Find out what’s happening behind the scenes
Gift Shop and Volunteer ManagerThe progress in the museum garden is amazing! Pat and Joseph (and anyone else that comes by with a willing hand) have been working hard and it shows.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Pat Saxton
Museum Administrator
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. Photo courtesy Greg Lavaty |
Every morning I come into work, our resident Yellow-crowned-Night Heron (which I call Big Bird) sits on the wall along the Science Building. I had not seen him in a few days and was worried because there are some cats around. Then, last week, Jackie pointed out to me that he had a nest, over the exposed water tank in the lot next door. So now every morning I take a look and a listen to make sure Big Bird and family are ok. Last night when I was leaving work, I noticed only one Heron sitting by the nest, so I was a bit concerned.
Ahhh but my concerns were soon dashed as I came around to the front of the Museum. There, sitting and pecking at the old carpet Joseph had taken out of the Museum was Mr. Big Bird. He didn’t see me, so I stood and watched as he pulled and pulled at the strings of raveled carpet. Soon a long piece broke off, and away he went, walking at first with this large piece of “string” dragging behind him.
It sure was a funny site and I had to keep from laughing out loud. Perhaps he knew someone was watching, because he took off over the wall, and looked like a kite, with a long string attached! I guess the new “digs” must be comfortable, because this morning I saw Mr. and Mrs. Big Bird sitting by their nest, perhaps admiring their interior decorating!
By the way, soon we will have our Bird Walking and Bird Driving Trails marked throughout Grand Turk. The Museum and the Botanical Garden are both part of these tours, so be sure to stop by and watch the birds in their natural habitat within our garden, and on the beach.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Jackie Garbarino
Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager
Nalthia, Melanie & Tiffany our very own Beautiful Geeks! |
So I thought the evening was lost when the DVD refused to play. Luckily we started to hook up the system at 6 for a 7:30 showing. Tiffany started the effort soon to be joined by Nalthia and then Melanie. I was a bundle of nerves but Nalthia maintained calm and a positive attitude.
Movie, drinks and snacks. All on Grand Turk…does it get any better than this! Yes, because it supports our National Museum. . |
At 7:15 victory was won, the room filled up with wonderful movie lovers, the bar was hopping and all was well on the Isle of Grand Turk. Thanks as always for supporting the museum!
Number One Bartender Captain Mitchell with Number One Savory Snack Maker Miss Stephanie and Number One Fee Collector Mister Neil. |
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Jackie Garbarino
Museum Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager
This bench is so beautiful, we may have to put it in an exhibit case |
Thank you, Seamus for this beautiful bench. You are receiving praise from one and all. And well deserved praise. They say we have many careers in our lives and I think you have found your best so far. I checked out the signature…very nice touch. So in addition to looking wonderful it is keeping people alert to the change in the floor height and giving the folks somewhere to rest and contemplate history.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
by Jessica Brody
This Friday’s event with Betsy Carlson, author of Talking Taino, was a great success. Betsy signed copies of her book and she and her team of archeologists revealed the artifacts uncovered at this week’s dig on GT-4, the 4th Lucayan site discovered off Cork Tree Beach, Grand Turk. We learned how the island people used small conch shells to break the foot off of larger conch shells releasing the meat. Talk about using what nature gave you!
Also on the site were bits of 1800 and 1900 pottery which may be evidence of Cork Tree Plantation. Rory told stories about how much easier it was to distinguish the familar china patterns from the tiny Lucayan beads. People were astounded by how very careful you had to be not to mistake the pre-historic artifacts with rocks!
The night wrapped up with some acoustic music accompaniment from Allesio. Thanks to all who attended and helped make the night a success!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
Museum Administrator
So today was the first cruise ship tour to the Botanical Garden. The Museum was asked to be the tour guides for these first few tours, which was fantastic because Malcolm was interested in learning the tour. Also because I love giving this tour, I love the garden–wish I could do this for a living instead of crunching numbers.
We were prepared for a busy day at the Museum and in the Garden, when we realized that the power plant had a fire, and the electricity was shut off to the whole island. This meant we could not open the Museum, and the Botanical Garden Tours would now increase and the first tour was on the way — two hours early! All the Museum staff pitched in to help me place the plant markers in the garden. We all had a good laugh as the team called out the name of a plant and someone ran with the marker. I can’t tell you how great it was to see everyone pitch in to make the first tours possible…now that is team work!
The ships that came in that day were small “boutique” ships with lots of folks from the UK. English people love their gardens, and know their plants, so we had to be on top of our game. We had a great time, many visitors posed interesting questions. Everyone was intrigued with Malcolm, his hair, and the fruit off the tamarind tree which he picked for them.
