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National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library January 2, 2024

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I recently visited the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids. The museum “engages the global community with unique Czech, Slovak, and American stories to inspire individuals with universal themes of culture, freedom, democracy, and immigration.”

Here are ten nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. Garnets can be set in several ways, including:

  • bezel, where a cut garnet is set in a thin metal band that encircles the stone, holding it in place
  • bare, where saw is used to cut indents in the metal band, making the stone appear larger
  • rivet, where a template is created to drill holes for rivets in the metal band; holes are then drilled in the stone for inserting the rivets.

2. The Cleveland Agreement was signed in 1915 between the Czech National Alliance in America and the Slovak League of America; it called for the formation of an independent nation comprised of the historical territories of the Czech and Slovak people. During World War I, both President Wilson and his Secretary of State, Robert Lansing, publicly supported this independence movement.

3. In 1930, Tatra pioneered the development of rear-mounted air-cooled automobile engines. These engines eliminated the need for water in the engine, had a lower center of gravity (improving stability), and even facilitated the design of streamlined cars. On March 5, 1934, Tatra introduced the T77, which featured all of these innovations.

4. The opposition to the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia hardened in the years leading up to the Velvet Revolution; for example:

  • on March 17, 1976, members of The Plastic People of the Universe were arrested and put on trial; various opposition groups unified in response
  • on January 1, 1977, the Charter 77 manifesto criticized the regime for its human rights abuses; though this document was outlawed, it was still circulated underground and published by foreign newspapers
  • on April 24, 1978, the VONS was created to support the signers of the Charter 77 manifesto.

5. In 1862, Miroslav Tyrs and Jindrich Fugner co-founded Sokol, a gymnastic society. The American Sokol Organization was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1865. A sokol slet (i.e. mass gathering) consisted of many drills (e.g. calisthenics, marching) and sports (e.g. volleyball). Many communities organized around sokols. Governing authorities (e.g. Hapsburgs, Nazis), attempted to ban Sokol in light of its nationalistic character; they failed in that regard, and many present-day Czech and Slovak communities are still organized around sokols.

6. The notable events in the history of JAWA include:

  • in October 1929, Frantisek Janecek successfully modified the German Wanderer motorcycle to produce the JAWA 500 cc. motorcycle
  • in 1934, JAWA introduced a 700 cc. automobile
  • during World War II, the Nazi regime forced JAWA to make aircraft motor parts and stationary generators
  • in 1946, JAWA introduced the Perak (i.e. “Spring”) motorcycle
  • during the Cold War, the Communist regime stifled most of JAWA’s research and development efforts – except for racing motorbikes; their models dominated various competitions.

7. There are several types of kolache, including:

  • the Slovak version, which is made by spreading a poppy seed filling over a large rectangle of dough, rolling it like a jelly roll, and cutting it into slices
  • the open version, which features a fruit, cream cheese, or poppy seed filling
  • the Texan version, which is made by wrapping yeast dough around sausage (or even jalapeno peppers).

8. Christmas and Easter are significant occasions in Czech and Slovak communities. Families begin celebrating Christmas on December 6 when Saint Nicholas visits them; he determines if children deserve presents given their behavior over the past year. On December 24, families enjoy a large feast and play games that reveal their fortunes in the New Year. As for Easter, families observe several traditions, including a springtime ritual where boys receive gifts for lightly whipping girls’ legs with a switch. They also make baskets and fill them with symbolic treats (e.g. eggs) that are blessed by a priest.

9. There are several types of kroje; for example:

  • women’s costumes in Moravia typically include red headscarves decorated with floral prints; they can be worn hanging down the back or wrapped around the head and hair
  • women’s costumes in the Kyjov region typically include dark blue or black aprons with brightly-colored embroidery
  • lace highlights traditional costumes in Liptovska Luzna, which include long, blueprint aprons that are decorated with wax designs (wax protects the fabric during the dyeing process).

10. During the 1960s, the Czech New Wave challenged Communist censorship of the arts. Several directors from the Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague produced films that satirized the Communist regime, including Vera Chytilova, Milos Forman, and Jan Nemec. Czech New Wave films captured the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1965 and 1966. Unfortunately, the Soviets cracked down on the Czech New Wave after the Prague Spring in 1968.

