By Shae Whittle | Reporter
The Mayborn Museum is preparing for one of its largest renovation projects, which includes a four-phase plan that will upgrade current galleries, adapt storage space and add new features to the building.
The Mayborn opened its doors in 2004 and serves Waco as the keeper of rich history, including documents that date as far back as the 1890s. The renovation plans will allow it to continue that same role while providing more services with upgraded technology and hands-on experiences.
Renovations will expand the Early Peoples/Settlers section, transform storage areas into exhibit space and add two life-sized Columbian mammoth sculptures at the entrance.
“Mainly, the exhibits will be more up-to-date, more hands-on, more interactive, more immersive,” Rebecca Nall, assistant director of exhibits, communication and visitor services, said. “Some of the technology we have right now is outdated. I think the exhibits are still very good, but we know that we can do a lot better. And we have, thanks to Baylor, an amazing museum for this size community. And we just want to continue to prove that point.”
Each phase holds a new branch of opportunities, beginning with phase one, which focuses on branding and concept design. Later phases will include the addition of main theater updates.
“Turning a corner on 20 years, it’s really time to update the exhibits that we have in the natural science and cultural history wing,” Nall said. “The museum has a little history that’s much longer than 20 years. We’ve just been in this building for 20 years. And we want to continue to be, you know, that resource that houses all of the specimens that were from that original collection in the 1890s.”
One of the primary updates is the inclusion of life-sized mammoth statues designed by Tom Tischler, who has been a renowned animal sculptor for over 30 years. Although he is working from his home studio in Perth, Australia, Tischler’s work can be found around Waco and is currently displayed at Cameron Park Zoo.
“We went through an extensive search to try and find the right artist and foundry collaboration, because on this type of project, this scale, you really need the foundry who’s actually doing the art, pouring the bronze and fabricating everything, to have a good relationship with the artist,” Dr. Trey Crumpton, manager of visitor experience and adjunct lecturer in the museum studies department, said. “And so that’s what we found in Tom Tischler.”
As the first milestone of the renovations, the mammoth statues are planned to be installed in March and will set the stage for what’s to come.
However, the Mayborn will not be closed during the renovations, as the phase layout allows for smaller pieces of the building to be renovated at a time. So, locals and tourists can still visit the museum.
“We are meeting that challenge of being a world-class institution,” Crumpton said. “And I think for our exhibits, we want people to see themselves in the exhibits, and we can do a better job of that.”
