In a message dated 8/10/07 8:06:32 PM, [log in to unmask] writes: << he also took me aside before he left and told me, "this doesn't smell like a museum, << museums aren't supposed to smell musty". ugh >> ---------------------- Ah, yea, -- and museum's aren't supposed to be fun either -- right? -- WRONG!? Fear not Pam! I would have just told him your musuem's odor was a "FEATURE!"..... *wink* We pulled some of our trucks out of the fire museum last weekend and as a result we stinked up the place with exhaust fumes and gasoline smell during which time a retired firefighter/board member commented, "Ah, this is what a firehouse is SUPPOSED to smell like!!" (although I will admit, I promptly reminded him we weren't a firehouse anymore -- we were a MUSEUM!!) *smile* Seriously, I would have asked your CCC Camp retiree what he remembers the camps smelling like back in 1937 -- didn't they smell "musty" back then?) I remember reading some study that said SMELL was the most memory-evolking of our five senses which means some museums are paying big-bucks to create/recreate visitor experiences (including smells) that touch multiple senses! I remember several occasions when we discussed the merits of various smell-producing machines on this list. Heck I've even toyed with the idea of installing an odor machine in the old firehouse, though I could never decide if we should to use the smell called "barnyard" (for the horses) -- "Mechanic's Shop" (gas, and oil) -- or "campfire" (smoke). You should have told your visitor that the musty odor he was smelling was a man-made, "archivaly-safe", smell piped though your HVAC system, (yes I know you don't have one!), that was custom blended just for your institution based on years of scientific research of mold and dust spores of the 1930s.... *wink* - David - David Lewis, curator Aurora Regional Fire Museum www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).