ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Yes!  Here at the InfoAge Science Center, on the NJ shore, we're all about
hands-on and working exhibits.  We are made up of several independent
non-profit organizations.  For example, some of our groups include the NJ
Antique Radio Club; Garden State Central Model Railroad Club; Quarter
Century Wireless Association; and my group - Mid-Atlantic Retro Computing
Hobbyists.  In all of these groups and others within our museum, we restore
and demo antique technology.  In my area specifically (the vintage
computers), we lets adults and kids tinker under supervision on systems like
a 1963 Friden desktop calculator, a 1976 Altair 8800, 1982 Commodore 64, and
many others.  Several of our computers can be seen in the Smithsonian or at
the Computer History Museum (in Silicon Valley) ... behind velvet ropes and
plexiglass.  At InfoAge, we don't believe in telling visitors "imagine
something on the screen".

You asked about cars -- another InfoAge group is the Military Technology
Club of NJ -- where on nice days and for special events they roll out all
sorts of jeeps, ducks, and other historic military vehicles.  Kids get to go
for rides around our campus.

In some way or another, every group based here at InfoAge builds hands-on
museums.  It's hard for us to imagine kids getting inspired by passive and
static artifacts.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Allen [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 5:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ISEN] museums that display working historical technology?


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

Hi all,

Do you know any museums that have technological artifacts (especially  
cars / planes etc) that they display in working order, or even let  
visitors use? A colleague is doing an international study on the  
issues around this, from the maintenance angle as well as the visitor  
experience side.

Thanks for any pointers to museums or people....
Sue

Sue Allen, Ph.D.
Director of Visitor Research & Evaluation
Exploratorium
3601 Lyon St
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-353-0471
Fax: 415-561-0370
Email: [log in to unmask]


***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the
Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To
learn more, visit http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the message
SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]