The Friends of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum are seeking proposals for an interpretive masterplan for the museum’s 1944 harbour tugboat, Angels Gate.
The historic tugboat was originally built for the U.S. Army in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
In fact, it remained in the United States, ending up as a towing vessel and tour boat until it was ‘retired’ and transferred to the museum in 1992.
Crewed entirely by volunteers, Angels Gate operates a very limited sailing schedule and few museum visitors have ever been aboard. The museum wants to bring her to life as the setting for educational tours when she is at the dock.
Scope of Work
To develop an interpretive masterplan that will provide museum visitors with physical and intellectual access to the tugboat Angels Gate during the hours she is tied up at the dock. The project team will consist of the consultants, museum staff and tugboat volunteers.
According to the museum, the masterplan must address, but not be limited to, the following topics:
- What are the primary interpretive goals and objectives?
- Who is the potential audience?
- How can a tugboat experience help attract new audiences?
- What are unique stories the tug can tell, and how can these specific stories help create a broader appreciation of American maritime history?
- What are the appropriate staffing, volunteer, and budget needs for interpreting the vessel?
- How can the Museum evaluate the effectiveness of an interpretive tugboat programme?
The deadline for receipt of submissions is 11:59 pm, Pacific Standard Time, Monday, January 22, 2018. The successful consultants are expected to begin work no later than April 2, 2018.