When I worked at Fort Larned National Historic Site this was a real problem.
Reenactors in tipis have returned to find visitors rumaging through their
underwear.  One visitor started to lift up my hoop skirt and asked what was
under there.  I moved away and replied, "Me," and then explained what period
undergarments looked like.  But my favorite happened to a fellow ranger who
was dressed as a soldier (fortunately, one of the most outgoing rangers).
An older lady grabbed his fly and asked him how it was fastened.  Just as
she grabbed him, she realized what she had done and just froze in
embarrassment.  She was just locked into place until the ranger could gently
disengage.  Seriously, I also think this is a symptom of changes in society.
I was raised by the rule "Thou shalt not touch."  Most of our visitors have
apparently never heard that rule.  I guess the best is to stay out of arm's
reach.

Betsy Crawford-Gore, Curator
Santa Fe Trail Center
Larned, Kansas
----- Original Message -----
From: Carol Kocian <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 8:53 AM
Subject: touching things in reenactment vs. museums


> Hello,
>
>       I'm on some reenactment lists, and occasionally discussion comes
> up about visitors coming through a camp and handling our possessions
> and sometimes us without permission.  People (adults as well as
> children) will pick up an object or sometimes grab someone's clothing
> or even attempt to lift their skirts!  Often reenactors will say that
> people know better than to do this in museums, although I know this
> is not completely true.
>
>       Why is this?  Is it because we're outdoors, because we don't
> have ropes and plexiglass cases as barriers?  Maybe since I'm
> touching or using the object the visitor thinks it's ok for them to
> do the same?
>
>       When visiting Pompeii, my sister-in-law said everything was
> there for touching, something I don't agree with.  It was sad to see
> frescoes with the bottom half rubbed away from people touching it.
>
>       Does anyone have comments on this, and suggestions on how to
> maintain more control over the visitors while still providing the
> experience?
>
>       Thanks!
>       -Carol
>
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