Reflections

While Jordan and I had jokingly talked on Wednesday night about who was going to be the last one to submit their blog posts, I said watch, I'll get mine in at 11:57 and Dawne will see the times tamp and just shake her  head. Well, after plugging away at Dr. Lockhart's paper for several hours, I had the sudden and gut wrenching realization THAT I DIDN'T DO MY LAST TWO BLOG POSTS! ACK ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

So here we are, a day late and a dollar short, but I had to finish them even if I don't get credit for them. So what did I learn this first semester? And am I a better (future) public historian because of it? Well the answers would be A) a lot, and B) most certainly. 

The first thing, and probably the most important, was that I learned how complex and diversified the field is. It's so much more than sifting through archival material or putting some objects in a glass box for people to look at. While someone can become highly specialized, it's far more useful to have a wide set of skills. Public history is literally everywhere, and by paying your dues and gaining the necessary experience any way you can, you're exposed to greater opportunities and will (hopefully) eventually get a shot at your dream job; it just takes patience and the will to keep pushing forward. 

Moving into the future, there are definitely things that I will always try to keep in the back of my mind as I navigate the field. Always try to understand how sense of place and collective memory can influence someone's thinking. Be prepared for people to not like what you're doing, because it is impossible to please everyone. I'm pretty sure that's a scientific fact. In that same stroke, be open and engage with the opposition, because they will have valid points of their own. Finally, to be confident in my skills. This program is built on making sure graduates are prepared practically for what they'll encounter, and while any job requires that you keep learning once you're there, I have to believe that I have the background necessary to find success.

The Curse of Oak Island

There's a show on the History channel that Scott and I kind of got sucked into this semester called "The Curse of Oak Island". It's about this team of treasure hunters (for lack of a better word) who are searching for an ancient buried treasure on Oak Island in Nova Scotia. Pirate treasure, Marie Antoinette's jewels, Shakespearean manuscripts, the Ark of the Covenant? It has been speculated that any one of these things can be hidden there, and people have been trying to find out what exactly is on that island for over 200 years. It's very "National Treasure", and they could definitely benefit from having their own Riley.

This particular incarnation of the hunt centers around two brothers from Michigan. One has had a life-long interest in Oak Island the elusive treasure (naturally) and the other is a savvy business tycoon, whose job is pretty much to bankroll the project and offer doubts about the endeavor every time something goes a little bit wrong (because the show wouldn't benefit from overall positivity. There's no dramatic tension in that). Using a variety of tools--ground penetrating radar, scuba diving, drilling, draining entire swamps--the team tries to unravel the mystery using the clues left behind by those treasure hunters who came before them.

So my questions are pretty straight forward: Is this for real, and what can we possibly gain from things like this? The third or fourth suggestion when you Google, "the curse of oak island' adds the word fake. So obviously other people are skeptical. Maybe they're planting this seemingly game changing evidence. Maybe they already found it and the government made them turn it over so the whole thing is a ruse. Maybe they are using real historical investigation methods and tools to find the answer to real historical puzzle.

I'd like to think that it's real, and that they aren't housing this elaborate hoax behind the veil of historical methods and research, but who really knows but them.

On the Move

Now that the semester has ended, I face the daunting task of packing up to move at the end of February.  I will be moving in with someone, so most of my belongings will be placed in a storage unit.  This is the perfect time to do another downsizing and determine what to take with me to the new place, what to put into storage and what to ‘deaccession’. Since I am the family historian, the items in those collections will be going with me.  A visit to Nebraska is on the schedule next summer, so I will separate items to take with me to show my cousin and ask if he would like to have anything.

Next is to make a decision about the furniture. Most of the furniture is items that I have purchased and will be going into storage. The only item I will not be keeping is the entertainment unit. Now let’s get to the nitty gritty my personal stuff. Yes, I said stuff.  Using what I have learned in class, I can now go through all the papers and make the proper decision about what to keep and what can be tossed.  This is the part that will take the longest, but by making the proper decision now, I will not be hauling around papers that are not necessary to hold onto for future generations to know about me.

My NEW DreamJob

When I started the public history program, I thought my dram job was exhibit design. After this semester, I have changed my mind. I want to be involved in digitizing collections, either art or archives.

I want to help people have access to archives and other 2D collections when they are unable to visit the collection. Not only does this allow people living hundreds of miles away do research, it can help people with mobility issues gain access, too.

While I understand the potential drawbacks of digital records, they are surmountable. Updates and backups need to occur often and the backups needs to be stored off site. Financial resources have to be available to continue the updates and backups.

