2.22.18 – Christopher Shires

Christopher Shires joined the Gilmore Car Museum as its Executive Director in January 2017, organizing several new exhibitions and driving a collection storage building campaign.

Prior to this, Chris has served as the Holland Museum as its Executive Director leading the organization through American Alliance of Museum’s reaccreditation, rebranding, and new marketing initiatives.  Before this position, Shires served as the Director of Interpretation and Programs at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, where he helped develop a series of new public and educational programs and exhibits for the Ford House.

Prior to his time in Michigan, Shires first served as the Interpretive Services Manager and later, the Director of Exhibits, Education and Programs, at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a member of the new museum’s start-up team. Other previous positions were held at the Campbell House Museum and the St. Louis Mercantile Library.

Shires earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Marshall University and a Master of Arts in History, along with a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies, from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

Chris and his wife Greta have a seven-year-old son, Fuller and five-year-old daughter, Campbell.