Atherton Train museum

Overview

Commissioned by the Town of Atherton, California, I was selected to design a series of interpretive displays for the Historic Train Station Museum. The project transformed archival photographs, historical narratives and local heritage into an engaging exhibition experience, creating a visual journey through the town's railway history.

The initial commission included the design of three large-format vertical exhibition panels and two panoramic horizontal displays. Working closely with the Town's Museum Subcommittee, the concept evolved through multiple rounds of collaboration and feedback, ultimately leading to a refined exhibition approach.

Design Approach

The challenge was to communicate a rich historical narrative in a way that was both visually engaging and easy to navigate. I developed a modular exhibition system that organised archival material into clear thematic sections.

Inspired by historic railway signage and heritage publications, the design combines archival photography, historical documents and carefully composed collages to evoke the character of each period in Atherton's railway history.