Wayside Exhibit Maintenance

HFC staff helps evaluate and clean wayside exhibits at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia.

Although wayside exhibits are among the most durable of all interpretive media and usually require little maintenance, their usefulness can be enhanced and extended by regular inspection and care. We recommend that each exhibit be examined quarterly and that the procedures described below be applied to exhibit panels that have been damaged by the elements or by vandals.

Cleaning each exhibit with mild soap and water before inspection can reveal hidden damage, can remove dirt or debris that may cause more damage, and can improve the general appearance of the exhibit. If more extensive repair or replacement is required, assistance is available through the Wayside Exhibit Minor Rehab Program. Contact program coordinator Susan Haines (phone: 304-535-6033; email: Susan_Haines@nps.gov). Information and materials to repair or replace exhibit bases are also available.

Material: Porcelain Enamel

Problem	Solution
Common surface dirt, including bird droppings	Wash with mild soap or use window cleaner
Spray paint (all types) or permanent markers	Apply paint thinner, lacquer thinner, or acetone
Small chips	Wash area and apply auto touch-up paint
Extreme vandalism	Replace panel

Material: Fiberglass-embedded Screen Print

Problem	Solution
Common surface dirt, including bird droppings; mild weathering causing slight diffusion of image and glass fiber exposure; moderate scratches	Wash with mild soap and water, then apply marine wax or a clear, satin finish, lacquer aerosol spray
Spray paint	Try the following (in order) until paint is removed: wash with mild soap and water or alcohol; apply paint thinner (mineral spirits); apply lacquer thinner. If you use acetone, use it quickly. Rinse with soap and water.
Ink or permanent markers	Apply alcohol or scrub with pencil eraser
Severe weathering causing extreme glass fiber exposure; vandalism including deep scratches, knife cuts, or bullet holes; faded graphics, delaminating, or other severe damage	Replace panel. Fiberglass panels originally produced by Harpers Ferry Center can usually be replaced at no charge.

Material: Fiberglass-embedded Digital Prints

The maintenance for fiberglass-embedded digital prints is the same as for fiberglass-embedded screen prints

Problem	Solution
Common surface dirt, including bird droppings; mild weathering causing slight diffusion of image and glass fiber exposure; moderate scratches	Wash with mild soap and water, then apply marine wax or a clear, satin finish, lacquer aerosol spray
Spray paint	Try the following (in order) until paint is removed: wash with mild soap and water or alcohol; apply paint thinner (mineral spirits); apply lacquer thinner. If you use acetone, use it quickly. Rinse with soap and water.
Ink or permanent markers	Apply alcohol or scrub with pencil eraser
Severe weathering causing extreme glass fiber exposure; vandalism including deep scratches, knife cuts, or bullet holes; faded graphics, delaminating, or other severe damage	Replace panel. Fiberglass panels originally produced by Harpers Ferry Center can usually be replaced at no charge.

Free Maintenance Kit

Harpers Ferry Center offers to national park areas a FREE wayside exhibit maintenance kit. To receive one (or more if needed) simply contact Susan Haines (phone: 304-535-6033; email: Susan_Haines@nps.gov).

HFC offers this kit because maintaining wayside exhibits is so important for a wayside exhibit's success. Poorly maintained wayside exhibits are less effective because visitors are less likely to be attracted to them, and they reflect negatively on the National Park Service.

The kit is very simple. It consists of a small backpack that contains cleaning supplies that will handle most graffiti and debris such as bird droppings.

Cleaning a wayside exhibit is easy, but goes a long way toward enhancing the exhibit's effectiveness.

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