I enjoyed touring the Sleger Immigrant Home, as the tour guide did a great job of explaining how the Sleger family adjusted to life in the United States.

I don’t have any quibbles with the museum at this time.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to those who happen to be in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art November 20, 2023

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I recently visited the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art in Cedar Rapids. The museum intends “to excite, engage, and educate through the arts.”

Here are nine nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. The Roman government adopted the libra as the standard unit of weight by the third century BC, facilitating commerce. Romans used two types of scales to weigh items:

  • one was named after the libra; it was a balance scale with equal-length arms
  • the other was the statera, which had a short arm and a long arm. A single pan (or hook) hung from the short arm, while a sliding counterweight hung from the long arm. The long arm had a series of measuring marks, where each mark was cut to fit the counterweight.

2. Initially, the Roman atrium was a central courtyard, surrounded by enclosed rooms where a family would sleep and store household items. The atrium later evolved into an official reception hall where clientela would wait to greet the head of that household when he left his office in the morning. A successful patronus (i.e. protector) used his atrium to impress his clientela with his wealth.

3. Several women facilitated the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire, including:

4. Margaret Bourke-White snapped the iconic photograph Louisville Flood while on assignment for Life magazine. The Ohio River had flooded during the winter of 1937, inundating Louisville, Kentucky. That photograph shows black men, women, and children who have lined up to receive food and clothing in the wake of that disaster. They are juxtaposed with a billboard in the background depicting a happy, well-dressed white family.

5. Gordon Parks became the first black staff photographer for Life magazine in 1948. He got his start in photography in St. Paul, Minnesota, working as a fashion photographer for an upscale clothing store. During World War II, he worked for two government agencies; he later worked for Vogue magazine for four years. In 1950, he returned to his hometown of Fort Scott, Kansas, to work on a photo essay titled “Back to Fort Scott” that was ultimately unpublished.

6. Imogen Cunningham was one of the foremost female photographers of the 20th century. She was inspired to pursue a career in photography after viewing several images by Gertrude Kasebier. In 1917, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she spent the rest of her days. In 1932, she co-founded Group f.64, a group of California photographers who promoted purist photography.

7. Bourke-White’s photograph of the construction of the Fort Peck Dam appeared on the cover of the first issue of Life magazine, which was published on November 23, 1936. She visited the dam, which is the largest hydraulic dam in the United States, about halfway through its construction on the Missouri River. That photograph shows several large gate piers – and two small figures at the bottom of those piers.

8. Grant Wood collaborated with his friend, Paul Hanson, as he honed his home-building skills. In 1916, they built rustic cottages as temporary homes for their families. In 1917, they designed and built permanent homes on the northern edge of Cedar Rapids. Wood may have been influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement while building his permanent home, as it included red-trimmed windows, white stuccoed walls, and built-in cabinetry.

9. Wood’s output prior to 1930 was heavily influenced by French Impressionism; for example, he employed short brushstrokes and layered paint upon the surface of the canvas in his works. In 1928, though, he traveled to Germany to oversee the production of his Memorial Window; that trip exposed him to the virtues of German and Netherlandish art. His output after 1930 reflected these new influences; for example, he used smooth, geometric features in those works.

I especially enjoyed the exhibit on Wood, since it was near another section that highlighted several (relatively obscure) local artists. It was interesting to see how he influenced their output.

I should note that visitors are required to leave large bags (e.g. backpacks) at the front desk.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to those who happen to be in Cedar Rapids.

Stanley Museum of Art September 25, 2023

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I recently visited the Stanley Museum of Art in Iowa City. The museum “welcomes the University of Iowa community, all Iowans, and the world to discover and enjoy extraordinary works of art, explore new ideas, and cultivate new insights into history, culture, and the act of creation.”

Here are three nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. The Komo society is a male-dominated religious association among the Mande in West Africa. A Komo priest worships at a boli altar; they believe that a boli contains the powerful life-force, nyama. It has been theorized that a boli can even symbolize the entire universe.

2. Elefon masks are a notable feature of festivals in the Ekiti state in southwestern Nigeria. Each elefon mask includes a helmet mask below a human figure. In some masks, this human figure represents an Iyalode – the highest-ranking Yoruba female chieftain; the depictions of these chieftains emphasize the life force, ase.

