Antiquarian Entrance

Culver Antiquarian and Historical Society Museum Entrance

We’ve been working on a couple of projects for The Antiquarian & Historical Society of Culver.   This is a continuation of the Museum room renovation we completed for them in the basement of the Culver Union Township Public Library.  We’ve been working with their Museum Designer, Ted Swigon of Chicago Scenic Studios, Inc., as he creates the displays for the museum build-out.  The first project is a simulation of the train station shelters in the hall leading to the museum entrance.  Mr. Swigon had us recreate one of the posts from the west pavilion at the Town Park.  The Park pavilions were formerly attached to the train station and served as shelters for loading passengers.   The pavilions were  later relocated to other areas in the park.  We also created a simulation of the dentils at the top edge on a slightly smaller scale.  We reduced them in size and eliminated some of the details.  Mr. Swigon wanted the feel of the station but didn’t want the details to be overwhelming.  The “CULVER” sign is a scaled recreation of the sign found shown in pictures of the station when it was in operation.   A vintage picture of a train at the station will be blown up and adhered to the doors beneath the display.  This not only will draw visitors to the museum entrance, but helps disguise the existing mechanical room doors at the end of the hall.

Vintage Picture Display with Train Station Pavilion column recreation on left.

In a second project, we have taken additional vintage pictures, enlarged them and transferred them onto canvas which was wrapped around plywood mountings.  These were then installed on the hall wall in a collage layout.  The pictures were installed using French Cleats, securing them to the wall and creating a floating effect.  Mr. Swigon plans for these pictures to begin to take the visitors into the past as they near the museum entrance.

The entrance will be done soon.  All that remains is enlarging the picture from the door.  This becomes an issue due to the quality of the old medium used for the postcard Mr. Swigon would like enlarged.  The original picture will need to be enlarged by a factor of 12.

Antiquarian Ramp Concept/Construction Details

We are also working on a new ramp to the stage area within the museum and a boat display at the entrance.  To work within this theme, the ramp will be fashioned to look like a pier.  We have worked with Mr. Swigon to come up with a design that furthers the pier “feel” while still achieving ADA standards for accessibility.  We are currently in the process of locating materials for this project.  Part of the challenge is to create something that feels solid and permanent, but can be moved to a new location in the future without damage to the historic Carnegie Library.