Patrick O’Connell to serve as Judge for Tailgate Contest at Montpelier

The Montpelier Steeplechase and Equestrian Foundation today announced that Patrick O’Connell, renowned chef and proprietor of the Inn at Little Washington, will serve as the celebrity judge for the annual Dolley Madison Tailgate Competition. The competition will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2009, during the 75th Running of the Montpelier Hunt Races on the grounds of James Madison’s Montpelier, a National Trust Historic Site.

“Tailgating is a favorite tradition among Montpelier Hunt Races attendees,” said Martha Strawther, executive director of the Montpelier Steeplechase and Equestrian Foundation. “This year we are honored to host Chef Patrick O’Connell as our celebrity judge. Chef O’Connell is known for his exquisite taste and eye for detail. We are certain contest participants will delight in the chance to visit with him one-on-one.”

The Dolley Madison Tailgate Competition, sponsored by “The Piedmont Virginian” magazine, will begin at 10:30 a.m. This year’s top prizes include

Max A. van Balgooy appointed Peer Reviewer for AAM

Max A. van Balgooy, Director of Interpretation and Education at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has been selected to serve as a Museum Assessment Program peer reviewer for the American Association of Museums (AAM).  Selection for this program is extended only to qualified museum professionals who have significant museum experience and a proven understanding of the museum field.  Applicants to the Peer Review Program are expected to demonstrate a record of active participation in the field-wide dialogue of museum operations, standards, best practices, and emerging issues.

Peer reviewers volunteer their time to support AAM’s Museum Assessment Program, which ensures that museums around the nation are

Chesterwood Exhibits go Virtual

Chesterwood, the home and studio of American sculptor Daniel Chester French, and a National Trust Historic Site, launched three new online exhibits this month.  Please take a look!  The exhibits are of Chesterwood’s Studio, Residence, and Barn Gallery.  This project was supported in part by an Institute of Museum & Library Services Museums for America grant. You can read more about the content of each exhibit on the National Trust’s blog, but in this post, I’m going to provide a little more detail about how Chesterwood’s staff built these exhibits in the first place.

New National Standards in English and Math?

Today, the Washington Post reported that “experts convened by the nation’s governors and state schools chiefs on Monday proposed a set of math and English skills students should master before high school graduation, the first step toward what advocates hope will become common standards driving instruction in classrooms from coast to coast.” It appears this will be the foundation for national education standards in math and English, so educators at historic sites may want to be prepared for the shift (if any).  Next year the committee will draft grade-by-grade standards but there’s no guarantee that they’ll be adopted by school districts or states.  Learn more at the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Ireland Connecting Past and Present at Historic Battlefield

David Brown, Executive Vice President at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is attending the International Conference of National Trusts in Ireland.  In addition to the usual meetings and speeches, they are also exploring historic sites nearby to discuss best practices and professional standards.  His most recent post, “Irish History:  As Fresh as Today’s News” takes a quick look at the interpretation of the field where William of Orange defeated James II at the Battle of Boyne in 1690.  The results of that battle still affect life in Ireland three centuries later and the site encourages an interpretation that aids in the present-day peace process.  It’s a good reminder that historic sites need to connect past and present to continue to be relevant to today’s visitors, even if the topics are controversial and difficult.

Exhibit panel in the Visitor Center of Boyne Battlefield, Ireland. Photo by David Brown.

September 30, 2009 update:  David Brown kindly provided more details about the exhibit.  The interpretive sign in his post didn’t mention anything about the peace process, but there was a sign in the interpretive center along with a display that discussed how Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland leaders have met at the battlefield.  It may be difficult to read the text, but it reads,

“I welcome that at last we can embrace this battlesite as part of our shared history.  Understanding our past is the only sure way to understand the present.”  First Minister of Ireland, Dr. Ian Paisley, MP, MLA

“We can now celebrate our diversity as well as what we have in common.  We can learn from the past so that the next generation more clearly understands the possibilities of the future.”  An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, TD