HDC approves Museum of African American History sign in HDC 'Nantucket blue'

The Nantucket Historic District Commission approved a new sign for the Museum of African American History at 29 York Street and required that the sign use an HDC-approvable blue. Marsha Fader, representing the museum, said staff had been unable to review the sign-advisory board’s recommended colors before the earlier advisory meeting and requested guidance.

Ben Norman, a sign advisory member, told commissioners the HDC-approved 'Hamilton/Folger' blue was a safer match for the museum’s submitted Benjamin Moore 'Pacific Ocean' sample and recommended the museum instead use a close HDC-approved color. Marsha noted the museum’s brand color was important for continuity but said the museum had found an HDC-approved color called 'Nantucket blue' that closely matched their own palette.

After discussion about historic appropriateness and visibility at the Five Corners location, commissioners voted to approve the sign with the condition that the color be changed to the HDC-approvable Nantucket blue. Ben Norman said, “I’m comfortable with that personally,” and the board accepted the recommendation. The commission also ratified several routine sign and consent items during the meeting.