Author: Celia Maiers Cubas
When walking through a museum, have you ever wondered what it would be like to climb into and touch the displays? Well, during my internship in the conservation department at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, that is exactly what I did!
Every fall season, interns and volunteers from both the conservation and paleo departments work together to clean the Dinosaurs in their Time exhibit. Under the mentorship of conservator Gretchen Anderson, I was tasked with cleaning all the foliage and materials surrounding the dinosaur specimens. The main goal of this project was to remove dust, which left unchecked, could become harmful for the specimens and displays. Even though this environment is a simulation, it still requires great care to maintain its condition and integrity.
A fellow intern and I worked in a three-step process to efficiently remove build up. First, we would go through the whole display and dust each plant individually, leaf by leaf. Second, one of us would vacuum the ground, picking up excess dust resting on the surface. Lasty, we would rub each plant with water, removing caked dust and making the leaves look shiny.
During the semester I would work on Tuesdays, when the museum was closed to the public, and Fridays, during visitor hours. Working in the exhibit during non-visitor hours was interesting because I saw how the museum prepared and functioned outside of the public gaze. These days were also quite relaxing, having the whole hall almost entirely to myself. Fridays, however, became my favorite days to work at the museum, due to the interactions I would have with the public.
Seeing a person in a bright fuchsia shirt sitting right next to the dinosaurs, way past the guardrails, understandably surprised most visitors. Adults and children alike were very interested in what I was doing, and would often ask questions about the task, conservation practices and the CMNH. It was always funny when visitors would use me as a scale comparison to gawk at the size of the dinosaurs.
Interacting with the public was a tremendously important aspect of the work. Though conservation is something that is conventionally done as behind-the-scenes work, doing it in front of public view is an engaging way of educating visitors about this essential aspect of museum practice.
My experience at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has been incredibly educational and rewarding. This internship, which focused on preventative methods of conservation, has been a great introduction to the field of conservation. I am planning on continuing my time at the CMNH and focusing on new projects next semester. I especially want to thank my supervisor Gretchen Anderson, for sharing her knowledge and fostering a welcoming environment where curiosity is encouraged!
Celia Maiers Cubas, Museum Studies Intern at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Fall 2022