Benjamen Salata

Curator, Depot Museum, City of Lake Wales - Lake Wales Historical Society

Lake Wales, FL. January 2000-- February 2001

If anyone has ever though that there should be a museum professional boot camp, well its in Lake Wales, FL.  The director of both the Historic Lake Wales Society and the Depot Museum, Mimi Hardman, besides being a formable influence in the historic preservation movement in Florida, still takes time to train entry level professionals in many facets of museums and historic preservation. I will not be coy. If a young professional can survive a year under Mimi, there will never be a situation or challenge that they can not handle. This is true with me. From temporary exhibits on shoe-string budgets to visiting with the secretary of state, under Mimi, a curator did it all. Believe it or not all the responsibilities below are in one calendar year and with a steep learning curve. It pains me that this position had been eliminated for budget issues in 2007.

Below is a photo of Mimi and I accepting a donated ticket counter from another train depot by Tampa.

Below is a detail of my responsibilities

Designed and installed temporary exhibits, maintained permanent exhibits, supervised collection care and storage, stabilized artifacts. Provided local civic speaking engagements and scholastic education. Designed excel-based collection files and museum documentation forms. Provided marketing and membership strategies by writing membership newsletters, of media releases, and civic networking.  Assisted with museum rail car conservation, and grants for historic structures. Compiled local histories, folklore and genealogy for citizens. Organizer of Pioneer Days civic festival.