6 NE Ohio museums join forces to offer special online content

Story Courtesy of Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Museums in Stark and Tuscarawas counties have teamed together to bring their worlds of art, history, sports and other fields for folks holed up as a result of coronavirus concerns.

The museums will present content online at noon daily via Facebook. The virtual programs will vary weekly.

The idea "came about organically," said Massillon Museum Executive Director Alexandra Nicholis Coon.

Nicholis Coon said the museums work well together, as well as with Visit Canton and Arts in Stark, and that amiable relationship helped to efficiently launch the weekly online programs.

"Our cultural sites work closely together," she said. "There's something in the Stark County water; none of us is competitive. When something like this pandemic hits we reach out to one other."

Nicholis Coon said Kim Kenney, director of the William McKinley Museum and Presidential Library, asked her "What are you doing?" regarding reactions to institutions dealing with coronavirus. That snowballed quickly into an organized plan. Monday, museum officials held a conference call, and the plan quickly coalesced.

"We knew a virtual effort would help us collaborate," Nicholis Coon said. "I suggested we each take a day and each post content at a set time. Everyone already had a lot of virtual content that can be shared. But it's given us an opportunity to create new content."

There is no end date for the programs from the institutions, which are all small to mid-sized.

"Operating a 21st century museum, we all need to have virtual platforms to broadcast our messaging," she said. "I think this is a great opportunity for us to experiment with more consistent messaging posted online."

Participating museums

William McKinley Museum and Presidential Library

Mondays: Information about presidential history, pioneer life, astronomy and the animals in the museum’s Discover World - website and Facebook.

Massillon Museum

Tuesday: Focus will be on objects in its new permanent collection galleries - the 1908 Jewel automobile, the six-foot carved dragon from an 1890s mansion, 19th- to 21st-century paintings and sculpture, American Indian artifacts and more. Also, its March 24 and April 28 Brown Bag Lunch programs will be presented virtually - website and Facebook.

Canton Museum of Art

Wednesday: Posts will share virtual exhibition tours and art-making activities as part of its Museum To Go program, take in-depth looks into its collection, and feature a range of content for folks of all ages - website and Facebook.

National First Ladies' Library

Thursday: The library will celebrate women’s history, the Saxton McKinley family and the library’s 2020 themes - women’s rights, suffrage centennial, campaigning first ladies, and women running for office. It also will provide interactive lessons and activities for all ages - website and Facebook.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Friday: Focus will be on 100-plus years of professional football history - website and Facebook.

Dennison Railroad Depot Museum

Saturdays: Topics covered will include railroad history, World War II, canteen history, railroads, amusement parks and Bing - the museum’s World War I mascot - website and Facebook.