Background:
In 2023, the City of Sunrise opened its new City Hall, fulfilling a long-standing goal of the Sunrise Historical Commission to have a dedicated space for preserving and showcasing the City's history. To guide the project, staff visited several local, regional and national museums, gathering best practices on exhibit design, artifact selection, and display methods. Most contained an emphasis on storytelling through physical artifacts, models, and interactive elements. The City Clerk’s Office conducted a benchmarking survey of other Broward County municipalities to understand how similar exhibits were structured and funded. A draft policy was developed to guide the selection, care, and display of items.
In preparation for the display, the Sunrise Historical Commission identified five core historical elements to highlight, such as the Upside-Down House and the Old Post Office. They additionally recommended an inspirational quote to anchor the display. Most recently, the board proposed creating a documentary about Sunrise’s history.
City Commissioners individually reviewed the artifacts and shared their visions with the City Clerk’s Office. To ensure the final exhibit reflects historical integrity, community values and design aesthetics, the City Clerk’s Office seeks input as to the following decision points to move forward:
1. Exhibition location – City Hall Stairwell or Garage Bay
2. Police and Fire Department inclusion
3. Contract employee, RFQ for professional services, in-house working group
As the City works to finalize plans for a historical exhibition, key decisions must be made regarding the exhibit location, content and professional design support. The goal is to create an engaging, historically accurate display that reflects community values, while honoring the City's past.