American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History will undertake the conservation of six monumental totem poles and carvings on display in its Hall of Northwest Coast Indians in connection with a planned renovation of the exhibit area. Four posts will be treated in their vertical installation positions, as they are attached to built-in elements of the hall construction. The two other objects will be rigged down from their current vertical installation for treatment in a horizontal position. IMLS funding will support two conservators working full-time for up to 18 months under staff supervision, necessary consultation fees, equipment and supplies, as well as conservation training for Native American interns. Treatment steps for all six objects will include dry surface cleaning and photo-documentation, coating removal, removal of old fills and structural repairs, fill replacement and inpainting, and final documentation of treatment. A viewing window will engage visitors in the conservation process, and lessons learned will be broadly disseminated during and after the project.