Certainly different exhibits will evoke different reactions in  
different people. That's why we have so many wonderful museums.
    The most awe-insipiring exhibit I've seen to date was the Armand  
Hammer art collection, which came to New Mexico as a traveling exhibit  
when I was in high school. Just seeing such fantastic artwork in  
person for the first time... it still gives me shivers.
    My children aboslutely loved the robotic figures of Lewis and  
Clark at the Sioux City, Iowa interpretive center (they were 3,5, and  
7 at the time). And even though they were young when we followed the  
L&C Trail in '03, they still talk about about an exhibit at the  
National Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls that  
showed how the translation system worked for the explorers to get  
their horses to cross the Rockies. It was fun.
    On a very simple note, the bird call identifier at Bosque del  
Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a fantastic "wonder." It's  
homemade, probably by some fabulous volunteer, and my kids and husband  
have spent hours playing with it during our annual visits. Even though  
it hasn't changed, they never get tired of learning from it.
    Interactivity seems to be a key component to inspires wonder ...  
at least with the kids I know.
Heather McClenahan, museum assistant/web master
Los Alamos Historical Society
http://www.losalamoshistory.org
[log in to unmask]
PO Box 43
1921 Juniper St.
Los Alamos, NM 875444
505-662-6272 (office)
505-470-2912 (cell)


Quoting Candace Perry <[log in to unmask]>:

> I think it depends on who you're talking to - my awe and wonder is not
> always shared by others.
>
> Candace Perry
>
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Andrew Talkov
> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 10:21 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Spectacular Exhibits
>
>
>
> Charity,
>
>
>
> You may want to look at Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the
> Civil War Soldier in Petersburg, Virginia (www.pamplinpark.org
> <http://www.pamplinpark.org/> ).  Their permanent exhibit "Duty Called Me
> Here:  The Common Soldier in the Civil War" is very well done, uses
> technology in a meaningful way, and is often described as a very moving
> experience by visitors.  Hope this helps.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Andrew H. Talkov
>
> Exhibit Coordinator, Virginia's Civil War
>
> Virginia Historical Society
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Charity Counts
> Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 10:24 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Spectacular Exhibits
>
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I am working on a Masters Thesis project to find out if there is a formula
> for making exhibits "spectacular." In order to determine a few exhibits that
> I could use as case studies, I need your help. I would greatly appreciate
> your time in answering the below question:
>
> Have you ever experienced an exhibit that can be described as "a highly
> impressive, highly anticipated exhibit that provides visitors with an
> experience that arouses feelings of awe and wonder"? If so, please send me
> the names of three.
>
> Warm Regards,
>
> Charity
>
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