They’ll be back!

Says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of our collection items that left for the California State Capitol Museum today. Okay, he probably didn’t, but he could. Museums often loan articles from collections to other institutions, usually for display purposes. The Director of the California State Capitol Museum, Bruce Stiny, contacted us several months ago. He and his staff are developing an exhibit about Californians in the Spanish American War. Some of our Rough Rider collection would help illustrate part of that story.

There’s a lot to do to send some of our collection away. First, the Museum Board must review and approve the request. We require the borrower to obtain insurance on our items for the length of the loan and pay crating and shipping costs. Staff assembles the pieces and examines them carefully. The condition of each item must be recorded and photographed. The items are packed for shipping, taking particular care to guard against abrasion, bumps, and moisture. A few companies specialize in hauling fragile and high value items between museums.

Representatives of such a company arrived today to pick up the boxes. The deed was done. The exhibit “This means War” opens at the Capitol Building in Sacramento in June 2010 and will be one display until May 2011.