THE MUSEUM OF LONDON
"There is a great deal of human nature in people."
Reflections...
I came away from this museum with some of what our guide wanted us to, but possibly with some different connections. His messages of climate, river, people, and legacy spread out much further than London for me.
I felt a strange connection to London as I learned about the Great Fire of London of 1666 which had startling parallels to our own year of 2005 with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the breaking of the levee in New Orleans. It literally chilled me to read about the price-gouging and looting of some as well as the heroics of others during the Great Fire, when we lived through the same human reactions to our own disaster along the United States Gulf Coast with Katrina and Rita less than two years ago.. Hundreds of years and thousands of miles apart, and human nature remains the same; tragedy brings out the best in people -- or the worst.
Reading that the mayor of London saw the fire, but thought it would burn itself out, and therefore went back to sleep, reminded me of decisions made related to our trying times of 2005. How many people in positions of responsibility thought there would be more time to improve the levee system? Did the mayor of New Orleans not evacuate early enough? Did our governor think the federal government was sending prompt assistance and as a result wait too long to take more aggressive action? Did we not do as the mayor of London did, thought it would "burn itself out and therefore went back to sleep?"
And what a reminder this is -- both the mayor going back to sleep and the bakery where the fire began -- of how much we affect others and sometimes even history itself. And the examples the exhibit gives of heroism and villainy of 1666 sounding so similar to the heroism and villainy of 2005. All are reminders of how we affect others by our decisions – some made in innocence, some not. There's the legacy part.
Yes, I came away with messages of both London’s’ climate and our own hurricane climate, of the River Thames, and the Mississippi, of the people who, in all places, and at all times, leave a legacy.
The Museum Itself
The Museum of London came into existence when The London Museum (1911) and Guildhall Museum (1825) merged around 1976. It is a non-department public body and is financed by the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport and the Corporation of London. It is a part of the Museum of London Group which includes The Museum in Docklands, the Museum of London Archaeology Service, and the London Archaeological Archive and Research Center. This particular facility has a staff of 150.
One of the most distinctive marketing campaigns ever must be one that the Museum used, driving vans emblazoned with “London Has Only 1 Museum” around London and parking it in front of the other museums.
Even though there are numerous museums in the city, this one is a really great place to start, as it brings the different aspects and periods together.
Joe Cotton, Curator of Pre-history, reminded us that pre-history can be considered that time before written records were kept. In the case of London, it would pretty much be considered pre-Roman.
Thus, the museum’s exhibits begin around 450,000 BC and at this time has the main emphasis on pre-historic, the Great Fire of London, and the Roman era. Other areas are closed with their eras not available due to restoration which should be completed in 2009.
Mr. Cotton emphasized access, community, and diversity. Museum-goers tend to be middle-aged Caucasians (there I am; I am middle-aged if I live to be really old!) even though some of London’s boroughs are 60 per cent ethnic groups. The museum is trying to ensure that it provides what these ethnic groups want to see also, and a special exhibit on India is now on view in the museum
lobby.
The pre-history area offered a large exhibit which included flint,bone and antler tools, axe-heads, pottery, bear skulls, human skulls, and a human skeleton. The curator spoke respectfully of the human remains and how much thought is put into displaying them sensitively. Whether or not they have succeeded at this depends on the individual .'Nuff said.
.
MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
"...recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home..."
Reflections...
An afternoon at the Museum of Children was a pleasant respite to thinking about fires and hurricanes. My favourite part was the exhibit of recycled objects in the front lobby. Watch the Zachary Branch Library for a recycling workshop – brought to you by my esteemed colleague, BJ!
The coffee and sausages at the Museum of London were quite fun also!
The Museum Itself
Originally opened as the Bethanal Green Museum in 1872, its focus remained vague until 1925 when the children became the focus. In 1974, it took another step forward , it was officially dedicated to the subject of childhood. It has been and continues to be connected to the Victoria and Albert Museum, and since 2003 has received funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This museum displays numerous toys throughout history from toy trains and Raggedy Ann dolls to an original Playstation, Care Bears, and Weebles (“Weebles Wobble, but they don’t fall down!”).
Oh yes, and Barbie! I never found Cabbage Patch dolls, which was quite a disappointment.
The collection is divided into Moving Toys (Push and Pulls, Springs and Clogs, Circuits and Motors, and Look See which are optical toys) and Creativity (Imagine, Be Inspired, and Explore).
Creativity includes those well-loved Fischer- Price sets, tea sets, Super Heroes (including Star Wars!) and beauties such as a Chinese rock garden. Also under Creativity come Legos,model bricks, and toys made by children themselves.
THE OLD VIC
Reflections...
A tube ride back and a short rest, then it was off to The Old Vic to see the suspenseful Victorian thriller "Gaslight." The play was good, but the theatre was better! There was even room for my long legs!
The Old Vic first opened in 1818 as The Royal Coburg and was badly damaged by WWII bombs in 1941, and repaired and renovated and reopened in 1950.
It has seen numerous name changes (including The Royal Victoria - for Queen Victoria -- and The New Vic), owners, companies, and plays. It has also seen performances byAlec Guiness, Judith Dench, Lawrence Olivier, Albert Finney, Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton. In 2003 Kevin Spacey was appointed the first artistic director of The Old Vic Theatre Company. It also was home to the National Theatre Company at one time.
The Old Vic is not government-subsidized and ticket sales do not cover costs, so The Old Vic depends on support from generous benefactors. PICTURES LATER!!
