Delaware ag museum honors retiring executive director

The Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village celebrated the tenure of Carolyn Claypoole, its recently retired executive director, with a gala reception in December.

In attendance were her many friends from the state Legislature and executive branch, as well as many private-sector supporters. Claypoole’s six years of museum leadership included two years guiding the private nonprofit through the hardships and uncertainties brought by the pandemic. Among the many honors and compliments she received during the event, the highlight was the Delaware Senate proclamation extolling her extraordinary efforts to modernize and position the Delaware Agricultural Museum as a center for learning and discovery focusing on the past, present and future of Delaware’s most important industry.

Claypoole said, “This has been the most challenging and rewarding role I have ever taken on. We all have much to be proud of, and the successes we have realized as an organization are due to the support and friendship provided by you, the ag museum family.”

During Claypoole’s tenure, the museum launched a new permanent exhibition celebrating the Delaware chicken industry, as well as, “Then One Day the Lights Came On,” which documents the myriad impacts of rural electrification on Delmarva agriculture and rural life. In 2023, Claypoole’s work at the museum captured the attention of the Smithsonian Institution, when the Delaware Agricultural Museum was selected as one of six organizations nationally to participate in a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street project to develop a unique humanities-based exhibition on food. The new offering is scheduled to launch in late spring 2024.

A former Lewes resident, Claypoole retired Jan. 1 and has relocated to Pinehurst, N.C. with her husband Richard. Although she has relinquished her responsibilities as executive director, Claypoole will maintain her association with the museum as she continues work on the Smithsonian Food cohort, and on exhibitions focusing on the dairy industry in Delaware and renewable energy in agriculture.