Regarding dioramas, according to Alexander's "Museum Masters" 1983 (p.61),
Charles Willson Peale was the first person to develop "habitat groups," with
animals mounted in realistic poses with carefully painted backgrounds
--this was around 1784.  Later, he also had costumed figures of people from
different parts of the world.

As I recall, Peale also did alot with "interactive displays," --models?--
see "Museums in Motion," 1993 (also by Alexander) p. 82.

Hope this helps

Gregory Scheib                            ~     ~
The George Washington University        (<O>   <O>)
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On Tue, 11 Jun 1996, Carol Mayer wrote:

> I sent a message a few weeks back but received only one response - so here
> goes again.  I am looking for any information you may have on the history of
> museum models (working coal mines etc...the type you press a button and it
> springs into action) and or dioramas - I have a brochure from the late 1920s
> that advertises a company that made models and I am trying to put it in contex
t.
>
> Anyhelp, leads, ideas would be most gratefully received.
>
> Thanks
>
> Carol E. Mayer
> Curator
> UBC Museum of Anthropology
> Vancouver, Canada.
>