National Firearms Museum New Website

[JimSupica]

We've just rolled out Phase 1 of the new NRA National Firearms Museum website. Check it out at:

NRA

(that's nationalfirearmsmuseum.org)

This is the basic layout for the site, with some good content in place.

Phase 2 will have much more extensive content, including photos and commentary on all 2,200 firearms currently on display, and much more that will be of interest and use to gun collectors and the general public (we hope!).

Since we're just among friends here, I'd like to ask this forum first for some help in reviewing the site. I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts and feedback, including:

1. Overall quality.

2. Layout & navigation.

3. Interest and usefulness of content.

4. Load time.

5. Anything else that you like, dislike, or think needs attention on the site.

Please send your comments to me at [email protected]

Thanks! - Jim Supica, Director, NRA National Firearms Museum.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Jim sir,

Maybe it's me, but even if I type in:

nationalfireramsmuseum(dot)org

It shows the NRA homepage.
Then if I go to to the tab on the left for the Museum, it will take me to your future page.

Keep up the great work!
I want to tour the museum soon.

 

[JimSupica]

Thanks Andj. That's the kind of thing I need to know. Jim.

 

[mtb1bkr]

Yep, to get to the museum website you have to add /#/museum to the address.

Bill

 

[ingmansinc]

Thanks for the post. It is saved to my favorites. We are going to be in Williamsburg, Va. in a couple of weeks perhaps I can add this into our vacation agenda.

 

[AirCommando]

Looks good Jim! I just saw the video about guns of the west. Pretty nice! I'll have to see more of the site, but, I think it has good quality.

AC

 

[BarbC]

The guided tours are very informative and the expert commentary on the different guns as they are shown is quite valuable. The multi-media dimension keeps the site fresh and entertaining. The best part of the experience is that it brings the museum to people who might otherwise have never gotten to see it.

 

[JimSupica]

Thanks for the feed back, it is helpful!

The web gnomes assure me they're working to get it fixed so nationalfirearmsmusem.org goes straight to the museum website instead of the nra home page.

I think it loses browsers when you're forced thru a gateway page that is not the one you requested. Does that make sense?

And ingmans, I hope you and any others who get to the DC area will take time to visit the museum -- I think you'd enjoy it! -- Jim

 

[H Richard]

Had a little trouble the first time, it took me to the NRA Homepage, but then I tried again and it locked in on the Museum. W.O.W., This is fantastic. I especially liked the story behind the Gallery #14, Doorway to Freedom. This should be put on National T.V., so all the Politicians and anti-gunners can see it.

Keep up the great work, this in at the head of my bookmarks.

 

[westkybanded]

Jim,

IMHO- the content is first rate.

The site could do with less flash and video. It's loading EXREMELY slowly for me and I have a very very fast connection here at work.

Make the page a little less busy, and don't have it open with a video. Let people click on the video if they choose to watch it. Embedding the player uses up a TON of bandwitdth.

I can't even imagine trying to look at this on a dialup connection.

Best of luck!

 

[JimSupica]

Again the feedback helps.

Have to agree that gallery 14 is my fav clip on the site too. I do get a little choked up when I watch it, still.

westky, those are issues we've been rasslin with, and your observations help.

I was initially in favor of a simple, straight forward plain vanilla website with lots of content, but the end results of this more upscale and visually exciting site made my eyeballs pop when I saw the final product.

We have scaled back the bells and whistles a bit, actually. The video shouldn't start playing unless you click on it, for example.

We have two audiences to please -- serious firearms collectors, students, and researchers on one hand, and the general public on the other. We want substantive content (much more still to come in phase 2) for the first group and "infotainment" if you will for the second.

The input on how the site works is especially helpful. The main NRA gateway ( NRA ) had some long loads and delays when it was first launched several weeks ago, but seems to be running smooth as silk now. (Anyone with a different experience?)

Let me know, and I'll pass the info on to the behind the scenes magicians.... they're dedicated to making this good and making it work!

Thanks - Jim