How does a historic site interpret a past that is still very much the Ml subject of study and research? At Riverside, the Farnsley- Moremen Landing in Louisville, by Kentucky, we chose to invite some of our youngest visitors to participate in that process. And, we developed a couple ot …
Between 1989 and 1995, museum educators throughout the United States created interpretive programs for exhibits marking the fiftieth anniversary of World War II. Lessons learned from these educational initiatives can be applied as new programs and exhibits are developed on this important part of history. There is public support for …
As we move into the 21st Century, interpreters have the obligation of carrying audiences beyond the level of simple awareness. We must communicate the message that this earthly environment nourishes the very bodies we live in and sustains our spirits. We must develop environmental respect and practice what we preach. …
Things were going well on my morning student tour through the galleries of Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California. Happily, there was no press from the group behind. My fifth graders were gathered around the 13th Century sandstone sculpture of Buddha, sheltered by the Serpent King, Muchihnda. The children had …
Been there, done that,” is all too often the reason teachers say they don’t schedule school field trips to historic house museums. If you’ve seen it, why go back? The perception that such visits merely involve a walkthrough of the whole house may be at the root of the problem …
Two New Museums on our Horizon The cultural landscape of the United States has been enriched by the recent addition of two new museums. Museum of African American History – Detroit, Michigan This is the world’s largest cultural institution devoted to Black heritage in America. Through a combination of videos, …
Conventional wisdom in 16th century Europe declared that gravity acted differently on different objects. Galileo Galilei climbed the steps of a tower in his hometown of Pisa, dropped two metal spheres of different sizes, and concluded that all objects are accelerated by gravity in the same way. Not content with …
Scientists interpret data to determine cause and effect, and to understand the meaning of information or patterns. Historians interpret objects and events to accurately construct the past and to place them in a systematic and explained, chronological order. Artists interpret the range of human experiences, ideas, and emotions to articulate …