It’s time for another movie post! Have you seen Herb and Dorothy? This gem of a documentary introduces us to Herb and Dorothy Vogel, who on the surface seem like a couple of ordinary “DINKS” (Double Income, No Kids, he he.) But Herb and Dorothy are no ordinary couple; over their decades together, they managed … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2011
Friendly Friday: Special Collections
This week’s Friendly Friday blog comes from Iowa State University’s Special Collections Department. Special Collections staff updates the blog regularly, writing about the history of the University, new acquisitions, and some fun items the average person might not know about. This past October, Special Collections wrote a wonderful post giving readers a virtual tour of … Continue reading
Remember This: DDCC
Today I want to spend a minute talking about artifact preservation in general. Basic-level artifact preservation can be summed up into four letters: DDCC What’s DDCC, you ask? Well, I made it up. DDCC stands for: Dark, Dry, Cool, & Constant. When you’re getting ready to store–or display–your items (whether they’re heirlooms, museum artifacts or … Continue reading
Architecture: Des Moines Art Center
One of the pleasant surprises I had upon moving to Des Moines was discovering the lovely Des Moines Art Center. I’ve oohed and aahed over it previously (here too!), but today I would like to highlight it’s lovely architecture. For those of you who think Iowa is simply a giant field of corn with a … Continue reading
For All Ages
I’m a big fan of trying all sorts of interactive elements on exhibit–even those that are obviously geared toward the lil’ ones. At our recent visit to the Science Center of Iowa, we had a fun time exploring When Things Get Moving experience platform. This is their newest and dare I say, most popular (?) … Continue reading
Hangers
Do any of you remember the scene from Mommy Dearest, where Joan Crawford throws a fit because she finds a wire hanger in her daughter’s closet? No? Here’s a little something to jog your memory: While I promise not to “have a cow” like Joan in the film, I do want to stress the importance … Continue reading
Flickering Lights
Here’s another example of random things I see at museums …when I should probably be looking at something else. Let’s go back to The Met. During our visit, we wandered through the Museum’s lovely period rooms and stopped to look at the Room from the Hôtel de Varengeville, Paris. The furnishings were beautiful, as you … Continue reading
Friendly Friday: Preservation
Can you believe it’s already time for another Friendly Friday? This week, I wanted to introduce you to Iowa State University’s Preservation Department. Located about 30 miles north of Des Moines in Ames, Iowa, the Preservation Department “was established in 1991 and currently includes three functional units: Preservation Services, Digital Initiatives, and Conservation. The … Continue reading
Museum Love
Look what we spotted parked at the Science Center of Iowa! Who owns this car? What compelled them to get such a wonderful license plate? Do folks in other states have this on their license plates? If you know the story behind this, please contact me – I’d love to hear from you. How do … Continue reading
The Windmill
If you’re not from Iowa, you might read the word “Pella” and think of the window manufacturer. Well, you’re not far off — the company is based in Pella, Iowa, a small town about 45 minutes south east of Des Moines. I recently had the opportunity to visit Pella to complete a needs assessment for … Continue reading
Museum Minute 