Discovery Museum seeks funding to refurbish exhibits, expand school programs and launch 'Museum on the Go'

Todd Espedel, the newly appointed executive director of the Delmarva Discovery Museum, presented a multi-year plan to the Pocomoke City mayor and council to refurbish museum exhibits, develop rotating temporary displays and expand educational outreach to schools across the three-county region.

Espedel said museum attendance has held steady since 2022 at roughly 12,000–13,000 visitors per year and that more than 3,100 schoolchildren visited in the most recent year. He described plans to reorganize exhibit storytelling (including the museum’s steamship and decoy-duck collections), improve signage and add temporary exhibits to encourage repeat visits. The museum also proposes a “Discovery Museum on the Go” initiative that would bring museum programming to libraries, schools and community centers when school groups cannot visit the facility.

Why it matters: The museum positions itself as a cultural and economic driver for Pocomoke City; Espedel cited research about cultural-tourism spending and argued that improving exhibits would increase repeat visitation and local spending. He said many exhibits have not been refurbished since around 2009.

Supporting details: Espedel described goals to create more immersive interpretive experiences, improve exterior window branding and produce six temporary exhibits per year. He said the museum is coordinating with Worcester County Schools on first-grade field trips and is working to align programming with school learning outcomes to fill educational gaps.

Council response: Council members praised the museum’s plans and asked clarifying questions about exhibits and fundraising. No formal municipal funding decision was recorded during the work session.

Looking ahead: The museum asked for support at any dollar level to begin refurbishments and to pilot the mobile education program; council staff may follow up during the municipal budget process.