christy o’grady conservation manager
archaeology lab at the children's museum of indianapolis Christy spent four days hiking along Hadrian’s Wall Path in northern England, immersing herself in ancient Roman history and taking in views of rolling farmland, rocky hillsides, and streams and rivers. She studied archaeological sites along the 1,900-year-old wall, visited nearby museums, and “camped” nightly at a farmhouse outside the village of Haltwhistle. The most impressive archaeological sites were the forts at Housesteads and Vindolanda. Both have on-going excavations uncovering and interpreting details of life in Roman Britain. The conservation done to preserve the writing tablets discovered at Vindolanda is incredible. I felt a great connection to the people who lived and worked there many centuries ago. Christy originally wanted to hike a section of the Via Francigena from Oivieto to Rome, but wasn’t able to because of the complexities of COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements. Hiking 8-12 miles a day in the English countryside was energizing, though, and helped allay the worries brought on by the pandemic. And it reaffirmed her belief in the value of her work as a conservator. I love how historic objects, art, and architecture can provide a visceral connection to people and cultures in a way that no amount of written words or pictures can deliver. While I don’t sign my name to every object or specimen that I treat, my work is on display for every one of the more than 1 million visitors who come to the museum each year.
" The trip put me back in connection with an unwavering truth–I love finding and preserving the stories inherent in objects." Christy O'Grady CHILDRENSMUSEUM.ORG
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CR E AT I V E R EN EWA L A RTS F ELLOWSH I P