Pleasanton's Museum on Main: Not Just That Old Grandma's Attic Place

Museum on Main Executive Director Jim DeMersman spends a lot of time digging. It's not for oil or gold, but for piles of Native American artifacts, Civil War uniforms, and 100-year-old photographs.

Six months after joining the museum, DeMersman dives into old records and collections to develop a future for MoM and preserve the past. He's well-equipped for the job, with career experiences in museums across the country  and a passion for making learning fun.

What's your typical day like?

I'm spending a lot of my time in the community. It's important for a museum to have a public face, so that people know we're here, we want to be involved, and we're not just that old Grandma's attic place down the street. I'm sharing what expertise I have on a variety of topics, from cemeteries to historic preservation to museum stuff. I'm looking for grant opportunities. We just secured a federal grant for $7,000 to assess our collections and how we care for them. I'm very excited about that, and it allows us to bring in two outside consultants to look at our historic building and at all the stuff.

What's been the most exciting opportunity so far?

The public programs. Ghost Walks especially was just phenomenal. To have fun teaching history, which is what the Ghost Walks actually do, is the best thing. As we travel along the street talking about this ghost or that ghost, we're really talking about the history of our community.

What's your most challenging task as director?

Getting people through the door. We're in a beautiful building but it's set back off the main sidewalk, and people aren't quite sure if it's okay to come in. We've got to figure out ways to enhance attendance.

What are you working on right now?

A new exhibit called "The Horse of Course" about the horse and its importance in the Valley. We're trying to relate local history to a bigger picture. We're also trying to bring in exhibits from other places so folks in Pleasanton have an opportunity to see things they might not get another chance to see.

Can you give us a sneak peek?

We haven't decided yet, but I like "Past Tents" about Californians' fascination with camping. We want our exhibits to be fun and engaging, as well as having a "scholarly" component. It would be really fun to put a tent in the middle of the gallery.

What's next for you and the museum?

Continuing the public activities, and working with the city on the Alviso Adobe to create programs and a collaborative event. Our education director is phenomenal, and she's updating our educational programs. Eventually we want to re-do the permanent gallery to make it more 21st century, and more interactive with music and technology. We hope to develop a walking tour that people can access with their cell phones. I want to enhance people's experiences in downtown Pleasanton, and make the museum the center role in all of that. 

NOTE: Interview conducted and edited by Kate Tasker.  Tasker is a graduate student in Library and Information Science at San Jose State. She worked as a volunteer docent at the Dunsmuir-Hellmman Historic Estate in Oakland while Jim DeMersman was executive director.