Tradewinds Feb 2014 Final Web

Frisco Native American Museum - Museum offers “Arm chair tours”
In a typical year, the Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center will serve visitors from all 50 states and
several dozen foreign countries. In recent years, staff members have been finding ways to open the museum’s collections to individuals
who may not be able to actually tour the building.
Recently, the museum began a partnership with the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center to serve as one of its destinations
for their Arm Chair Tour Program. Located on the Upper East Side in New York City, the Tour is part of their elders at home
program. Interested individuals receive pictures of the museum, and at a designated time, conference calls are set up. The “tour
guide” explains the photographs and leads a discussion. The tour can be a general overview of the museum or focus on a specific
gallery or program.
“We’ve had a lot of fun with the Arm Chair Tour program, “ said museum director, Carl Bornfriend. “Discussions are always
lively, and we wind up feeling we’ve made a whole host of new friends.”
The museum also offers a weekly opportunity for individuals to learn more about exhibits and programs through its popular
Museum Monday postings on facebook. Generally an exhibit or artifact is shown with information. For example the piece of
pottery pictured here was featured a couple of weeks ago. The post explained that black, white, and orange designs are common
among a number of the pueblo tribes. This pot is actually a canteen made by the Acoma. It pictures a pair of water birds and is
part of an exhibit on pottery in the museum.
The museum is exploring ways to expand
the Armchair Tour program and will be
looking for new partners in 2015.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and is located on Hatteras island in Frisco. For more
information, visit the web site at www.nativeamericanmuseum.org or call 252-995-4440.
14 Albemarle Tradewinds February 2015 albemarletradewinds.com