Road Reports

Stories from Main Street - Portsmouth, NH

We're trying to reboot this blog!! So get ready for more posts about, for, and from Museum on Main Street.

First up, head on over to our Stories from Main Street website to see a new contribution to our collection, "The Eyes of Cogswell's Grant." A little fun spookiness just in time for Halloween! This story was contributed by a visitor in Portsmouth, NH. Here's the link:

The Eyes at Cogswell's Grant

And The Way We Worked is currently touring in Portsmouth, NH!! Check out our website for tour details or go to Historic New England

And don't forget that you can contribute your own story too! Stories from Main Street

Minnesota Gives Free Trips to "Journey Stories"

It’s a traveling exhibit for a reason.  The Smithsonian’s mission “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge” shouldn’t stop at the borders of D.C.  With Museum on Main Street, we take Smithsonian treasures throughout the country because not everyone can make the pilgrimage here.  And we’re grateful for the humanities councils and venues who give us a home on the road.  And some, like Carver Country Historical Society in Minnesota, have taken educational accessibility one step farther.

As a host of “Journey Stories,” Carver County wanted to make sure students especially could see the show, regardless of battered school funds.  So Executive Director Wendy Biorn applied for a grant with Target Corporation, headquartered in the Twin Cities.  The full $2,000 award for educational services provided transportation to the show for eleven school groups—the cost of busing no longer prohibitive.  And the kids seemed to get out of the trip what it should be: an exposure to something new, a stimulation of thought, and a lot of fun.

In addition to traveling through “Journey Stories,” children participated in a “Life in a Box” program, which forced them to choose the most valuable items they would pack if they needed to take their life on the road—a tricky balance between practicality and emotional attachment.  As recounted by Tracy Ketterling, a teacher at the Anishinabe Academy, a Native American school in Minneapolis (many of whose students had never been on a field trip before), the exercise had much “relevance to our population.”  They also watched a few storytellers.  After all, history is a story of its people.  They learned how Minnesota fit underneath the arch of America’s growth, hearing about the booming fur trade of pioneer days and local folklore like Paul Bunyan.  Afterward, the children witnessed living history, visiting the preserved farm of Andrew Peterson, one of the town’s oldest members who had emigrated from Sweden in the late 1800s. 

 

And like all stories, each of history’s narrators has a different perspective.  As Ms. Ketterling said, “It is interesting to hear the journey stories from different points of view.  We tend to think of it in terms of being invaded, and in ways violated by the waves of foreign people […] who were sold a skewed version of what was available for them here.  It still took a lot of courage to not only uproot their selves from a life they knew, but to bring their families along on the arduous adventure.”

History isn’t a fairytale; it’s a collection of authors.  It’s who we are, in all our glory and our shame.  But it’s a must-read, and like Smithsonian and Carver County, we want to make sure everyone has a copy.

-- Alexandra Charleston, Museum on Main Street, Washington, DC

Home Cooking on the Range: the U.S.'s First Restaurant Chain

Usually when we think “restaurant chain,” McDonalds and Applebees come to mind. But starting in the 1870s, the nation’s first chain restaurants, Harvey Houses, were beacons of fine dining along the Santa Fe Railroad. 

Recent “Key Ingredients” host, the International Sonoran Desert Alliance in Ajo, Arizona, featured a program by Ann-Mary Lutzick, “Don’t Cut the Ham Too Thin, Boys,” which explained how Harvey Houses reinvented the food industry and added a pinch of class to a still-rugged Southwest. Back when the steam engine necessitated a stop every 100 miles for a water refill, English entrepreneur Fred Harvey contracted with the Santa Fe Railroad to establish his restaurant in many of these “tank towns.” Soon these measured pit stops guaranteed both train and passenger would be satiated, the Harvey House a signal that good food was on the way. There’s nothing like the comfort of some boiled pig knuckles and a slice of coconut cream pie.

   

Fred Harvey demanded the best. Even at a peak number of 84 restaurants, each dining room shone with polished silver and fine china—far different than the paper wrappers and the plastic utensils that litter the floors of today’s road-tripping cars. Service was prompt and food at its finest. As legend has it, the namesake of Lutzick’s presentation are Harvey’s dying words.

The waitresses themselves were more than just food carriers; they needed to have an eighth grade education and be articulate, clean, and of good moral character. Paid $17.50 an hour with free room, board, and uniform, “Harvey Girls” had to sign a six-month contract of service. These upstanding women, who often married Western settlers, are said to have helped “civilize” the West. 

