The Museum Field Manual.
Museums 101 is the practical handbook for museum founders, directors, board members, staff, students, and enthusiasts.
It covers the full arc of museum development, from the first community assessment through opening day, written from inside the field by someone who has planned more than forty institutions. It is a "museum basics" book in a cookbook format: clear steps, a reason for each one, and worksheets to work through.
The museum field is undergoing a dramatic shift. Inclusion, representation, digital engagement, social media, crowdfunding, online learning, and changing funding models are redefining what a museum is and who it serves. More and more, museums need to serve many audiences at once. Museums 101 gives you the language and framework to navigate that shift.
Every kind of museum.
- History museums
- Art museums
- Science centers
- Children's museums
- Natural history museums
- Zoos and aquariums
- Visitor centers
What comes with it.
- Museum Toolbox — planning templates and worksheets; the password is in the book.
- Museum Resources — codes of ethics, standards, and associations.
- Glossary — essential museum-related terms.
Writing the book clarified my thinking and helped broadcast it to people. I often send copies to new clients — it helps them understand me and how I think.
Mark WalhimerEvery museum begins with a conversation.
Founders, directors, boards, and students: tell me where you are and what you're trying to build.
Starting a museum after the book.
When you need the consulting path — feasibility, strategic planning, or a board-ready plan — that work lives on Museum Planning LLC.