Thanks to a $5,000 Mass Humanities matching grant, the Hull Lifesaving Museum has an opportunity to redesign its website to better serve the public.
The grant was awarded in large part because of the positive impact the museum’s exhibitions, collections, workshops, and educational programs have had on the Hull community and beyond.
“An updated website will allow the museum to better showcase its incredible work – looking forward to stopping by soon!” Sen. Patrick O’Connor said in a Facebook post announcing the grant.
The museum, which will provide the matching $5,000 – collected through fundraising efforts and donations – for the $10,000 project, has contracted with the Good Geeks of Hull to upgrade its website.
According to HLM Executive Director Michael McGurl, the museum applied for the grant and was assisted during the process by Rep. Joan Meschino, a Hull resident, and Sen. Patrick O’Connor. “We appreciate their advocacy for nonprofits such as the Lifesaving Museum,” he told The Hull Times.
The grant is geared toward improving the recipient’s electronic footprint, which in this case includes not only a redesigned and updated HLM website, but also a new computer with enhanced graphic capabilities that will benefit and improve website posts.
“We’re very excited about the grant,” McGurl said. “The content of our current website is pretty good, but it needs some polishing. This will allow us to bring it up to the standard that people expect from websites today.” The targeted completion date is the end of June if possible.
“We’ve had a lot of support from our elected officials and residents, which has helped us make the best of this challenging situation,” McGurl said, referring to the pandemic.
The Hull Lifesaving Museum, founded in 1978, is located in the restored former 19th-century Point Allerton U.S. Lifesaving Station, with sweeping views of Boston Light and the Graves Lighthouse.
The station opened in 1889 under the leadership of Joshua James, who is often referred to as the “father of the U.S. Coast Guard.” James and his crews are considered to be the most celebrated lifesavers in the world.
The driving principles of the 19th-century coastal lifesavers – skills, courage, and caring – are the foundations of the museum’s commitment to impact individual lives for the better.
The museum is dedicated to the preservation of Boston Harbor’s rich maritime heritage and lifesaving traditions through exhibits, collections, open-water rowing programs, and stewardship of historic sites.
Current offerings include a “Miniature Ships/Epic Stories” model exhibition, a virtual book club, a “Lifebuoy Saves Lives” online exhibit, and a “Summer Adventure” program for children.c
The museum is now open for the season. Visit www.lifesavingmuseum.org for details about current offerings, to make a donation, or to sign up for a program.