I WANT TO DIGITIZE THE WORLD!

We Made It!!!!

We finally made it to the end of the semester. Our group worked through group presentations in the Introductions into Museums, and individual presentations in other classes.  The class got to delve into researching an artifact of our choosing, learning about the background of the object and how to conserve and place it on display. Visits to museums for us to critically review helped in putting into practice what we learned.

We had a plethora of guests in our classes.  Who knew that there were so many careers in the public history field? Guest speakers in archival positions talk to us about working in historical societies, government office and universities. We learned about careers in site preservation and in records management.  In archives class we learned about the newer segment of archives, digital collection. In the end we wrote papers like there was no end: 3 research papers, 12 article reviews, 3 museum site visits, 1 movie review and 10 blog posts and took 4 tests.

We did not know each other when the semester started, but we are getting to know each other and are forming the friendships that will last through our careers.  Even though the class will be splitting up next semester, we will be able to rely on each other now and in the future.

Apparently, I have been shunned....

My lack of being part of  connected social media outlets, such as Facebook has deprived me of the options to be part of group activities.  They do not understand that it is a plot by our potential robot conquerors...but that is a topic we do not need to delve too far into. 

In working learning about outreach initiatives for museums and archives from my paper, discussions, and presentations social media connections are a strongly viable (and recommended) type of program to make use of.  I think it has become vital to take your institution beyond creating a strong website and to move evermore into the digital realm of connectivity.  Our archives class even limited us to only making use of a single online program to pursue in developing our archives outreach.  Why stop at a website when you could reach out to people in Facebook, twitter, YouTube, and emailed newsletters to interested parties. 

Will there be a potential point where program ideas such as newspapers, ads, and magazine articles will become out of date?  Maybe the potential public to reach out to through these ideas will have fallen to a minimal amount and it is far more cost effective to use the internet to reach the maximum number of potential interested parties.  With how much technology has been slowly integrated (sometimes almost seamlessly) potential staff do not need to have specialized training in potential that the internet has to offer or may have the programming skills needed to manage the projects.

Hello our new robot overlords

So it seems that many of us in this class, if not all, will be able to look forward to our future careers in public history after graduation being overtaken by our robotic assistants.  Maybe even a an archive or museum would just be run by one human director that oversees everything...I imagine this will be Mitchel. 

Technology in public history has been a common topic we have covered a lot through out this class, through discussion, presentations, and a divided class debate on the merits or problems it would cause.  However, one thing I have heard usually added into the topic is about the possibilities for present and future forms of media being exhibited or presented to a researcher in an archive.

One thing that we as public historians really enjoy (hopefully) is the interaction with an actual artifact.  We like looking through (and handling if possible) the photographs, diaries, correspondence, and works of art that the generations before us have produced.  However, what will be the possible application of materials from our generation and a effective ways to use them?  How will we make use of emails, typed documents and presentations, this blog that I am writing, and the creative work in done digitally like art work and videos?  I think preservation has been a topic that has discussed how we would take care of this digital age, but how would you create ways of exhibiting and interpreting them when they exist in intangible formats. 

bringing together history and entertianment?

Making history fun has appeared to be as a very slippery slope for museums and other organizations to catch themselves on.  Our one reading and recent presentation on a Disney park possibly breaking the immersive environment and damaging the history they would tell.  Another issue was our discussion earlier in the year that took place after our visit to Carillon Park.  Apparently there were some rather strong feelings about museums and other historic sites offering the viewers a more entertainment based experience over a solid factual one. 

Carillon Park was telling history as it pertained it their mission and community but they were also presenting themselves as a park for recreation and fun over just scholarly learning.  In my paper I mentioned that one of the main standards that museums and public history organizations need to meet is their credibility.  Are they telling correct information, the right information, are they covering up facts, and are they personally skilled to research and explain these topics? 

In my opinion as long as a site it still focused on educating its community and visitors with a wealth of information, then I see no reason why they could not find some way to themselves more public recognition.  They gear the type of information they want to present around the type of audience and atmosphere that want their visitors to experience as they throw special events for their visitors to take part in.  Its not that they are trying to hide information, I imagine you can still come to them with requests about certain topics that are not shown very often and they could professionally help you in your research.  They are looking to find a nice medium that a museum or park can have a fun atmosphere for recreation and enjoyment with out just catering to the people that find the pure enjoyment of reading or seeing history. 

I found it in the archives!

I have been volunteering at the Green County Archies for about a month and a half now. The project that I have been assigned to do is alphabetizing the probate records from the 19th century. I have found some interesting stories

I was first working on the lunacy cases, where I found the case of a young man in his early twenties who was trying to smite people by holding his hand in front of their faces. I bet he was fun at parties.

But my favorite case has to be a case from 1885. A young man had recently lived through the death of his sister. At the trial for her murderer, apparently the Judge (whose name was Scroggy, how awesome a name is that??) made some comments about his sister that he didn't like so much. So when this young man encountered Scroggy on the streets a few months later, he wasn't too pleased with him. He also happened to be in a drunken state, so you know he was making good decisions. Well, he decided that punching Scroggy on the back of the head while he was walking away was a good idea. Probably not, sir. 

So the moral of the story: don't go around punching judges. In a hundred years or so, someone will be laughing at your court transcript.

A date which will live in infamy

One of my earliest memories is in May of 1996. I was almost 4 years old, my sister just over a year old. We were living in Hawaii at the time. My dad was in the Army, and had recently opted to not reenlist. That meant that we had a few things on our checklist that we had to check off before we moved back to Ohio. One of them was to visit the Arizona Memorial.

We had a stroke of luck: my dad's unit was assigned one week to e the ones to raise and lower the flag. So my mom packed up my sister and I so we could go see Daddy work, and also so that we could see this once in a lifetime site.

I remember it very vividly. The memorial itself is a long concrete cylinder. When you go in, the marble and concrete make an echo chamber of sorts. Even with so many people in the room though, it is eerily quiet. It is one of the most quiet things I remember. That's what impacted me the most, the silence. It affected me, as my mom said that she was surprised that I was as hushed and quiet as everyone else.

In the middle of the room there is a giant hole in the ground. Or at least, that's what it looked like to me. I was a little scared of it, but my dad walked me up to it, and I looked down, and I saw a shipwreck. I was a little confused, but my dad told me all about that infamous day.

In 1941, on December 7, a fleet of Japanese airplanes attacked the same place where I was standing, sinking a ship and killing lots of people. Next to me was a wall with the names of people who had died. One of them had the same name as my grandpa. It could have been him.

What's the museum/exhibit that has impacted you the most?

Historic Community Sites

I've been to three historic communities:

• Colonial Williamsburg, VA
• Greenfield Village,  Dearborn, MI
• Old Sturbridge Village, MA

All three of these sites are artificial in some way or another. Colonial Williamsburg is almost all reproductions. Most of the buildings had been destroyed or allowed to rot. Greenfield and Sturbridge, while authentic buildings, they have been moved there from various places to create the community.

Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg is the least satisfying site because the buildings are reproductions and, at least the last time I was there, they don't advertise that piece of information. Greenfield does contain predominantly authentic buildings, but they are from all over the eastern half of the United States. It isn't so much a village as a museum display of Americana. Old Sturbridge is a collection of building from several states in New England, but the village captures the look and feel of a New England village circa 1830.

Greenfield Village

Old Sturbridge Village

Carillon Historical Park

These sites are good in certain respects, such as they stimulate interest in history and help with preservation efforts. My problem with them is the same as with historical films; these sites are either reproductions or conglomerations of multiple places presented as one place.The sites need to be more transparent when it comes to what they are, and not just what they represent. While not as elaborate as these three site, at least Carillon  Historical Park the buildings came from Dayton.

Repatriation

On working on my research paper on deaccessioning, I have come across information on repatriation of art to their country of origin. I had always thought this should be a "Duh!" kind of thing; of course the pieces should go back to where they came from originally. But now I'm not as sure.

Many countries do not have adequate facilities or personnel to properly care for items. There are alarms being sounded about the Egyptian Museum in Cairo; there is fear art and artifacts will be irreparably harmed if they stay there under the current conditions.

There are also problems with war and looting. Museums in Iraq were looted and items stolen or destroyed. A case can be made that the items are safer where they currently reside.

I'm just not sure. Is it better to repatriate the art and possibly loose or keep it protected where it is? What do you think?

Gathering Places

Having gotten back from New England, I have experienced the New England Town. They appear to be alive and well, and still attempting to capture a past that may or may not have existed.Many of the buildings in the center of town (even those easily identifiable as centers) are not original; they are well conceived reproductions of originals or something the town thinks should have existed.

I'm not sure what my comments are about exactly, but it seems important to continue the dialogue about community and gathering places. Too many communities don't have a place to gather, old or new. People don't have a place to exchange stories and histories in order to keep the community alive. The web and social media helps, but is no substitution for F2F gatherings.

Community groups and historic districts are helping, but more needs to be done. I guess more people need to become active in the groups and participate in their events.

Richard III DNA Mystery

In 2012 exciting news spread across the globe about the discovery of King Richard’s burial, which had been a mystery for hundreds of years. But the solving of this mystery led to another one. When DNA tests were performed on Richard III’s body along with living relatives from both Richard’s maternal and paternal sides. DNA from the maternal relatives (the XX chromosome) matched, but DNA from the paternal side (the Y chromosome) did not. This means that a male descendant or ancestor of Richard III was illegitimate. During Richard’s time the important part of a family’s lineage was the paternal side, so this evidence raises many questions about Richard and his family. Richard was a relative of Henry VII, both Richard and Henry were descendants of Edward III. One of Henry’s ancestors, John of Gaunt was surrounded by rumors of illegitimacy and with further studies could be a candidate for the ancestor who does not fit into the paternal lineage of the family. Scientists can now even distinguish that Richard may have had blue eyes and blonde hair, this could help with the mystery as well.

This makes us think about our own ancestry and if the DNA we have also belongs to those who we think are our ancestors. Today science can help with this, there are many programs offered to do DNA testing for genealogy and family history purposes. National Geographic and Ancestry.com offer a program for people to have their DNA sent to a lab and traced back thousands of years and revealing where their ancestors first came from. This raises interest, questions, and curiosity for the field of genealogy and those who study family history. Science has become a great resource for genealogy because genealogical studies used to rely heavily on documents, accounts, stories, and objects that no longer existed or never did exist.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/richard-iiis-dna-analysis-reveals-cuckoldry-family-180953514/ 

The Controversial Afterlife of King Tut & the Museum Struggle in Egypt

Henry Carter was the archaeologist who discovered the tomb of King Tut in 1922 and during his excavation Carter had a mud-brick house located near the dig site. This house was made into a museum that included much of Carter's belongings and a holographic presentation of Carter. I think this was a great idea and I would love to have visited Carters house, but now unfortunately the museum is very run down and has very few visitors due to many factors. Recently work has been under way to create a replica of King Tut’s tomb because the heavy foot traffic and interactions of so many visitors is a threat to the original tomb. I am glad to hear that it will be opening soon because although it is important for people to see the safety and preservation of the tomb should come first. I not only think this from a historical preservation point of view but also out of respect for the dead. The final resting place of King Tut’s body (because his soul went on to the afterlife!) should be respected just like we respect cemeteries and mausoleums today. Just like Carter’s house museum finishing the replica of King Tut’s tomb has had many hindrances. First people are more interested in the tomb of King Tut and not Carters house museum, the presence of the Egyptian revolution, many terrorism threats, and political unrest in the area have not helped to bring in visitors. I think and investment in more security would be a good idea to help bring in more visitors. There is a dig going on in Turkey that is 10 feet away from Islamic controlled territory and Isis threats but the people in charge of the dig have ensured that it is a safe area by installing 500 guards and 13 foot high walls around the site. I think the Carter house museum and the King Tut tomb replica would benefit greatly by doing this too, especially right now. This article also includes an interesting representation of what King Tut may have looked like in terms of stature and build. He is depicted with a club foot and a feminine shaped body structure caused by a possible hormone disorder. There have been many ideas about what King Tut may have looked like, but I am not too supportive of this one. 


Henry Carter Nov. 5, 1922

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/controversial-afterlife-king-tut-180953400/

Escuela de Mecánica de la Armada

Also known as ESMA, the Escuela de Mecánica de la Armada (Navy School of Mechanics in English) was the main torture spot in Argentina in the 1970s. Thousands of people labeled as "subversive" passed through these walls. Too many of them didn't survive their visit, either being tortured to death or dumped over the Atlantic Ocean. The crimes that these people committed? Often, it was for "subversive thought." This pretty much meant if you ever possibly angered anyone in the military group that was in charge. Or if you were Jewish.

This building looks so peaceful now. If you didn't know, it would be hard to imagine people being raped, or tortured with cattle prods in the dungeons underground. But the truth is, these horrible human rights violations did occur here. When the military junta was overthrown in the 1980s, ESMA was taken out of commission. The building itself has reverted to a museum, featuring a guided tour. It's good to know that the Argentine government is no longer trying to cover up their misdeeds of the past. They do offer tours in English, if you call ahead. Admission to the museum is free, any and all can come in and learn about the Argentine Dirty war from the perspective of its victims. Although, I don't know how I would feel being in a place where so much has happened. I'm sure it's a very humbling and disconcerting experience. What do you think about turning a place of torture into a museum? Is it disrespectful or preserving of history?

Dead Sea Scrolls

About 2 years ago, the dead sea scrolls came to the Museum Terminal in Cincinnati as a part of a traveling exhibit. As someone who has grown up in the church and has a love of history, I was chomping at the bit for an excuse to go see it. Such an excuse came in March, when my boyfriend and I had our 2 year anniversary. What better way to spend it than by looking at a bunch of old stuff, right???

Well...the experience was absolutely TERRIBLE. It would have been super awesome, the scrolls themselves were breathtaking. But everyone around me in the exhibit made me boiling mad. The Dead Sea Scrolls, much of them containing scripture on them, are of course of particular interest to local church groups. The result is that several churches took field trips to see them. This alone is not a problem. The problem is that the room containing the scrolls can only hold so many people. These groups would get in the room, then refuse to leave until everyone was ready to go. There are some museum visitors that like to read every single word. Not all of these people read quickly.

When you bought a ticket for this particular exhibit, you were assigned a time to go in. This was because the exhibit began with an immersive video-like multimedia event to set the stage. So when we showed up for our assigned time, there was a massive line ahead of us. We ended up waiting for an hour and half past our ticketed time. All because people wouldn't leave the room. To be honest, the whole experience soured me a bit from wanting to see special exhibits. Eventually another one will sound interesting enough that I'll bite the bullet and want to go, but until that time, not happening.

My Trip to the Dayton Art Institute

For my site evaluation, I chose to go to the Dayton Art Institute. For years, I have driven past it on I75 S, sometimes almost daily. Pretty much every time I drove past it, I thought to myself "One of these days I'm gonna go there." The site evaluation gave me the perfect opportunity. I had never been to an art museum, the only museums that I've been to are history or memorabilia-type museums.

I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting. I wasn't expecting the large amount of world art, some of it ancient. I have a particular affinity for pre-colombian American history, so it was particularly awesome for me to get to see artifacts of the Teotehuacanese and the Mayans. I dragged my sister along with me, and her eyes glazed over a bit as I told her how cool it was. It was also interesting to see how similar countries' traditional art looked so similar, and yet so different. One of the biggest things that stood out to me was the buddhas from Thailand are apparently skinny. To me, the figurines looked more like a Hindu god than like Buddha. Shows you how much I know.

The upstairs galleries were a bit closer to what I was imagining when I thought of an art museum, in particular the 20th century American exhibit. Some of it was...very interesting. Some of it confused me. Some of it made no sense, but I liked it anyway. I am not an art person. But I do enjoy looking at pretty things. So all in all, a successful trip to the art museum.

The Barnes Collection

In the Introduction into Museums course we watched the movie, The Art of the Steal. The movie took the viewer through a timeline of the Barnes art collection. Albert Barnes collected art from across the world and showcased in his house in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.  He was delighted with the works of art that he started a private art school. He felt that students should be able to have the closest view possible when studying, so he did not block them off. Students were able to get a personal view of the art works as the instructor spoke about brush strokes.  In his will, Barnes made explicit instructions that the art was to remain at the facility in Lower Merion. When he passed, his executor made sure the collection did not move, but this would not be the case when she passed away. The Pennsylvanian government got involved and reversed the stipulations that Barnes placed in his will.

This proves that even though one makes provisions for what to do with their belonging when they die, someone can always come in and twist it to their side. Museum and archival facilities must honor the wishes left in the will.  Is this not what wills are for: to protect and distribute our belongings after we are not of this world? If we do not protect these provisions, then why have a will at all.

Special exhibition - The World in the Viking Age

A special exhibit is currently going on right now at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark. The exhibit is called The World in the Viking Age and has a focus on the international aspects of the Viking Age spanning from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf, East Africa, and China. The exhibit is headed off by the accounts of three voyagers from the 9^th century with a large number of artifacts that have never been exhibited together. Sea faring voyages, stories of treasure, and adventures are told through interactive exhibitions. These exhibitions include treasure chests that rise up from the floor, an interactive world map that includes the routes from where specific artifacts came. The routes light up when a button near the artifact is pushed. This exhibit gets visitors thinking about the Viking Age in a more global sense and allows them to explore questions that at this time have been unanswered.

                It sounds like the staff here have done a great job of adding aspects to the exhibit that will get people involved with artifacts and hopefully help them remember what they see during their visit. I have noticed that large interactive maps are becoming popular inclusions in museums in Europe and I think it is a good idea. It is a new way to look at a map. I also like that the exhibit at the Viking Ship Museum combines primary sources of voyages with archaeology and artefacts. The artefacts in this exhibit include silver and gold coins and objects, a comb made out of reindeer antler, a page from the Koran, a carving of the Buddha, and various luxury goods. All have traveled great distances to tell their stories.

http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/exhibitions/special-exhibition-2014-the-world-in-the-viking-age/introduction-to-the-exhibition/#.VIkfgDHF8lo

Age in Museums

From our studies of how museums can best achieve their primary missions and goals, target audience I think has been a reoccurring theme.  Exhibit designers specifically need to be able to effectively communicate the stories, themes, and perspectives of their exhibits.  They need their direction from the higher ups on who they are presenting this museum too.  Are they geared towards children, teens, young adults, adults, or some variation of them all?

The accessibility of the place needs to be able to handle kids running around making noise, tour groups teaching, and the lone individual forming their own personal experience.  Sometimes being on that lone adventure can be very tiring if others are ruining it for you.  How do you manage that for museums that look to offer an experience to a wide range of users? 

The Boonshoft is one location I think I really first considered that while on my own trip.  They obviously are geared towards a younger age group that represents the more active category of museum visitors.  However, they are very open to having a wider range of ages come to the museum to interact with exhibits and learning programs.  It does however have that lively atmosphere or people running around, both kids and chaperones.  I think it makes for an interesting experience to go through a museum while not being exactly the primary targeted audience. It is not just the topic that creates the atmosphere of the museum but also the audience adjusting to how they want to experience it.

Classroom and Museum Connection

When I wrote my paper examining the role and value of education in the museum environment I touched on a few ideas comparing them to schools.  For clarification I was not, nor am I intending on, stating why one is better than the other.  Instead I am looking at their current and possible relationship to each other right in this post.

 

When I was in elementary school and junior high I was never the most interested in going to school.  I imagine there are some of us who shared the same idea.  I don't want to go to sleep early, wake up early, or do my homework.  I wanted to enjoy the fun of running of the bus home to watch cartoons and play games.  For myself the only awesome thing related to school was anytime our teachers explained that we were going to have a class field trip to a natural science or space museum.  Oh and zoos, cant forget zoo trips.

 

Apart from the often lengthy bus ride the only low part of those days was the amount of walking and sometimes boring tour guides.  I was free from class homework and got to see cool exhibits that I could sometimes interact with, and got to try and convince my parents to get me something at the gift shop.

 

Looking back at those trips now I wondered why there was not more interaction between the two programs.  Even though we are in public history course, I have practically had more museum trips in this semester than I have ever had when I was younger in school.  The main difference now was that we went on these trips to get an understanding on how they worked and critiquing them; and possibly finding all the kids a noisy distraction from our point of view now.

 

I understand that there may have been limitations to the school on what they could manage and afford, but was this a similar experience to others.  Was the relationship between the two thinner the older the age groups got?  What are your thoughts on their interactions?

Seahorse World

       Seahorses are one of my favorite animals, along with starfish and puppies! So I was excited to learn that there is a museum dedicated to seahorses. It is called Seahorse World and is located at Beauty Point in Northern Tasmania. The facility was created because the seahorse population has decreased significantly due to fishing and habitat destruction. The facility is designed to conserve seahorses and to provide a great tourist attraction and educational experience for visitors of the area. Visitors can go and learn about the different types of seahorses, breeding, living conditions, and conservation techniques of this beautiful animal. There are three main exhibits aimed toward visitors that include:

1.       The Cave of the Seahorse: an exhibit of syngathidae fish such as seadragons, seahorses, and pipefish

2.       A high-tech working seahorse farm with demonstrations of the life of seahorses from birth to adulthood with thousands of potbellied seahorses

3.       The Wonders of the Southern Aquarium with many bizarre marine species including seadragons, sharks, giant cuttlefish, aquaculture species, and a touch pool for kids….and curious adults.

There are many research projects going on at this institution aimed at studying seahorses and other sea creatures. There are opportunities to work and volunteer here as well. Places like this are important because the staff here are working to preserve a species and at the same time are presenting it to the public just like we do with history. By doing this they are raising awareness of the danger seahorses are in and can maybe gain support from visitors.

   

http://www.seahorseworld.com.au/home