A little taste of history one morsel at a time
When I first stumbled across the Vajen-Bader Smoke Protector, I initially thought it was a prop from Dr. Who or Star Wars. This bizarre looking hood was created in the 1890s by hardware salesman, Willis Vajen and piano maker, William Bader to prevent the inhalation of smoke and toxic fumes.
Headgear or the lack of it can define us. Do you shun the bike helmet or cinch your chin strap tighter? Do you sport a cheesy yellow wedge in the Fall? Or is a Viking helmet more your jam?
The power drills and circular saws are kicking up dust at my house so today on Museum Bites we’re taking a closer look at a classic tool, the hammer. From the maul to the meat mallet, hammers, in one form or another, shape our everyday life. The framing hammer builds houses while a sledge hammer... Continue Reading →
Today on Museum Bites we’re rolling out the bling. From tiaras to toe rings, we humans have for centuries, pierced, stretched, looped, pinned and poked our bodies with a glittery assortment of baubles and beads.
Today on Museum Bites we’re celebrating the humble mastodon (Mammut). Often overshadowed by the bigger, flashier wooly mammoth, the mastodon has the reputation of being the Jan Brady of the elephant family. But did you know a glass of rum, a prehistoric arrow, and a former U.S. president all played a role in the discovery... Continue Reading →
Over one million artifacts, spanning China’s 5,000-year history are tucked away inside these mighty walls, but only a small fraction are on display. Join me for a brief look at these hidden treasures…
Shuffling with the crowds through the imposing Meridian Gate (Wu Men), I entered a world of lions and dragons and urns…oh my!
Happy Friday! It’s been a crazy, fun-filled week of family birthdays, a solar eclipse, and packing my eldest off to college. So today we're taking a brief hiatus from our Chinese adventure and hitting the books. Please enjoy this Museum Bites reboot of the amazing life of Johannes Gutenberg and his magical moving type machine. ... Continue Reading →
Today on Museum Bites we’re continuing our trek through China with a breathtaking hike atop the Great Wall. The Great Wall…I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that my trusty Tevas and I were standing on this vast and ancient landmark. Together we jostled through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and... Continue Reading →
Qin commissioned the construction of a subterranean tomb packed with riches and a terracotta army so vast it would make an Egyptian pharaoh blush.
Museum Bites 