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Mound House staff describe underground exhibit damage, mold and plans for digital access
Summary
Staff reported mold growth and collapses in the Mound House underground exhibit, said FEMA and industrial-hygiene reviewers made brief inspections, and described work to display a 3D scan in the museum while refraining from opening the underground to visitors for health and safety reasons.
Museum staff told the meeting that the underground exhibit at the Mound House shows significant deterioration, including mold growth on wooden doors and several collapses, and is not currently open for close public inspection for health and safety reasons.
Staff said the museum has considered physical viewing modifications such as replacing wooden doors with plexiglass but listed practical problems including lighting, ventilation and mold growth that would make closer public access unsafe. Staff said they do not want visitors close to that area for health-and-safety reasons.
FEMA personnel and an industrial hygienist visited the underground for brief inspections, staff said; the FEMA visit lasted only a few minutes for photos, and visitors or staff entering the space are required to wear masks. Staff said the town’s insurance-connected industrial hygienist has been involved in assessments; the meeting referenced occupational-health procedures and the need for specialist remediation.
The Florida Public Archaeology Network conducted a full three-dimensional scan of the underground room after storm damage, staff said. Museum staff are exploring ways to present that 3D scan inside the museum on a kiosk or similar display so visitors can view the space virtually. Staff also described plans for temporary outdoor interpretive signage that would show how the underground once looked, explain current damage and provide project-update information for visitors.
Staff discussed the technical barrier to installing a live camera view of the underground: the exhibit is wired on a separate electrical system, so adding a camera would require additional electrical work. Staff said they will continue to explore display, signage and remediation options; no formal remediation contract or timeline was announced during the meeting.
