Abstract
This thesis illustrates the process by which I implemented new interpretation for the Railroad Post Office Car (RPO) at the California State Railroad Museum. The exhibit I designed is a permanent exhibition that showcases the RPO and how it impacted the lives of Americans, titled “Connecting Americans One Letter at a Time.” This thesis takes a closer look at the evolution of the transportation of mail and how the RPO helped facilitate the need for a faster and more efficient way to deliver it. It also reviews literature on museum studies and best practices. In preparing this exhibit, I hosted and led storytelling workshops, consulted with the docent community at CSRM and subject matter experts, examined primary and secondary source material, conducted oral histories, visited archives and repositories, created interpretive panels, and designed interactives.