Update: The Story Room opened in the History Hub on October 12, 2014 thanks to an outpouring of support from the community. It’s easy to donate a story to the Story Room. Learn how to do so here: www.museumofdurhamhistory.org/blog/story.

Original post: 

Last week a group of MoDH staff, board members, exhibit designers, and really terrific volunteers sat down to discuss plans for a Story Booth in the History Hub.

Creating a space where people can record and share their own experiences with Durham history has been a part of our plans for a long time. Before we had any idea of what the museum’s physical site would look like, we knew we wanted it to include this storytelling component.

Now that the building is a reality, we are working to refine the Story Booth idea. We took a look at some similar projects and discussed what we thought each model accomplished. Check them out:

Story Corps
Object Stories (Portland Art Museum)
Video Talkback Booth (Levine Museum of the New South)
What Does Freedom Mean? (McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum)

What do you think about these models? Some use video, others use audio and/or photos. Some create spaces that feel intimate or homey, others have a modern and high-tech feel. What kind of space would make you feel comfortable sharing your own story, or interviewing a friend of family member? What medium would you like to see in the Story Booth?  We’ll be working on this in the coming weeks and months, so let us know your thoughts!

If you’d like to come and see some preliminary designs for the Story Booth and other parts of the History Hub, mark your calendar for our Open House on July 20 6pm-10pm.