ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The George Eastman Museum has taken a beating from Rochester’s harsh winters, but the historic mansion of the Eastman Kodak founder is set to undergo some renovations.
The George Eastman Museum has secured $500,000 in federal funding to preserve its historic charm. News10NBC’s Kristi Blake reports from East Avenue, highlighting the project’s focus on maintaining the mansion’s original aesthetics.
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The museum is home to one of the earliest film archives and has welcomed visitors from across the world to learn about Eastman’s impact on film and photography. Bruce Barnes, the Ron and Donna Fielding Director of the George Eastman Museum, explained the scope of the restoration.
“We’ve done an enormous amount of restoration on the mansion over the last 10 years,” Barnes said. “But what we haven’t done is things that are above the roofline. So at this time, what we’re focused on is restoring the chimneys, the parapets, which is the section of the wall that’s above the roofline, and the wooden railing that runs around the captain’s walk at the top of the front of the mansion.”
The museum features 11 large original chimneys and 13 parapets. The project, which will span two years, is supported by federal funding and $200,000 in private donations. Museum officials emphasize the importance of ongoing renovations to preserve the site’s historical significance.
The harsh winter freeze-thaw cycles have taken a toll on the roof, leading to water damage and broken railings. Since 2012, the Eastman Museum has invested over $6 million in preservation efforts.
Barnes elaborated on the preservation approach: “We’re trying to use mortar that is as close as possible to the mortar that was used when the house was built. It’s very important that people see this as something where we’re trying to bring it as close as possible to what the original was. The primary motivation for this is both a public safety motivation and a desire to avoid water infiltration, because water can get through the cracks in the mortar.”
While the renovations are external, they have already caused internal issues, with moisture seeping through cracks, threatening the museum’s valuable contents. The museum aims to remain open during the project, though access to some outdoor areas may be restricted.
The George Eastman Museum attracts about 125,000 visitors annually and is considered the world’s oldest photography museum.
George Eastman Museum takes a beating from Rochester’s winters, but set to get renovations WHEC.com.
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