National Awards
2011 MUSE Award for Online Presence
2011 Leadership in History Award of Merit
2010 Excellence in Exhibition Label Writing Award
2003 National Award for Museum and Library Service
Other Awards Received
2011 MUSE Award for Online Presence
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Original artwork © Stephen Biesty 2010 |
The USS Constitution Museum received the Bronze MUSE Award for Online Presence from the American Association of Museums in May 2011. This award, which is granted "in recognition of the highest standards of excellence in the use of media and technology," was presented to the museum for the creation of its new online game and educational resource A Sailor's Life for Me!
Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the A Sailor's Life for Me! website allows visitors to join the fight for freedom on the high seas when they virtually enlist as sailors on board USS Constitution and travel back in time to prepare for the War of 1812. Website visitors can explore the ship, scrub a filthy deck, or fire a cannon! Meeting real sailors who served on Constitution in 1812 helps today's online users not just learn history, but experience it. History comes alive through detailed drawings by artist Stephen Biesty, the words of author Richard Platt, and animations by web developers, Eduweb.
2011 Leadership in History Award of Merit
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USS Constitution Museum photo |
In September 2011, the USS Constitution Museum received a Leadership in History Award of Merit from the American Association of State and Local History in recognition of its Family Learning Project.
Since 2004, when the USS Constitution Museum received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), it has been exploring techniques to encourage family learning in history museum exhibits. The National Leadership Grant allowed the Museum to build a prototype exhibit called A Sailor's Life for Me? to test effective, low-cost exhibit techniques that encourage family conversation. After interviewing and observing over 2,000 families in this exhibit, the Museum learned what worked and what needed to be changed. The Museum incorporated what it learned from this research into the All Hands on Deck: A Sailor's Life in 1812 exhibit that opened in 2009.
In addition to researching effective techniques to engage families in history museum exhibits, the USS Constitution Museum has also shared its research with the Museum field. With the assistance of a 21st Century Museum Professionals Grant from IMLS in 2008, the museum has developed and shared theory, techniques, resources and best practices that have proven to engage all audiences. To date, the Family Learning Project has reached over 16, 000 museum professionals across the country through participation in a workshop, conference presentation, article, publication, or on the Museum's Family Learning Forum website. By engaging families the USS Constitution Museum is effectively introducing a new constituency to history museums as a community resource where visitors have fun while learning.
2010 Excellence in Exhibition Label Writing Award
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USS Constitution Museum photo |
A cut above the rest
My uniform is cut to the latest regulations and perfectly fitted for me by a tailor. This is the first luxury connected to my new life as a Midshipman. I say luxury because it cost me the equivalent of five months pay!
Museum Curator Sarah Watkin's label (above) about Midshipman Pardon Mawney Whipple from the All Hands on Deck exhibition that opened in July 2009 was recognized with an Excellence in Exhibition Label Writing Award by the American Association of Museums at their annual conference in Los Angeles, California in May 2010. In their evaluation of the label, the judges praised the personal approach to talking about a military uniform. Throughout the exhibit, visitors are invited to step into the shoes of sailors and experience life on board USS Constitution in 1812 from the perspective of the ship's crew.
2003 National Award for Museum and Library Service
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USS Constitution Museum photo |
In January 2004, First Lady Laura Bush presented the USS Constitution Museum with one of six National Awards for Museum and Library Service during a ceremony at the White House. The country’s highest honor for extraordinary community service provided by museums and libraries, this award was presented in recognition of the Museum’s innovative, collaborative national educational outreach initiatives designed to bring the story of "Old Ironsides" to all of America. Through its interdisciplinary curriculum, All Hands on Deck: Learning Adventure on “Old Ironsides,” and its national outreach program, "Old Ironsides" Across the Nation, the Museum has brought to life the inspiring story of Constitution and her crew to millions of people across the country.
Printed versions of the Museum’s curriculum, All Hands on Deck: Learning Adventures Aboard “Old Ironsides,” now in its third edition, have been distributed free of charge to over 28,000 teachers and homeschoolers across the country, reaching over a million students annually. The online version of the curriculum is visited by over 20,000 additional users each year.
"Old Ironsides" Across the Nation (OIAN) is a collaborative program between the USS Constitution Museum, members of Constitution’s active-duty crew, and staff members of the Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston. From 2000 to 2009, OIAN teams visited cities across the country, speaking in classrooms and participating in public presentations to share Constitution’s history with people who may not have the opportunity to visit the ship in Boston. This program visited 22 cities over the course of 9 years and shared Constitution’s stories with over 125,000 people.
Other Awards Received
All Hands on Deck Interdisciplinary Theme Unit
American Association of Museums
1999 Museum Publications Design Competition
First Prize, Educational Resources
American Association of State and Local History
1999 Award of Merit
New England Museum Association
1999 Publications Design Award
Special Citation, Educational Materials
Association of Visual Communicators International
CINDY Competition
Gold Medal, 1998
U.S. International Film and Video Festival
Silver Screen Award, 1998
MerComm Questar Awards
Bronze Award, 1998
Columbus International Film and Video Festival
Honorable Mention, 1998
Recognition of Museum Staff
Robert Kiihne, Director of Exhibits
Historic Naval Ships Association's 2010 Henry A. Vadnais Award