Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (Memorial Hall Museum)

The museum proposes to fully develop a website focusing on the Deerfield, MA Attack of 1704, a major battle in Queen Anne's War, one of the series of wars known collectively as the French and Indian Wars. There will be no physical exhibit, but an extensive virtual one via the web. The website will demonstrate a model approach for museums to depict and voice diverse perspectives of history in a way that is engaging and compelling to the general public. The requested funds from IMLS will complete the four final phases of the project: 1.) the creation of a model that substantially builds upon a core version of the website by creating new 'scenes', developing historic character narratives and producing interactive maps; 2.) broad dissemination to the general public by collaborating with a regional public radio station and promotion through programs surrounding the tercentennial of 1704; 3.) extensive evaluation, conducting formative and summative evaluation; and 4.) targeted dissemination about the multi-layered web site to the museum community by presenting at conferences and publishing articles.