Have you noticed the growing popularity of
paranormal programming in the museum and historic site community? Have YOU ever suspected you are not alone
when working late? If so, then perhaps
your site has an opportunity to expand your program offerings with something
“spirited!”
When I joined Fort Mifflin
as Executive Director a couple of years ago I was very skeptical of how
paranormal programs fit within the context of a National Historic Landmark.
After a quick review of the financial statements the mist cleared – this was an
essential financial element of our program calendar. Still, I wondered if it made sense from an
historic context.
Over my tenure our paranormal programming has
evolved, and I am happy to report that we consider it to be fully mission
based, no longer on the “special event” line on the IRS Form 990. This is just another avenue for us to tell
the story of the site, and by its nature, a paranormal investigation will yield
different results every time. There is
always an incentive for a visiting investigator to return! Repeat visitors often develop a relationship
with the site, and we have found that a significant portion of our essential
volunteer pool comes from folks who initially visited to check the dark corners
of the Fort for ghosts.
Let’s get together to explore possibilities at
YOUR site – I will share my experience at Fort Mifflin, review our successful
programs and talk about how we manage the unique challenges of extensive night
time programming. I might even bring a
few photos that will make believers out of skeptics….
Beth
Elizabeth Beatty
Executive Director
Fort Mifflin on the Delaware
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