 

Eventually Harvey's restaurants serviced the Santa Fe dining cars, and as the company expanded their business to cater to tourists to the Southwest, the hotels that were attached to the restaurants became destinations of their own. “He was like the first Walt Disney,” said Lutzick. Even though demise of railroad tourism forced many Harvey Houses to close, they always received rave reviews.

And so, too, did Lutzick’s talk. According to Mimi Phillips, programming director in Ajo, “I was fascinated by the history of how the restaurants started—what a small piece of the history of food in Arizona that not many people are aware of! Even better was the fact that an original Harvey waitress was in the audience. It was such a special moment to watch history become so personal and real.”

-- Alexandra Charleston, Museum on Main Street, Washington, DC

Colorado welcomes its first MoMS exhibit!

“You’re lying,” said Ardith Douglass from the White River Museum when she heard that they would be hosting the Museum on Main Street “Between Fences” exhibit. “I couldn’t believe the Smithsonian would be coming here!”

This is the first time MoMS has crossed into Colorado, but this is a first for the White River Museum, too: they’ve never hosted a traveling exhibition. Even though the preparation seemed daunting at first, the exhibit’s success has inspired the town to continue hosting traveling exhibitions.

From grade schoolers to grandparents, excitement for “Between Fences” has been electric. A quilting class stitched a few pieces for a silent auction, the colorful fabrics illustrating the rolling countryside, and local students decorated picket fences. According to Sandy, “getting [the middle schoolers] to stick to fences themes was like trying to herd cats! But we are expecting straight pickets from the high school students who will focus on the meanings behind fences.”  

  

So while everyone’s having fun, the exhibit has also worked to tear down a few cultural boundaries. Even though Meeker, CO, prides itself on historical moments like Teddy Roosevelt’s visit in 1901, not every event has been glamorous. Home to the Meeker Massacre—the last Native American uprising in 1879—lingering tensions have continued to divide the town. But as project leader David Steinmen says, “The Smithsonian exhibit brings hope to the community that our local venues can provide something that gathers a crowd together and creates such positive energy.”

And it’s helped to build community partnerships. “As a small town, our resources are slim.  But the prominence and substance to this exhibit has changed the community response,” says David, “and we’ve convinced the board we should do more of these types of things.”  So even when “Between Fences” picks up its pickets and stakes down in the next city, Meeker will continue forging into uncharted territory. 

-- Alexandra Charleston, Museum on Main Street, Washington, DC

Our New Exhibit! (TWWW Part I)

Presenting…

“The Way We Worked!” 

As we kick off 2011, the MoMS team is excited to announce our latest exhibit.  Based on the National Archives original exhibit, “The Way We Worked” explores the nature of work in the United States throughout the past 150 years.

Even though the exhibit won’t begin its tour until September, the planning process began long beforehand.  In 2007, MoMS provided state humanities councils and the most recent 150 host sites with a few exhibit proposals, and “The Way We Worked” muscled through to claim top seat. 

And from that moment, MoMS got straight to work.  Even though the original exhibit provided a solid base, we needed to adapt the structure and content for a traveling show.  Consulting with Dr. Bruce Bustard, curator of the original National Archives exhibit, and scholars from Georgetown, American University, and the National Museum of American History, the MoMS show slowly began to take shape.  To add more variety, we’ve hunted down additional photos and objects, and we’ve decided to break down the content into 4 sections: Where We Worked, How We Worked, Who Works, and Why We Work.  And with the help of Dr. Bustard and Rosemary Reagan, Head Editor at Smithsonian fabrication unit, the Office of Exhibits Central (OEC), MoMSers Robbie and Tiffany have been whittling down pencil tips rewriting and rewriting the script, each draft becoming closer to what soon will be every final word in the titles, paragraphs, captions, and credits displayed on the panels.

Simultaneously, we’ve been hovering over the drawing board.  Sketching through a few ideas with OEC designer Alicia Jager, together we’ve conceptualized how the exhibit should look – everything from tones to typeface!  Even though these graphic design files need revision, too, the alluring, creative displays are the masterwork of Alicia’s beautiful artistry.  And they’re practical, too – meeting the size, packing, crating, and weight restrictions registrar Terri demands. 

 

And of course, where would we be without the remarkable enthusiasm of our future host sites?  Hosting a few training courses and maintaining constant communication, MoMS is working with state humanities councils to equip future venues with marketing packets, educational materials, docent handbooks, and programming ideas.

If you're interested in seeing what it takes to create an exhibit, keep checking back because we’ll walk you through the production process for “The Way We Worked.”  We hope you’re just as excited as we are!

-- Alexandra Charleston, Museum on Main Street, Washington, DC

Teamwork Fuels Renton

The Renton History Museum of Renton, Washington, put a lot of hard work into their local exhibit, Sustaining a City. Built to accompany the Smithsonian’s Key Ingredients exhibit, Sustaining a City focused on the regional food customs that developed alongside immigration to the area. Museum Director, Elizabeth Stewart, explains; “Sustaining a City explored the ways in which Renton’s wave of immigrants shared food traditions, beginning with the Duwamish people through pioneer picnics, immigrant bakeries, wine-making, and groceries.”

    
 
 Renton’s exhibit is beautiful – it includes thorough research, authentic objects, and panels as tall as those from the Smithsonian exhibit. One meaningful aspect of the exhibit was the collaboration that it engendered between the Renton History Museum and the University of Washington.  Lacking a staff solely dedicated to exhibition development, the museum turned to UW’s Museology department for assistance with the expansion of their local display.  More than a year prior to Key Ingredients’ arrival in Renton, Museology students helped to develop Sustaining a City, performing tasks ranging from research and script-writing, to the exhibit’s physical assemblage. Elizabeth Stewart provides us with details about the partnership:

 

“Our Collection Manager, Sarah Iles, is a UW Museology graduate and she has maintained a close relationship with the department; in fact, she teaches for the program usually once a year…We had three interns in succession on the Sustaining A City; each position was 'advertised' internally by the UW Museology program...  The first, Jen Myers, provided preliminary research on Renton foodways by combing through our collection and identifying appropriate objects, photos, and sources. Staff started identifying appropriate themes and the objects, etc. that would support them. Our second intern, Kim Owens, built on that work by drafting the exhibit script in consultation with staff.  For Jen and Kim, these internship satisfied degree requirements. Finally, Benny Eisman, who often works here as a preparator, helped with construction, installation, and mount-making for the exhibit.”

 

What a wonderful partnership between two educational institutions -- and a partnership that was mutually beneficial; students of museum studies were able to gain hands-on experience, while the Renton History Museum was able to fabricate a significant exhibit. One visitor remarked; "It was a great pleasure to view the exhibits. You clearly care deeply about our heritage. Thank you!" We are not only proud of the high-level of work produced in Renton, but are warmed by the cooperation and community spirit that went into its creation.

 

Equally impressive were the Renton History Museum's efforts to generate press for the two exhibits. In the months leading up to the opening, Elizabeth Stewart stirred up enthusiasm for Key Ingredients by writing articles in the Renton Magazine which highlighted the history of dining in Renton. A favorite entry of ours features the logging camps of the Pacific Northwest that existed one-hundred years ago -- did you know that loggers may have required up to 7,000 calories per day to "keep going?" Opening day programming included another great press opportunity -- a live broadcast of 97.3 FM KIRO's radio show, "In the Kitchen with Tom and Thierry" occurred beside the exhibit itself!

 

  

 

All-in-all, the elbow grease that was put into the Key Ingredients exhibit in Renton is certainly worth commending.

 

“We thoroughly enjoyed hosting Key Ingredients--SITES and MoMS do such a fantastic job of making these exhibits doable for small museums, and the Smithsonian imprimatur means a lot to our visitors!” – Elizabeth Stewart, Director, Renton History Museum.

Our thanks go out to the community of Renton, the Renton History Museum, and Elizabeth Stewart for their fervent approach to the MoMS experience!

 

- Roxanne Berschler, SITES -- Washington, D.C.

Community Connection -- Spotlight on Idaho

In 2008, Ketchum and Lava Hot Springs, Idaho examined the familiar to make an exhibit their own.

The two host sites incorporated community members and local history into their Between Fences programming as a means of fleshing out the exhibit while heightening its relevance to the people of their respective regions. Read on to learn of the historic tales that transformed the Between Fences exhibit into a unique experience for these two communities.

Ketchum, ID:

These publicity photos from Ketchum, Idaho, were taken of Dave Tatsuno and his son Rod. Dave is the only known person to have recorded home movies of the Japanese internment in the Topaz camp during World War II.

                                      

Rod Tatsuno was one of the speakers during the Between Fences celebration in Ketchum, Idaho. The “Between Fences” theme adopted a fresh sense of poignancy in the presence of a Camp Topaz survivor.

Lava Hot Springs, ID:

 “Their might, Their Power; Eight Women Influential in Area History” was the play created in Lava Hot Springs to accompany the Between Fences exhibit. According to the Idaho State Journal, this local production “looks at the early history of South Bannock County and the women who played a role in it.” The Bannock County Historical Museum relied on an important partnership in order to bring this project to fruition; Jamie Romine of Idaho State University’s drama department authored the play while specifically incorporating local history and the “fence” theme into her writing.

                

Upon addressing the play’s subject matter, Between Fences exhibit coordinator Cathy Sher said “Many things can be a fence, including gender… History is usually told from the viewpoint of men, this is a different perspective.”

Our appreciation to both communities for digging deep to create a community connection with the Between Fences exhibit!

 - Roxanne Berschler -- SITES, Washington D.C.

Alaskans Explore Local Contributions to American Music

Residents of Haines, Alaska are still singing the Sheldon Museum's praises! The museum's recent installation of New Harmonies offered their visitors a chance to explore what it means to be an American by featuring the region's diverse music traditions.

In the exhibition, learners of all age investigated their music heritage. A hands-on music corner invited children to explore music with a tactile approach – As kids hammered on the xylophone and tooted the horn, they made friends with one of America’s dearest forms of expression.This innovative local exhibit engaged the senses for what is sure to have been an interactive music lesson worth remembering. Adults on the other hand, were wowed by the museum’s display of “Drink Mallets” from the 1930’s. The Hammer Museum donated these cultural objects as a veritable piece of Haines musical past; these little wooden hammers were once used in Haines nightclubs by audience members who wished to applaud the acts onstage.

                           

Haines residents from all generations united for the exhibit’s opening reception in which Tlingit singers and dancers welcomed New Harmonies to the community. According to museum director Jerrie Clarke, “Tlingit dancers from Klukwan, a Tlingit village 20 miles north of Haines, provided song, drums and traditional dance, as well as stories by elders about music and changes to the music heard, played and sung in the last century in a half.” The Tlingit nation – one of only two federally recognized Native American groups in Alaska – is centered around the southeastern part of the state.

As poignant stories were recounted by Tlingit elders and sacred dances were performed by younger Tlingit nation members, Haines residents were reminded of their region’s unique role in America’s cultural history. “It’s only right that we open this exhibit of American roots music with the descendents of the first musicians in the Chilkat Valley,” said Clarke.The opening concluded with a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” sung in both Tlingit and English. Audience members slowly joined the performers in song during the English translation, tangibly confirming the unity engendered by the exhibition.

                                   

Lastly, musicians from Juneau, Skagway, Tagish, and Yukon Territory came to Haines to perform during New Harmonies’ stay in the region. How wonderful that the exhibit was able to bring exposure not only to the Sheldon museum, but to the significance of American Roots Music in Alaska specifically. In the words of museum director Jerrie Clarke, “What a boost [New Harmonies] gave to the community’s support for the Sheldon Museum. We are still receiving compliments for the concert and the exhibition. And, we had a great time!”

Many thanks go out to Jerrie Clarke and the Sheldon Museum for hosting New Harmonies in Haines!

-- Roxanne Berschler, SITES, Washington D.C.

Bananas and Mayonnaise -- Podcast on Georgia Food Traditions

To prepare for its ongoing two-year tour of Key Ingredients, the Georgia Humanities Council partnered with the University of West Georgia's Center for Public History to interview more than 75 people across the state to document the state's food traditions. The work done by the Humanities Council and the Center for Public History provides tremendous insight into Georgia's history and culture. Food is central to life. The dishes we grow up with, the traditions we hold dear, and the memories we associate with food and family are extremely powerful. The oral history interviews give us a fun and meaningful glimpse into joys of food.

Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to Georgia's food traditions through a series of selections from the oral history interviews. Today's program features Rosalind Westmoreland of Claxton, Georgia. Born in 1919, Rosalind endured the hardships brought on by the Great Depression, and recounts some of them for us. Although she freely admits that “money was tight,” Rosalind insists that she hardly recognized her own deprivation, as all of her peers were “in the same boat.” As was the case with most families during the Depression, Rosalind specifies that meat and milk were rarities reserved for Sundays and special occasions… as was macaroni and cheese! She describes some of the home remedies that were invented for items that the family couldn’t afford, describing make-shift meals and cleaning concoctions.

Lastly, part of Rosalind’s interview details some of the food traditions from Southern Georgia, including fond memories from community “peanut boilings” and “cane grindings,” in addition to recipes for “traditional” Banana Salad and Pimento Cheese. Ultimately, Rosalind’s southern flair and fun anecdotes help to make her experiences with Georgia cuisine come to life. Enjoy!

Download Rosalind Westmoreland Podcast (5:23, MP3, 4.93 MB)

Special thanks go to Arden Williams with the Georgia Humanities Council, Ann McCleary with the University of West Georgia Center for Public History, and her students Katie Hicks and Kristi Hartmann Ferguson for giving MoMS an opportunity to make these interviews available. Check out the Georgia website for Key Ingredients at www.georgiafoodtour.org.

-- Roxanne Berschler, MoMS/SITES, Washington, DC