People and Happenings
Growing Collections , Planting Ideas
People and Happenings
Mount Auburn Unveils its Interactive Kiosk
The next time you happen to visit Mount Auburn , please make sure to stop at the Egyptian Revival Gatehouse and explore our newly unveiled interactive kiosk . The kiosk , housed inside the eastern alcove of the Gatehouse , is designed to introduce visitors to Mount Auburn ’ s many interesting facets . Through text , images , sound clips , and even video , the kiosk speaks about the Cemetery ’ s horticultural collections , its art and architectural collections , the wildlife that calls Mount Auburn home , and it also shares the stories of those buried and commemorated here . A feature that we predict will be extremely useful is the ability for visitors to look up the locations of those buried here and then print out a map highlighting the exact location within the Cemetery . In addition to the permanent kiosk exhibit , regularly updated information within the interactive tool will be of particular interest to our regular visitors , who will be able to use the kiosk to quickly get a sense of current horticultural highlights , learn about upcoming events , and read about a current person of interest – an interesting , digital reprisal of our “ Person of the Week ” program . With generous support from the Anthony J . and Mildred D . Ruggiero Memorial Trust and an amazing design team headed by the Small Design Firm ( of Cambridge ) we are now able to share an amazing wealth of information with the public in ways never before possible . Please stop by and try the kiosk for yourself .
The Lynch Foundation Matches Gift for Story Chapel Entrance
The Lynch Foundation has joined Cambridge Savings Bank in helping to match the gift of $ 132,000 awarded to Mount Auburn in 2009 by MassDevelopment through their Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund ( MCFF ), donating $ 30,000 for a proposed new entry into Story Chapel . The new entry is designed for increased energy efficiency and visitor accessibility .
“ We are so pleased to be able to help in Mount Auburn ’ s effort to reconstruct the historic porte-cochere as a new entry into Story Chapel . The Lynch Foundation is extremely interested in both culture and historic preservation , and Mount Auburn Cemetery has a foundation in both of these areas in addition to its community outreach and enriching public programs ,” said Katie Everett , the Foundation ’ s Executive Director .“ We are excited that the new entry will not only resonate with historic integrity , but that it will be more energy efficient and accommodate visitors of varying levels of mobility . This project very much so resonates of Mount Auburn ’ s enduring message of inclusivity in welcoming everyone .”
Mount Auburn has until May 2011 to match the original MCFF grant of $ 132,000 or else we will miss out on this wonderful opportunity .
Preservation Hosts Community Groups
Preservation and Facilities Planner Natalie Wampler led a tour for Red Fire Farm CSA members on July 11 in addition to giving a tour to a Big Sister and Little Sister match on July 17 . She also co-led a tour on July 24 with Docents Helen Abrams and Ginny Brady for 16 Little Sisters , 16 Big Sisters , and two social workers . The tour focused on some of the many inspirational women interred here from the socialite and philanthropist , Isabella Stewart Gardner to the freedom-seeker , Harriet Jacobs .
Growing Collections , Planting Ideas
Mount Auburn , along with the Cambridge Historical Society and the Longfellow National Historic Site , hosted the Second Annual Cambridge Archives Tour on July 14 as part of a joint program . The public program , entitled “ Growing Collections , Planting Ideas ,” focused on the changing landscapes and horticultural diversity of our sites and the many connections between our institutions .
Mount Auburn ’ s Curator of Historical Collections Meg L . Winslow , Archivist Brian A . Sullivan and Cemetery Trustee and Volunteer Caroline Loughlin gave presentations and showed examples of original materials from the Cemetery ’ s collection of horticultural records . Highlights included 19th-century photographs , a collection of gold medals from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society , and original hand-drawn planting plans for the Cemetery and individual family lots . Over 40 people in four separate groups attended this special opportunity to see our collections . We look forward to next year ’ s program !
Access to Mount Auburn ’ s Historical Collections is by appointment only . For further information please contact Curator of Historical Collections Meg L . Winslow at mwinslow @ mountauburn . org or by phone at 617-607-1942 .
18 | Sweet Auburn