lit to show their beauty while they are kept in a locked room with glass walls and doors. MOAS makes the most of them while they wait to be brought out as future exhibits, complete with full explanations.

And I share the following just because they are pretty. This depiction of the Cinderella story is done by Lladro.

Fig. 21 - Lladro Cinderalla 

Fig. 22 - Nameplate

Fig. 23 - Cinderella and carriage detail