Thanksgiving weekend we went to this:
Exhibit on view through July 4, 2010 at the Minnesota History Center
The exhibit was fantastic. The opening weekend activities were even better.
We bound a little almanac for 2010 in the style of Poor Richard's -
The children operated a period (replica?) printing press to create a cover for their almanac -
The kids sported a complete look after constructing chenille stick spectacles and a folding printer's cap -
Ben Franklin himself meandered through the marbled halls fielding questions -
And he performed some electrifying science experiments, demonstrating the fire protection his lightening rod offers -
No photography was allowed in the exhibit hall, but I can vouch that the display is very well done and worth seeing if your kids are old enough to have read about Ben Franklin. We had just squeezed in the D'Aulaire's Ben Franklin and three of the Liberty Kids DVDs before attending. (I hear that Ben and Me is a worthwhile read as well).
So get ready, this exhibit may be coming to your town next. The schedule on the MHS site lists:
Santa Ana, California
Dec. 16, 2010 – Mar. 13, 2011
Bowers Museum
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Apr. 14, 2011 – July 31, 2011
Heinz History Center
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Sept. 2, 2011 – Jan. 8, 2012
Gerald Ford Museum
Washington, D.C.
Febr. 10, 2012 – May 6, 2012
National Archives