It was all going great, and then the heavy rain came. Great for the garden, bad for the tours. So to add insult to injury, no museum tours, and no botanical garden tours could be conducted in the afternoon. Oh well, we did have fun in spite of the weather and no electricity!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Rory McEathron
We (the Museum Director, two American professionals, and I) continued with the excavation of archaeological site GT-4 today. The project, which I code-named Operation Queen Conch, is starting to move along more rapidly. Over 30 holes have been dug and innumerable conch fragments and bone pieces discovered. Neal and I worked together again today, which I really enjoyed. As we worked, our topics of conversation changed again and again — from TV shows to baseball (my favorite sport) to snorkeling — and I think that we both learned a lot about each other today.
At the same time, the dig became much more exciting as we began finding Lucayan artifacts. The artifacts—which range from shell beads to fish vertebrae—date to around 800 A.D. and are usually buried around 40 centimeters deep. We started using a finer screen to catch more artifacts and it quickly paid off, as we found several bead fragments and a few complete beads. It was the beginning of what would turn out to be a day of many holes and even more artifacts. I’m learning a lot and am definitely enjoying this experience!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Pat Saxton
Museum Administrator
On Sunday February 13th some very lucky early birds got a chance to “walk with the pros” on a trial run of the bird trail. Dr. Mike Pienkowski, the leading ornithologist for the UK Overseas Territories and his lovely wife Ann, led a small group of “birders” at 6:30AM from the Osprey Beach Hotel around the Salinas.
The light at that time of the morning was truly spectacular to see and photograph some of Grand Turks wonderful birds. Dr. Mike pointed out Ruddy Turnstones (so called because they turn over stones to look for food), and different types of Plovers. Of course the flamingos were all out strutting their stuff for us to see! Ducks, and Herons and Gulls oh my!
Not only was this an informative morning, it was really a fun time.I learned so very much about this very fragile ecosystem we call “salinas”. It seems in “developed” countries, they are trying to duplicate what we have naturally right here in Grand Turk. Wet lands.
Unfortunately, all of us on the walk could see the damage being done to the Salinas because of dumping. Some Salinas had an incredible amount of birds feeding, while others were abandoned. Mike explained that due to filling in the Salinas, the silt gets too thick for the birds to hunt for food, so they leave. Luckily some of the Salinas have been protected.
After the tour, we came back to the Science Building for a question and answer session with Mike and Ann. I know I learned a lot, and although I continue to refer the Yellow Crowned Night Heron as Big Bird, I think Mike forgives me!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Jackie Garbarino
Museum Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager
The work to free the donkey cart started in November and ended in the New Year. It took weeks of work to remove the overgrowth of mother- in-law tongues along the front and side of the museum building. Each plant has a deep thick root resembling a large carrot and it must all be removed to prevent these mothers from sprouting again.
As you can see in the picture at left, they had grown to the edge of the narrow walkway so there was no way the cart could pass.
We hope we have defeated these mothers but time will tell. Joseph remains vigilant.
Joseph is also cultivating a small kitchen garden. The neighbor behind the museum has donated a papaya seedling and gave us each a papaya from the mother plant. It was the sweetest treat and we both hope our plant bears similar delicious treats.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Jackie Garbarino
Museum Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager
When I began working at the Museum the condition of the Queens’ portraits distressed me. It was sad to see these elegant ladies in such an inelegant state: the frames had worm damage, the matting was water-marked, and the portraits were deteriorating as they were not under glass. Finbar Dempsey remembers these portraits hanging in an administrator’s office and thinks they may have been damaged by one of the many hurricanes we have had over the 47 years he has lived on Grand Turk. Time to do some fixing up, I thought.
I contacted Ian Worth at Greensleeves Frame Shop in Provo for advice and an estimate for putting things right. After sending him a photo and measurements, he gave me a price for restoring the three Queens currently hanging in the museum: Victoria, Mary and the Queen Mum. All are coronation portraits. Then Melanie Clifton-Harvey, our visiting archivist, found Elizabeth hiding in the archival room of the science building. We were very happy to have the current queen to add to the group, and her portrait was in much better condition being the youngest and protected from the elements.
So now Pat Saxton and I set about finding sponsors to pay the piper. I spoke with my husband and we decided to sponsor Queen Victoria and dedicate it to his father, the great Italian actor Massimo Girotti. We thought he would be pleased to be remembered in this way on an island in the Caribbean. When I told Catherine and Mitchell of our plans, they immediately took the plunge and chose to sponsor Elizabeth, followed by Pat and Neil Saxton who came up with the funding for their favorite Queen!
The next hurdle was getting the portraits to Provo; Mitchell to the rescue again. He volunteered to fly the ladies first class in his plane if I went along for the final land delivery to Greensleeves. It was a tight squeeze as the portraits measure 42 x 30 inches.
When I delivered two of the portraits to Ian at Greensleeves, I could see by the way his eyes lit up with the challenge that the Queens would be well cared for and lovingly restored. We should have the two ladies back sometime in February via the Mitchell Express. Hopefully we will soon have sponsorship for the last remaining Queen, and can then take Queen Mary and Queen Mum to have them restored together. Anyone interested? Contact me: Jackie Garbarino at (649) 247-2160 or email garbarino.jackie@gmail.com.
Your support of our wonderful museum is always very much appreciated.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum