Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth has announced a major capital project to replace a failing roof and skylight directly over the original 1824 gallery that is full of iconic New England artworks and artifacts.
The museum, at 75 Court St., is one of the nation’s oldest public museums, built in 1824 by the Pilgrim Society (established 1820). After rain was discovered falling inside the original 199-year-old gallery, a temporary rubber roof was installed to prevent immediate damage to irreplaceable collections. In late June, the Pilgrim Society Board of Trustees endorsed a $6.4 million campaign to replace the roof and skylight, install new museum quality lighting, upgrade HVAC systems, and steward historical materials during the extensive construction required ahead.
“Pilgrim Hall has been a leader in preserving the history of our region for almost two centuries; historic Plymouth wouldn’t be the destination it is today without this organization’s efforts over many generations,” said Society President Peter Brown. “Now we need help to ensure the survival of the important materials under our roof.“
Executive Director Donna Curtin said that, in addition to securing the building envelope, the proposed project seeks to enhance the historic interior with an innovative lighting feature to recreate the visual appearance of the early skylight without harmful ultraviolet exposure, in addition to a new scope of inclusive exhibition redesign.
The museum is developing a capital campaign to fund the project through grants and contributions, and has requested support from the Plymouth Community Preservation Fund. For information on the roof project, contact director@pilgrimhall.org, call (508) 746-1620, ext. 2, or visit pilgrimhall.org.
