BOARD SPOTLIGHT
The Building Blocks of Family, Fun and Learning
“I think the museum does a great job of highlighting the historical and cultural significance of the state and the people.”
As a father of two, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites Board Member Pete Nagel has noticed an exciting change in the types of conversations and curiosities his children have since his family first began coming to the Indiana State Museum.
“Something they see or read might prompt a question that you can talk about with them that maybe wouldn't have come up had you not seen that exhibit or been at the museum,” said Nagel.
“It definitely elicits interesting questions and thought-provoking things from them.”
Nagel grew up in Michigan City in the northwest corner of Indiana, about three hours from the museum and almost two hours to the closest historic site. Unsurprisingly, childhood trips with his family and school took him elsewhere. It wasn’t until he accepted a position at Cummins Inc. and moved to Greenwood that he started to become more familiar with the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.
Nagel, who just completed his first year of service on the board, said he has been impressed to discover all the different facets of the museum system.
“I knew a little bit about the museum and historic sites, but I’ve enjoyed learning more about the impact that the museum is having in Indianapolis and across the state,” said Nagel. “I think what I didn't realize was all the planning and the work that goes into the exhibits and the programs for kids and families, all the planning and the work that goes into procuring the different objects, and all the care that goes into the sites.”
To learn more about the organization, Nagel said he has enjoyed bringing his family to explore alongside him, in particular at the museum. Experiencing fun exhibits like Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks, and seeing Fred the Mastodon, have been favorites for his children, Oakley and Winona. Nagel and his wife, Natalie, appreciate the variety of camps and other education programs. Plus, the whole family has enjoyed the festive events, including Night at the Boo Bash when each member dressed as a different Pokémon character.
Because there is always something new and different each time the family visits, it keeps the conversations going. Whether the discussions focus on simple topics, like interesting animals and little-known Hoosiers, or ones that are more complex, such as slavery and the Civil War, Nagel appreciates that the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites provides welcoming places for families to have those learning moments together.
With his position on the board, Nagel said he wants to help get the word out to encourage other families discover the 12-location museum system.
“I think the museum does a great job of highlighting the historical and cultural significance of the state and the people,” he said. “For the kids, it does it in a fun and interactive way. The family appeal is there, and I really want to help build that awareness that there’s a lot here for everyone.” ◆
