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Beginning in 1954, Pittsburgh's original Buhl
Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science
[1939-1991] offered the ultimate of seasonal programs:
the Great Miniature Railroad and Village.

It started as the "Christmastown Railroad" but, due to
enormous demand, was soon expanded to four months of
the year [November through February], which came to be
known by Buhl staff members as "Railroad Season."
Particularly during the Thanksgiving and Christmas
holiday periods, it was not unusual for lines of
people inside the building waiting to see this display
to exceed one hour, and on occasion exceed two hours!
Here are some photographs from 1956:

<
http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/BuhlMiniRRqueueline1956-1957-2.JPG
>

<
http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/BuhlMiniRRqueueMezz1956.JPG
>

<
http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/BuhlMiniRRqueueMezz1956-2.JPG
>

<
http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/BuhlMiniRRqueue1956.JPG
>

Occasionally, particularly in the first few years,
there were also lines of people outside of the
building, waiting to get in! Here are a couple more
photographs from 1956:

<
http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/BuhlMiniRRqueueoutside1956.JPG
>

<
http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/BuhlPRRlineoutside.JPG
>

The revenue generated from the four months of display
of the Miniature Railroad pretty-much paid for the
rest of the year's operation of the original Buhl
Planetarium!

To learn more about the history, and see photographs
through the years, of the Miniature Railroad and
Village, go to this web page:

< http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/MiniRR.htm >

gaw
>>>Original Message:
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 11:44:50 -0400 
From: "Eric Siegel" <[log in to unmask]>  Add to
Address Book 
Subject: Seasonal Programs 
To: [log in to unmask] 

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

I would be grateful if people would be willing to
share their ideas for 
successful seasonal program.  Zoos do zoo lights,
botanical gardens do 
holiday conservatory shows.  What has worked for you
all around 
halloween, xmas, pass-easter-over, etc?  Thanks in
advance.

Eric Siegel
Executive VP
    Programs and Planning
NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
www.nyscience.org

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] > 
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://www.planetarium.cc > 
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago: 
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer & Optician John A. Brashear: 
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com > 
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: 
  < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc > 
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://www.incline.cc >


	
		
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