Custom Exhibits
Museums, libraries, historical timelines and visitor centers
Visitors remember how an exhibit makes them feel.
We build exhibits for museums, public libraries, nature and visitor centers, and athletic halls of fame. Our clients are curators, library directors, park and recreation staff, and athletic departments. They bring a story and a space, and we turn them into an exhibit people walk through, touch and come back to.
Layout, lighting, materials and storytelling all shape the experience. Our designers and fabricators work under one roof, so the person who draws your casework talks to the person who builds it. That keeps budgets honest and install day predictable.
We’ve built exhibits for the U.S. Naval Academy, Carroll County Public Library, Fairfax County’s Hoffman Nature Center and the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House.
Who We Build For
Athletic & Entertainment Venues
Halls of fame, trophy walls and fan exhibits that honor a program’s history. We build recognition displays that can grow as new inductees and records are added.
Libraries
Spaces that make a collection worth visiting in person. We build themed children’s areas, local-history walls and anniversary displays that hold up to heavy daily use.
Visitor & Nature Centers
Exhibits that teach people what they’re about to see outside. We build murals, dioramas, touch tables, kiosks and signage built for humidity, sunlight and small hands.
Museums
Exhibits that protect artifacts and still let visitors get close. We build sealed display cases, interpretive panels, timelines and immersive rooms for permanent galleries and rotating shows.
Our Process: From Blank Wall to Opening Day
- Discovery. We visit your space and learn the story, the audience, the budget and the opening date. We also ask what has to be protected: artifacts, historic surfaces, ADA clearances.
- Content and concept. We organize your text, images and objects into a visitor path, then present concept sketches.
- Design and 3D renders. You see the exhibit to scale, with materials, lighting and graphics, before anything is built. Revisions happen here, while they’re still inexpensive.
- Fabrication. Our shop builds the casework, graphics and structures. In-house capabilities, include CNC routing, large-format printing, millwork, acrylic and more.
- Installation. Our crew installs on site, working around your operating hours.
- Support after opening. Replacement panels, content updates and added inductees or artifacts as the exhibit grows.
Typical timeline: 2-8 weeks from approved design to install, depending on size.
Recent Work
Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, Baltimore
Several Maryland artists, each with their own sizes, mounts and point of view, all in one two-year exhibit for America’s 250th. See how we made it read as one story.
Historical Society of Carroll County, Westminster
A historic exhibits hall that also has to work as an event space. Our custom wood cases match the period room and light the artifacts warmly, and they don’t stay in the way when it’s time for an event. See how.
Why Museums and Municipalities Choose Adler
- 85+ years building displays in Maryland. Founded in 1937 in Baltimore, on Preston Street.
- One team, one project manager. Your Adler project manager is your single point of contact from first sketch to final install. They coordinate our designers, fabricators and installers, plus any specialty partners. You never have to manage vendors or chase updates.
- Experience with public procurement. Adler works with RFPs, grant timelines and municipal purchasing.
- Over 500 exhibits installed across MD, VA, DC, PA.
See what’s possible. Then let’s build yours.
Every exhibit in this video started with a conversation. It walks through multiple exhibits we’ve built. You’ll see fabrication in our shop, installation, and finished spaces with visitors. Whether you have a clear vision or just a blank space and a story to tell, our designers and fabricators will help you create an exhibit your visitors won’t forget.
Call us at 855-552-3537 or send us your ideas to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions on Custom Exhibits
How long does a custom exhibit take? Most projects take 1-2 months from the first meeting to installation. Design and approvals usually take about half that time. If you’re working toward an anniversary, opening or grant deadline, tell us early so we can plan the schedule backward from it.
What does a custom museum exhibit cost? Cost depends on size, materials, artifact protection, and whether you need interactive or AV elements. We’ll give you a fixed quote after discovery.
Can you protect original artifacts? Yes. We build sealed, lockable cases with UV-filtering acrylic and conservation-safe materials. We’ll work with your curator on light levels, mounts and access for rotating objects.
Are your exhibits ADA compliant? We design to ADA standards for reach ranges, mounting heights, contrast and clear floor space.
Can you work with grant or municipal budgets? Yes. We regularly quote and phase work for RFPs, grant cycles and fiscal-year budgets. We can also break a project into phases to match your funding.
Do you serve organizations outside Maryland? Yes. We take on projects nationwide, though most of our work is in the Mid-Atlantic: Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Wherever your project is, our team handles design, fabrication and installation, and your project manager coordinates the logistics.
Have a story and a space? Let’s plan your exhibit.
Tell us about your space, your audience and your deadline.
We’ll set up a site visit and give you a clear scope and quote. Call 855-552-3537 or send us your project details.