By JC Medina
The Lacey Historical Commission revealed progress in the city's museum relocation and departmental initiatives during its meeting on Wednesday, April 16.
According to Jen Burbidge, Lacey’s Director of Parks, Culture & Recreation, the museum is preparing to move to Bell Town Center with several key developments underway.
Construction of critical museum infrastructure is currently in progress, with local artisans playing a role.
"Platforms and reader rails are under construction," Burbidge reported, noting the Lacey Maker Space is building reader rails, while Salmon Bay Woodworks constructs platforms.
"They just do beautiful work. We're going to be getting a really good, sturdy, functional product that we can use in this space, and then into the future space as well," she emphasized.
The museum's exhibit renderings are 90% complete, and staffers are anticipating an upcoming opening, though an exact date remains flexible.
"We're very anxious to (open) before the snow flies," Burbidge stated.
Beyond the physical move, the museum has been actively engaging the community through targeted outreach.
The museum has leveraged digital platforms to expand its reach, with social media engagement showing remarkable growth.
The department's Facebook reach increased by 77% and by 52.9% on Instagram, providing a robust platform for sharing museum updates and historical content.
The museum has also demonstrated significant community engagement, serving 859 people through its history talk programs.
A notable digital transformation includes transitioning the department's program guide to an online registration catalog.
"It's going to help us publish our non-recreation offerings digitally for the first time," Burbidge explained.
Future plans include continuing community presentations, seeking input on exhibit designs, and creating volunteer opportunities during the museum move.
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