Report from the Road: New York City
I just returned from a whirlwind tour, visiting 8 Affiliates and 2 SI units in New York City and Newark, NJ. What exciting things are happening there!
The New Jersey Historical Society opened SITES’ Our Journeys Our Stories, welcoming a strong turnout from media, local officials and a Latino public that, while prominent in the city, has never before been represented in an exhibition at NJH. Congratulations!
Also opening, SITES’ The Way We Worked at Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island. What a beautiful installation of this exhibition. Snug Harbor had a double opening as well, and also opened Holiday Pop Ups an exhibition on moveable books on loan from the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum library.
What a fun way to celebrate the holidays! 
Another highlight was a hard hat tour of the Museum of American Finance‘s new home at 48 Wall Street. They have transformed the former Bank of New York into a top-rate Museum devoted to financial literacy, with interactive exhibits, a theater and multi-purpose education space, all just steps away from the New York Stock Exchange.
Finally, I was able to celebrate with the staff of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Just announced to the press, the Museum was chosen as the main cultural component in the redevelopment of the Victoria Theater on 125th street, right next to the Apollo. While the Museum enjoys enormous community support with its many ingenious programs (also available to Affiliates!), it can now look forward to a permanent home with galleries for its collections and exhibitions (and hopefully, some of the Smithsonian’s too.)
Co-director Loren Schoenberg looks on as the Museum’s first (in a long line I’m sure) piece of signage gets installed.
No doubt 2008 promises more such exciting developments from Affiliates nationwide. We certainly hope the Smithsonian, in its many manifestations, can be right there with you to celebrate.
Dr. Angehr is also a research associate at the Smithsonian’s 
Affiliations staff participated in a lovely morning tour of the newest spectacular space at the Smithsonian, the Kogod Courtyard at the Reynolds Center. (American Art Museum & Portrait Gallery’s building). 
On September 30 in Philadelphia, the National Museum of American Jewish History broke ground on its phenomenal new space at 5th and Market streets, directly across Independence Mall from the Liberty Bell. On hand to make comments and celebrate with NMAJH staff were Senator Arlen Specter, Governor Edward Rendell, Mayor John Street and several other members of the City Council and state government. The Museum, designed by renowed architect James Polshek, will showcase the history of Jews in America, from the 17th century to the present. Click 
On November 8, the long-awaited Heritage Harbor Museum in Providence, Rhode Island celebrated the start of its renovation of the South Street power plant (appropriately renamed “Dynamo House”). The Museum will ultimately share this huge historical site with a Starwood hotel and restaurant. Shown here are Mayor David Cicilline and the developer, Bill Struever, opening the gate for confetti to fly, marking the beginning of the renovation project. Heritage Harbor will share the history of Rhode Island through interactive exhibits.
