#44. Creating centers of memory with Museum Director Bradley Richardson #HistoryABrewin
This week on The Business Over Beer Podcast, Bradley Richardson, Executive Director of the Clark County Historical Museum, stops by to share his story. We learn that despite having a closed building for many months as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Museum has been able to successfully run digitally and still provide their core offerings of events, programs, exhibits and preservation.
A portion of all September proceeds from our Patreon subscriptions will be donated directly to the Clark County Historical Museum. Also, as a Business Over Beer patron, you will get exclusive access to view our behind the scenes walk through with Bradley of the History A Brewin’ exhibit.
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Prost!
In this episode:
Museums are centers of memory that help people think critically about history.
There is a long line brewing in Clark County and current day brewers now acting in very similar patterns to the original brewers.
The understanding of where we’ve come from creates stewardship and a desire to become a better caretaker of things going forward.
The Clark County Historical Museum is working to be as much about discourse as it is about dissemination.
There is a misconception that something is not worth saving if it’s not out on display.
The museum is not an antique store; it’s not just a collection of old stuff, but rather it’s a bunch of old stuff with story and context.
The museum is not just committed to preservation for their own collection, but also they offer outreach and tools for people in the community to preserve their own historical items.
The past is like a foreign country.
History is not the book or roadmap that has to fit perfectly today as it did in a past situation, but instead it’s more of a toolkit that we can pick out the bits and pieces that can inform us on how to manage this moment.
Running the museum is part Macgyver and part streetfighter.
A museum’s role is to act as a bridge between academia and the public
“Rich and complex, its malty depth and gentle sweetness enhanced by sparkling carbonation and a serendipitous touch of cherry. Pouring a mysterious chestnut brown, a perfect beer for leisurely sipping and quiet contemplation. The meaning of life? Even if you don’t quite get there, this beer is sure to sweeten the journey.”