Mary Kate Claytor’s career at the Frontier Culture Museum reflects her passion for bringing history to life through engaging and inclusive interpretation, from Indigenous history and heritage livestock to developing meaningful visitor experiences and helping shape the Museum’s future through the new American Journey Gallery.
The Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia will host its 4th Annual Fiber Festival on Saturday, April 4, 2026, featuring hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and family-friendly activities. Visitors can experience sheep shearing and herding, explore fiber arts vendors, and learn about the full process from raw fiber to finished textile. The event highlights the ongoing relevance of materials like wool and flax while showcasing the growing interest in fiber arts.
Misti Furr is a Living History Interpreter at the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia with nearly three decades of experience in museums and historic interpretation. Her work centers on rigorous research, historical accuracy, and hands-on education across multiple museum sites, including Indigenous history, traditional crafts, and historic agriculture. Through deep scholarship and lived practice, Furr helps visitors understand history as a connected, evolving story that continues to shape the present.
Angela Lehman, Associate Director of Education at the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, leads educational programming that emphasizes inquiry, material culture, and hands-on learning. Through multisensory experiences, youth programs, homeschool days, and teacher partnerships, the museum helps learners understand not only what happened in the past, but how we know it. Lehman highlights the museum’s uniquely place-based approach and its commitment to making history engaging, rigorous, and meaningful for all ages.
Jonathan Harton, a Living History Interpreter at the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, shares how his lifelong passion for history shapes his work connecting past and present. With deep expertise in eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century America, Harton brings historical accuracy and human perspective to multiple museum sites. He emphasizes the lasting impact living history can have, especially on young visitors, and the importance of making history meaningful, relatable, and accessible for today’s audiences.
The Frontier Culture Museum is expanding interpretation at its 1820s and 1850s American Farm exhibits through fifteen new interpretive signs funded by Americana Corner's Preserving America Grant. These signs will offer visitors deeper context about cultural traditions, frontier life, and the diverse communities who shaped early America. This project reflects the shared mission of Americana Corner, the American Frontier Culture Foundation, and the Museum to preserve and share the nation’s formative history in meaningful and accessible ways.
Tiffany Fisk, Director of Interpretation at the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, brings over 25 years of experience in museum work and living history interpretation to her leadership role. Her approach combines deep historical knowledge with a strong commitment to supporting and empowering her team. In her conversation with Standout Arts, Fisk reflected on her early start in historic education, her time at Colonial Williamsburg, and her management experience in Pennsylvania and Maryland. At the Frontier Culture Museum, she leads a talented group of interpreters dedicated to research, accuracy, and storytelling that connects visitors to Virginia’s rich cultural history. Fisk’s philosophy centers on advocacy for her staff and continuous learning, ensuring that both the interpreters and the stories they share continue to grow and inspire.
Tom Fechtel, treasurer of the American Frontier Culture Foundation, shared his journey to board service and his perspective on the Foundation’s role in supporting the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia. With a background in finance at Coca-Cola and teaching business at Bridgewater College, Fechtel has contributed his expertise to the Foundation for about a decade. He views the board as a working group dedicated to advancing the Museum’s mission through fundraising and community support. Fechtel credits strong partnerships for the Museum’s growth and sees the upcoming American Journey Gallery as a significant step in expanding educational opportunities and attracting more visitors. Calling the Museum “a little gem,” he believes it plays a vital role in Staunton’s future and is proud to help ensure its success.
Since 1988, the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia has illustrated how European, African, and Indigenous practices merged to shape American life...and its programs can leave a lasting mark. Environmental educator Meredith McCool traces her career back to childhood days spent mixing clay and exploring the museum’s farms, experiences she says “fueled the spark” that led to degrees in geology and education, work in Alaska, and the launch of her own stewardship programs at Sunshine Springs Farm.
The Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia has received the prestigious 2025 Preserving America Grant from Americana Corner to enhance its 1820s and 1850s American Farm exhibits with 15 permanent interpretive signs. These signs, slated for installation later this year, will include historical photographs and cultural context, highlighting how these farmsteads reflect America’s transformation after the Revolutionary War. Read More...
Emily Noble Day Summer Camp Scholarship Fund
Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
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