The North Carolina Maritime Museum in Southport welcomed the first visitor to use the new semi-guided video tour that includes spoken English, closed captions and American Sign Language.
Nancy Richardson, who is deaf, said midway through the 23-minute video tour, “Oh, wow, you have to let the deaf community know. This is really awesome.”
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The museum at 204 E. Moore St. in downtown Southport, recently released the new tour to replace the in-person tours currently suspended due to COVID-19, the museum announced Monday.
Visitors can use their own smart phone or other device to scan a QR code that takes them to the video on YouTube. Guests need to bring and use headphones if they plan to follow tour that stops for a minute or two at the major permanent exhibits.
Museum Education Curator Katy Menne said she used the recording to share highlights and artifacts visitors may miss.
“I think people overlook the Native American diorama, which is really interesting to learn about,” Menne said, referring to the diorama showcases Native Americans using a fishing weir. “It’s depicting a fishing technique, not just that there were Native American people here.”
Another example is the section of a Jacob’s ladder — a few rungs from a much larger piece — displayed in the exhibit hall.
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“I don’t think people get the full impact of that,” Menne said. “We have one tiny piece of the ladder.”
Menne said the guided tour is an overview designed to complement rather than duplicate the information that is already on display — and make it more accessible, part of the museum staff’s focus on creating a welcoming environment to all.
Other efforts include offering Sensory Saturdays, which provide a sensory-sensitive experience for those who need a calmer and quieter space to learn; posting directional signage in both English and Spanish; and including closed captions and ASL on the new video tour.
“This is a way to be inclusive,” she said. “We want to reach more people and share the maritime history and culture of this region.”
Richardson’s daughter, Lisa Barker, provided the ASL interpretation on the video and for her mom during the inaugural walk-through.
Barker said the captions can be helpful, but ASL is a language of its own.
“It’s not word-for-word (interpretation),” she said. “It’s not English.”
Instead, Barker explained, ASL has its own grammar and own rules just as any language does.
Barker estimates she spent around 20 hours working on the video, starting with the time she spent studying Katy’s flow and way of talking, recording a first run-through and then a re-shoot to ensure it would work for the intended audience.
Barker joined her mom in following the tour and the two walked through the museum, stopping to talk to each other about the artifacts and exhibits.
“It’s kind of cool to be able to go somewhere with my mom and not have to interpret for her but be a visitor with her,” said Barker, who typically interprets within the medical and legal communities. “It’s very exciting. I hope other places start taking the initiative as well.”
Richardson agreed, remembering the times she’d take her children to museums over the years but not have anything like the Southport museum’s ASL tour available.
“I’ve never had this type of full access,” Richardson said. “It makes me really, really proud that (my daughter) is helping so many people like me have access to this museum.”
For more information, call 910-477-5151 or visit ncmaritimemuseumsouthport.com.
Submitted by NC Maritime Museums
