Museum diorama getting too old?

[Library Lady]

Except that years ago I read a discussion by a researcher who stated that any time he was investigating something that was new to him he headed first to the children's section of the library here he could find books with a straight forward overview and lots of pictures to give him the lay of the land before taking a deep dive into a relatively narrow topic. Much the same way that you take survey courses before focusing on courses for your major in college.

I've mentioned here some history series that are popular in the Kids Room at work. I finally took a serious look at some of them and was pleasantly surprised by how much good information was provided. Even early reader books (if you're old enough, think the Dick, Jane and Sally readers level) provided good age-appropriate information with charming illustrations for topics like the Hunley and the Monitor.

Young adult versions of popular adult books (Chasing Lincoln's Killer and Manhunt, for example) can be excellent. You can read a well-done young adult version as an adult and not feel that it's "in your face" that it's designed for younger readers. I actually did a read-along using an adult version of Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea with the YA version on one of the library's digital services. Yes, there was a lot of detail that might (or might not) appeal more to an adult cut out, but the basic story was the same, and that might be enough for an adult who was just dabbling in something new. Young adult writers also look for subjects that would appeal specifically to the 'tween to teenage range, so you may find topics overlooked by writers catering to adults. Gunpowder Girls (disasters at 3 Civil War munitions plants) would be an example because so many of the victims were teens themselves. Kids also go through a phase of loving "fact books." All that's in them are trivia tidbits (and that would be great for Jeopardy, too, if your brain works that way).

 

[RochesterBill]

It's really quite simple. Children are very much visual learners. They like the diorama because they can look at it and immediately grasp the story it tells.

What they don't do is easily process things with which they have no personal experience, so stories of war and heroism and what have you don't register. They can't even focus for all that long.

Pay attention to how children actually learn and save the in depth lectures and displays of dusty old hats for when they're our age.

 

[Library Lady]

Since we're talking about old tech, what do you think about the two remaining cycloramas (Gettysburg and Atlanta)? Interesting and worthwhile for their subject matter? Mildly interesting as a relic in their own right? Just another art work? If you haven't seen one, would it be a draw for you if you were in the area?

 

[JeffBrooks]

As a history teacher, all I can say is: please don't blame the kids. If there is a reason young Americans don't understand the Civil War, it's because of flawed education policy.

 

[JeffBrooks]

Since we're talking about old tech, what do you think about the two remaining cycloramas (Gettysburg and Atlanta)? Interesting and worthwhile for their subject matter? Mildly interesting as a relic in their own right? Just another art work? If you haven't seen one, would it be a draw for you if you were in the area?

I have taken groups of 8th graders to Gettysburg and they all really liked the cyclorama.

 

[Virginia Dave]

I tried to start one, but had to pack for moving so never got to expand and finish it. Maybe one day.

 

[Kurtlg]

I've mentioned here some history series that are popular in the Kids Room at work. I finally took a serious look at some of them and was pleasantly surprised by how much good information was provided. Even early reader books (if you're old enough, think the Dick, Jane and Sally readers level) provided good age-appropriate information with charming illustrations for topics like the Hunley and the Monitor.

Young adult versions of popular adult books (Chasing Lincoln's Killer and Manhunt, for example) can be excellent. You can read a well-done young adult version as an adult and not feel that it's "in your face" that it's designed for younger readers. I actually did a read-along using an adult version of Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea with the YA version on one of the library's digital services. Yes, there was a lot of detail that might (or might not) appeal more to an adult cut out, but the basic story was the same, and that might be enough for an adult who was just dabbling in something new. Young adult writers also look for subjects that would appeal specifically to the 'tween to teenage range, so you may find topics overlooked by writers catering to adults. Gunpowder Girls (disasters at 3 Civil War munitions plants) would be an example because so many of the victims were teens themselves. Kids also go through a phase of loving "fact books." All that's in them are trivia tidbits (and that would be great for Jeopardy, too, if your brain works that way).

"Run Spot Run".... Dating myself again.

 

[Private Joseph]

As a history teacher, all I can say is: please don't blame the kids. If there is a reason young Americans don't understand the Civil War, it's because of flawed education policy and lazy teachers.

And I'll throw in lazy, disconnected parents as well. Some not all.

 

[Story]

I tried to start one, but had to pack for moving so never got to expand and finish it. Maybe one day.

That looks ok as-is, what else do you think it needs?

 

[Story]

Imagination Igniting Artistic Efforts (or static dioramas) need not be pigeon holed in museums. I can remember flying into San Fran International 30 years ago and the local art museums' overage were on display on the Terminal Walls.

Plexiglass protected small displays like @Virginia Dave s could grace the walls of a local airport or municipal building. YMMV and is limited only by your imagination and willingness to spitball the idea at the walls' owners.

Just set them about 4' off the ground and leave a standing stool under them.

Savvy?​

 

[major bill]

I am guessing that the diorama at the Michigan History Museum will stay unchanged. I do have mixed feelings about it. While some visiting classes schedule two hours or more at the Museum, others schedule an hour and arrive 10 to 15 minutes late. Often the school groups that only have 45 to 50 don't look at anything in the Civil War\abolitionists Gallery other than the diorama.

Many school groups more or less use the Museum as a place to park the buses so they can walk to the State Capitol. The hour tour at the Museum is seen as something to do as they wait for their tour of the Capitol to begin. It is a reasonable large Museum on three floors so as a minimum they need a full hour or more to gain much insight in to Michigan history. When the teacher tells me they only have 30 minutes, I ask what should I concentrate on to best support what the children leaned in class. If a school group has 2 minutes or less to learn about the Civil War and abolition, what should I concentrate on?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Children are very much visual learners. They like the diorama because they can look at it and immediately grasp the story it tells.

Absolutely !

If not for dioramas, I'm not sure I would have been interested in any history.
(and I'm not just referring to the American Civil War).

As a child, a local museum had a diorama about De Soto's "discovery" of the Mississippi River during the 1500's.
The exhibit had rather large figures of Spanish troops in plate armor and chainmail.

Was it 100 % accurate ?
Of course not.

Did the diorama spark our imagination ?
Indeed.

Such exhibits inspired many of us kids to check out the true facts as we
became older.

 

[Story]

I've probably told this story in another thread, but when I was small* there was a boardwalk hobby shop window HO scale display depicting a scene inspired by the BATTLE OF THE BULGE movie and it was about as accurate as the film (meaning it was totally Hollywood).

But it was attainable - all of the components were *right there* in the store and making something that looked like the trapezoidal moment of frozen time was something the Young Me could actually do.

If dioramas inspire children to take that first step (I like this and I can do this), then that's all the accuracy that's needed. For now.​

* Note how many many decades later, I remember the details.

 

[Militarybooks]

To me it sounds like par for the course today. Maybe the point is to make sure they don't get too interested . . .

 

[jcrook]

So something that actually interests the children should be removed to force them to look at something that may bore them. Got it. Perhaps they should actually make more historical dioramas instead. Let's see... Native American dioramas showing the building of canoes, early French explorers , logging , mining , a diorama of B-24s being built at Willow Run etc. , etc.
Seeing the dioramas as a child at Fort Michilimackinac really made an impact on me.
Is it possible that the real issue is the Confederate flags in the diorama. Has anyone asked the children what they like best about the museum ?

You nailed it, the woke crowd hates the flags so it needs to be removed.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Since we're talking about old tech, what do you think about the two remaining cycloramas (Gettysburg and Atlanta)? Interesting and worthwhile for their subject matter? Mildly interesting as a relic in their own right? Just another art work? If you haven't seen one, would it be a draw for you if you were in the area?

The Gettysburg Cyclorama is an important cultural relic in its own right. I recommend it especially to visitors to Gettysburg. You can skip the rest of the Visitor Center if you want to and drive as fast as allowed through the battlefield, but by all means view The Painting.

 

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

That looks ok as-is, what else do you think it needs?

Maybe a pair of "Britains" (Superdeetail) cannon crews, they're the most recent issue of the range since years (I mean as new products), and are just great.

52107 - 3 Inch Ordnance Rifle Cannon with 4 Union Artillery Crew

3 Inch Ordnance Rifle Cannon with 4 Union Artillery Crew Since 1893, W.Britain has made toy soldiers for kids to play with – and we still do! To accompany our popular, safety-tested Super Deetail Infantry and Cavalry toys we’ve just released brand-new Artillery sets. These sets represent the...

www.wbritain.com

 

[elmira64]

The Gettysburg Cyclorama is an important cultural relic in its own right. I recommend it especially to visitors to Gettysburg. You can skip the rest of the Visitor Center if you want to and drive as fast as allowed through the battlefield, but by all means view The Painting.

Absolutely. Since the restoration it is much better than in the past. I went a few years ago, and was surprised that the person who did the presentation appeared to know almost nothing about the painting. Was unable to answer what I considered basic questions. I hope this has changed for the sake of those who may be first time viewers. At the time it was poorly presented. I would strongly recommend reading The Gettysburg Cyclorama, before going to see. It is an excellent resource and guide. I had seen the cyclorama many times in the old building before the restoration, the difference since then is remarkable.

 

[Cavalier]

A few years ago I took visiting nephews from California to the new Gettysburg visitor center museum. We had visited the old one when they were kids and it was a special desire of theirs to repeat the experience now that they were older, even though they are not especially civil war buffs. Not a diorama really, but they loved the electric map as kids, and all the weapons and uniforms displayed, especially items actually used at the battle. Their reaction to the new place was, "Uncle John, what happened to all the cool stuff?".

John

 

[7thWisconsin]

Absolutely. Since the restoration it is much better than in the past. I went a few years ago, and was surprised that the person who did the presentation appeared to know almost nothing about the painting. Was unable to answer what I considered basic questions. I hope this has changed for the sake of those who may be first time viewers. At the time it was poorly presented. I would strongly recommend reading The Gettysburg Cyclorama, before going to see. It is an excellent resource and guide. I had seen the cyclorama many times in the old building before the restoration, the difference since then is remarkable.

When the old Visitor Center was constructed, it was really built to house the Cyclorama. The other exhibits and even the gift shop were pretty much afterthoughts. The theater was like a conference room. The cyclorama presentation included a long sound and light program that was pretty state of the art for 1960, then the live presentor took over and pointed out details like the positions of important people, the location of significant terrain, the mistakes (like the poppies and the haystacks), THEN the group was directed out onto a viewing platform on the flat roof adjacent to the viewing room. It was a few yards away from where Philippeateaux´s (Sp?) platform was, and let you stand in pretty much the exact spot from which you had been viewing the action a short time before. The painting itself was exposed to full light for quite a while. Throughout the 70s, the program got shorter and shorter; the outdoor portion dropped out altogether. That building, of course, is gone entirely now, but it was a beautiful purpose-built modern structure in its day. Sic transit and all that...