National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (Dumbarton House)

Dumbarton House will implement the first phase of an interpretative reinstallation project to improve the educational impact and overall experience for its visitors. Project activities include the addition of new interior and exterior lighting as well as interpretive and wayfinding signs. The museum will also enhance its Visitor Center with improved accessibility, new furniture, and exhibits that set the scene for the stories to be shared inside the house. The project coordinator will manage in-person interviews and record observations from visitors to evaluate the effectiveness of the new interpretive approaches. The project follows ten years of research combined with progressive planning and assessment grants to transform the site from a traditional historic house museum to a visitor-focused experience.