Our very first speaker was Michael David Hall, the Executive Director of the Gold Coast Railroad Museum. He spoke about "New Directions for Modern Museums".
Mr. Hall has 27 years of experience in the museum field, beginning as an intern in the decorative arts department of the Illinois State Museum. Once receiving his BA in American History and Business Administration in 1984, Mr. Hall went on to become the site manager of a 3,000 acre National Register of Historic Places farm and wildlife site in Illinois. After graduating from Western Illinois University in 1987 with an MA in American History, Museum Studies, and a minor in European History, he went into historic preservation work.
Mr. Hall then moved to Indiana, where he became a curator, then assistant director and finally the executive director for fifteen years of the Montgomery County Historical Society; a 120 year-old accredited museum within the Indiana State Museum System.There he oversaw five National Register listed antebellum structures with restored grounds and gardens. During that time Mr. Hall completed additional postgraduate coursework at Purdue University in Museum Studies and American History while completing a fellowship at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio where his final doctoral dissertation was published.
From 1990 to 2001, Mr. Hall published four biographies on historical American figures, including Civil War era Senator Henry S. Lane, Second World War era aeronautical engineer Alfred C. Loading, and Cold War era aeronautical engineer Air Force Captain Edward J. Ruppelt.
In 2002, Mr. Hall was hired as the executive director of the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, a fifty-four year-old South Florida landmark utilizing the National Register listed grounds of the former Richmond Naval Air Station. There, he has overseen a working railroad museum spanning over fifty acres with sixty-three pieces of historical railroad engines and cars, three of which are listed on the National Register as well as the former presidential rail car Ferdinand Magellan; Miami's first National Historic Landmark, which served four sitting U.S. Presidents. At the Railroad Museum, Mr. Hall pioneered a new emphasis for the organization in preservation and restoration projects. He also added a new dimension in children's-related events and interdisciplinary and inter-generational programming focusing on mechanical engineering and industrial arts displays.
A special thanks to Costco and Jeri Phillips for providing a special Railroad Sandwich Platter.
Club President Jack Courtright standing next to the Rotary banner in the railway car.
Mr. Hall presenting to the club.
Jack Courtright presenting Mr. Hall with a certificate of appreciation from the Rotary club.
President-Elect Carol Nobles presenting Rotary club member Jeri Phillips with a certificate of appreciation for her assistance with the Safe Space fundraiser held in January.
Carol Nobles presenting Al Smith with a certificate of appreciation for providing signage from his company, Fast Signs, for the Safe Space fundraiser.
