Although construction on the building is not scheduled to
begin until early next year, other important facets of
the Carriage Barn project are moving quickly. This
summer, Northern Light Productions of Boston was hired to produce a
10-minute orientation video to be shown in the Carriage Barn theater. The
film will provide visitors with important background on John Jay's many
accomplishments before they enjoy their tour of the historic house.
Production of the video is under way, with on-site filming scheduled for the
week of October 13, 2008.
Design Minds, Inc., along with Redmon Group, both of
Alexandria, Virginia, have been hired by the Friends to design the engaging
exhibits that will be featured in the Carriage Barn. The main exhibit
gallery will include a welcome desk and gift shop, a map-model of the
property, computer kiosks with exhibit content, and period news magazines
featuring articles relevant to John Jay's life. The 1911 addition to the
building will feature an activity center with a replica governess's
cart, similar to one the Jay children rode in, and discovery boxes
full of interesting things to explore. Around the corner in the horse stalls,
visitors will see realistic models of horses and experience a sound and
light show emphasizing the importance of horses to the Jay family and Bedford
Farm. You can see an artistic rendering of the exhibit spaces along with a floor
plan in the images...
Click on Image for an enlarged PDF version
Visitor Center
The historic Carriage Barn has played an important role at the Jay Homestead since 1801. A 1912 addition created the present structure, which is being returned to its ca. 1920s appearance. The building will house the site's new Visitor Center, providing orientation for guests, including groups, individuals, and families. This floor plan of the preliminary exhibit design shows the use of the spaces and notes some of the exhibits that will guide visitors as they explore the property. Highlights of the new experience will include an interactive site model, computer programs, and a theater featuring a new orientation film.
Click on Image for an enlarged PDF version
Exhibit Space
The central orientation area is located in the original part of the 1801 Carriage Barn. This view includes the "Orientation Stations," individual units with built-in touch screens and large format LCD monitors. Each unit allows visitors to select one of five different aspects of John Jay's life, as well as his descendants' lives in Katonah. The central feature of the room is a scale site plan featuring realistic models of the main buildings visitors will encounter at the farm. This model also includes integrated push-buttons and lights that provide a snapshot of historic views of the property from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Click on Image for an enlarged PDF version
Kids Area
The Carriage Barn will include a state-of-the-art theater (left side of image) where visitors may watch an original film production orienting them to the Jays and the farm. This area, housed in the 1911 addition to the original structure, also includes a children's exhibit, seen at the right foreground. "Discovery boxes" hold themed items from period clothing to vintage games. The boxes surround a replica pony cart, based on a photo of the Jay children enjoying a ride. Supervised visitors may ascend the piece and have their pictures taken in period garb. The floor is covered with a soft material so that children may comfortably play in the space.
Click on Image for an enlarged PDF version
Horse Stalls
This view of the Carriage Barn's restored horse stalls includes a glimpse into the exhibit area where visitors will learn more about the Jay family's long history of caring for horses. Each generation of the family will be featured in an audio track that includes first-person accounts and reminiscences describing the Jay's interaction with their horses. As actors portraying the Jays speak, images on the wall light up, showing the animal or scene being described. The stalls themselves will be outfitted with hay, food, and riding gear appropriate to the era. The stall at the right of the image also includes life-size models of a mare and her foal.
Filming for the Education and Visitor Center Video
See the photos below for a glimpse behind the scenes.
Image:
Friends - P.O. Box 148, Katonah, NY 10536 - phone: 914.232.8119 - fax: 914.232.5974 - e-mail: friends@johnjayhomestead.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Site - P.O. Box 832 - 400 Jay Street, Katonah, NY 10536 - phone: 914.232.5651 - fax: 914.232.8085 - www.nysparks.com
