At the Shockoe Institute’s newest exhibit, Expanding Freedom, 1220 Exhibits was honored to help bring this powerful and deeply important story to life through immersive fabrication and installation. The Shockoe Institute’s mission of revealing the evolution of American racial slavery, its enduring impact, and using the lessons of that history to improve our civic life, guided every element of the exhibit experience. Working closely with the project team, our craftsmen and installers translated complex historical narratives into tangible environments.

Among the custom elements produced in-house by 1220 was a meticulously crafted 1860s-era boxcar, designed to evoke the atmosphere and emotional weight of the period. Our team also fabricated. a custom metal drum featuring CNC-cut viewing holes that create moments of focused interpretation and discovery. In addition, we produced and installed SEG graphics, silkscreen graphics, and a wide range of additional exhibit components that helped unify the storytelling experience while supporting the exhibit’s visual and educational goals.

From scenic fabrication and graphic production to final installation, every detail was approached with care, precision, and respect for the stories being told. Expanding Freedom stands as a meaningful example of how thoughtful exhibit design can foster connection, understanding, and conversation. We are grateful to have partnered with the Shockoe Institute on a project that not only preserves history, but encourages visitors to consider its lasting influencer on our communities and collective future.