Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

Poplar Forest will develop a comprehensive interpretive plan to guide its evolution from a historic preservation and rescue project to an audience-focused museum. The aim is to link Jefferson the man, the cultural and natural features of his plantation, and the concerns of the museum’s audience. Drawing upon an IMLS-funded Museum Assessment Program (MAP) survey and a subsequent strategic planning process, Poplar Forest’s interpretive plan will focus on delivering engaging learning experiences that encourage civic literacy. The interpretive planning process will include an independent, outcome-based evaluation plan with logic modeling, front-end and formative audience research, and community outreach meetings. The plan will enable the museum to make the plantation more physically and intellectually accessible and more impactful to a broader audience.