"There is a great deal of human nature in people."
Reflections...
I came away from this museum with some of what our guide wanted us to, but possibly with some different connections. His messages of climate, river, people, and legacy spread out much further than London for me.
I felt a strange connection to London as I learned about the Great Fire of London of 1666 which had startling parallels to our own year of 2005 with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the breaking of the levee in New Orleans. It literally chilled me to read about the price-gouging and looting of some as well as the heroics of others during the Great Fire, when we lived through the same human reactions to our own disaster along the United States Gulf Coast with Katrina and Rita less than two years ago.. Hundreds of years and thousands of miles apart, and human nature remains the same; tragedy brings out the best in people -- or the worst.
Reading that the mayor of London saw the fire, but thought it would burn itself out, and therefore went back to sleep, reminded me of decisions made related to our trying times of 2005. How many people in positions of responsibility thought there would be more time to improve the levee system? Did the mayor of New Orleans not evacuate early enough? Did our governor think the federal government was sending prompt assistance and as a result wait too long to take more aggressive action? Did we not do as the mayor of London did, thought it would "burn itself out and therefore went back to sleep?"
And what a reminder this is -- both the mayor going back to sleep and the bakery where the fire began -- of how much we affect others and sometimes even history itself. And the examples the exhibit gives of heroism and villainy of 1666 sounding so similar to the heroism and villainy of 2005. All are reminders of how we affect others by our decisions – some made in innocence, some not. There's the legacy part.
Yes, I came away with messages of both London’s’ climate and our own hurricane climate, of the River Thames, and the Mississippi, of the people who, in all places, and at all times, leave a legacy.
The Museum Itself
The Museum of London came into existence when The London Museum (1911) and Guildhall Museum (1825) merged around 1976. It is a non-department public body and is financed by the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport and the Corporation of London. It is a part of the Museum of London Group which includes The Museum in Docklands, the Museum of London Archaeology Service, and the London Archaeological Archive and Research Center. This particular facility has a staff of 150.
One of the most distinctive marketing campaigns ever must be one that the Museum used, driving vans emblazoned with “London Has Only 1 Museum” around London and parking it in front of the other museums.
Even though there are numerous museums in the city, this one is a really great place to start, as it brings the different aspects and periods together.
Joe Cotton, Curator of Pre-history, reminded us that pre-history can be considered that time before written records were kept. In the case of London, it would pretty much be considered pre-Roman.
Thus, the museum’s exhibits begin around 450,000 BC and at this time has the main emphasis on pre-historic, the Great Fire of London, and the Roman era. Other areas are closed with their eras not available due to restoration which should be completed in 2009.
Mr. Cotton emphasized access, community, and diversity. Museum-goers tend to be middle-aged Caucasians (there I am; I am middle-aged if I live to be really old!) even though some of London’s boroughs are 60 per cent ethnic groups. The museum is trying to ensure that it provides what these ethnic groups want to see also, and a special exhibit on India is now on view in the museum
lobby.
The pre-history area offered a large exhibit which included flint,bone and antler tools, axe-heads, pottery, bear skulls, human skulls, and a human skeleton. The curator spoke respectfully of the human remains and how much thought is put into displaying them sensitively. Whether or not they have succeeded at this depends on the individual .'Nuff said.
.
MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
"...recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home..."
Reflections...
An afternoon at the Museum of Children was a pleasant respite to thinking about fires and hurricanes. My favourite part was the exhibit of recycled objects in the front lobby. Watch the Zachary Branch Library for a recycling workshop – brought to you by my esteemed colleague, BJ!
The coffee and sausages at the Museum of London were quite fun also!
The Museum Itself
Originally opened as the Bethanal Green Museum in 1872, its focus remained vague until 1925 when the children became the focus. In 1974, it took another step forward , it was officially dedicated to the subject of childhood. It has been and continues to be connected to the Victoria and Albert Museum, and since 2003 has received funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This museum displays numerous toys throughout history from toy trains and Raggedy Ann dolls to an original Playstation, Care Bears, and Weebles (“Weebles Wobble, but they don’t fall down!”).
Oh yes, and Barbie! I never found Cabbage Patch dolls, which was quite a disappointment.
The collection is divided into Moving Toys (Push and Pulls, Springs and Clogs, Circuits and Motors, and Look See which are optical toys) and Creativity (Imagine, Be Inspired, and Explore).
Creativity includes those well-loved Fischer- Price sets, tea sets, Super Heroes (including Star Wars!) and beauties such as a Chinese rock garden. Also under Creativity come Legos,model bricks, and toys made by children themselves.
THE OLD VIC
Reflections...
A tube ride back and a short rest, then it was off to The Old Vic to see the suspenseful Victorian thriller "Gaslight." The play was good, but the theatre was better! There was even room for my long legs!
The Old Vic first opened in 1818 as The Royal Coburg and was badly damaged by WWII bombs in 1941, and repaired and renovated and reopened in 1950.
It has seen numerous name changes (including The Royal Victoria - for Queen Victoria -- and The New Vic), owners, companies, and plays. It has also seen performances byAlec Guiness, Judith Dench, Lawrence Olivier, Albert Finney, Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton. In 2003 Kevin Spacey was appointed the first artistic director of The Old Vic Theatre Company. It also was home to the National Theatre Company at one time.
The Old Vic is not government-subsidized and ticket sales do not cover costs, so The Old Vic depends on support from generous benefactors. PICTURES LATER!!
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