Museum Master Plan
The Renton History Museum recently completed its master planning process, after nine months of work led by Gyroscope, Inc., a nationally recognized museum planning and design firm. Through this process we worked with museum-goers, volunteers, staff, the Renton Historical Society board, Historical Society members, City of Renton staff, and many others in exploring paths to a sustainable future for the museum. The resulting Museum Master Plan provides a new vision for the museum’s next 15 years as the only local heritage organization for our growing community.
What is a Museum Master Plan?
Like many museums, the Renton History Museum has been re-examining its ability to facilitate lifelong learning in the 21st century. Renton is a fast-growing community that is increasingly diverse, and the Renton History Museum strives to reflect that. The master planning process explored all areas of museum operations—exhibits, programs, audiences, education outreach, collections care, research, publications, and more—to see how we can better align with the needs and interests of our community in the future. 
The resulting Museum Master Plan outlines a new strategic approach—called the “Experimental History Project”—that will invite Renton residents and museums-goers into the process of exploring historical questions. Exhibits and programs will be more interdisciplinary, using art and science, for example, to explore history. The Master Plan also recommends changes to our physical building, including a more inviting entrance and lobby, an exciting pedestrian-friendly streetscape, and a more open exhibit gallery. The Master Plan provides staff, the Board, and volunteers with tools that will assist us in measuring our progress toward our goals. These measure how our exhibits and programs meet state and local curriculum requirements and how projects fit with our mission.
Our mission to document, preserve, interpret, and educate about Renton’s heritage remains unchanged. The Master Plan will help us improve the museum as a learning environment, enhance it as a place for the exchange of ideas, and reacquaint the community with our status as Renton’s only heritage organization. Most importantly, the Museum will strive to connect the past with the present and the future.
Next Steps
In 2010 the Renton Historical Society Board of Trustees and museum staff will revise our strategic plan—the set of concrete goals and action items that guide our operations—to support the Master Plan’s recommendations. The Board will also be kicking off a capital campaign this year to raise the funds necessary to change our building and implement the Experimental History Project approach.
As work on the Master Plan continues, an online conversation about the future of the Renton History Museum continues on Twitter and Facebook. Updates will be posted here on our web site. Renton Historical Society members and donors will also receive regular updates through our newsletter.
Get Involved
If you would like more information about the Master Plan process or would like to be involved, please email us or call Museum Manager Elizabeth P. Stewart at 425.255.2330. We look forward to working with you to make the Renton History Museum the best it can be.