3. Mural is the largest artwork of Jackson Pollock. Pollock completed Mural in 1943 after it was commissioned by Peggy Guggenheim for the entrance of her New York townhouse. He rapidly applied four colors (i.e. lemon yellow, red, teal, and umber) to create its foundation. David Siqueiros may have influenced this monumental piece.

The museum is fairly small, and one can browse its exhibits in less than an hour.

I should note that I needed to store my backpack in a locker before entering the galleries.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to those who happen to be in Iowa City.

The Field Museum August 14, 2022

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Several years ago, I visited The Field Museum in Chicago. The museum “fuels a journey of discovery across time to enable solutions for a brighter future rich in nature and culture.”

Here are twelve nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. The Maori creation myth centers on a Sky Father and an Earth Mother who are locked in a tight embrace; thus, their children dwell in darkness. One of their children, Tane (the god of the forest), eventually separates them; thus, his siblings can dwell in light. This story is typically depicted at the entrance of a Maori meeting house. Maori meeting houses typically feature a variety of wood carvings, including depictions of ancestors (where abalone shells represent their eyes) and hammerhead sharks.

2. The soapberry is a member of the Sapindaceae family; its name is derived from the Latin words for “soap” and “Indian.” It is similar to its relatives (e.g. Harpullia) in that it contains saponins, which form a lather when they are agitated in water. Other soapberry relatives include:

  • Akee and litchi, which are known for their edible seeds
  • guarana, whose seeds are typically used to make a popular drink.

3. The fascinating world of carnivorous plants includes:

  • the pitcher-plant, which belongs to the family Sarraceniaceae and has radiating leaves
  • the East Indian pitcher plant, which belongs to the family Nepenthaceae (the name of that family is derived from the Greek word “nepenthes”, which means “relief from grief”)
  • the bladderwort, which has submerged leaves and uses bladders to catch its prey
  • the Venus flytrap, which belongs to the family Droseraceae (the name of that family is derived from the Greek word “droseros”, which means “dewy”).

4. The mutualistic relationship between fig wasps and figs entails multiple steps:

  • a female fig wasp crawls into a fig and pollinates it by laying her eggs in it
  • after the eggs hatch, wasp larvae eat fig seeds
  • wingless male wasps transfer pollen to winged female wasps by mating with them inside the fig
  • male wasps cut tunnels in the fig – enabling female wasps to leave the fig.

A similar mutualistic relationship exists between ants and acacia trees, where a colony of ants occupy a thorn on an acacia tree. These ants are sustained by nectaries and Beltian bodies.

5. Pacific Islanders built canoes that were stabilized by outriggers; the side of the hull opposite the outrigger was typically flat. These canoes were typically made of breadfruit; coconut fibers were used for lashings. Their sails were typically made of pandanus; breadfruit sap was used for caulking. One notable Pacific Island myth centered on a canoe race between the sons of Loktanur; her youngest son, Jebro, emerged victorious by leveraging a sail.

6. The largest of the slit drums of Vanuatu was the mother drum; a man of high rank would sit and use a wooden club to play rhythms on it. These rhythms were often used to convey names of ancestors and messages (e.g. announcements of deaths, commands to search for a valuable lost pig). Carvings on the mother drum typically represented ancestors.

7. Melanesian warriors typically wielded shields covered with special designs that were meant to protect their bearer and radiate hostility. They also wore boar tusks, which represented strength and ferocity. They fought with spear throwers and clubs (their ceremonial weapons were typically made of lighter wood). Melanesian warfare was marked by ambushes.

8. The myths of New Ireland include that of Lunganga, an evil pig whose rampages forced many of the inhabitants of New Ireland to flee to Tabar. An old woman refused to flee, though; she later slept with a bird and gave birth to twins. After these twins reached maturity, they fought Lunganga; that epic battle shaped the landscape of New Ireland. Eventually they emerged victorious; they cut off Lunganga’s hair and placed it in a piece of fruit that they sent to Tabar.

9. The Tsavo man-eating lions were maneless (an adaptation to their hot and dry climate). One of those lions had a broken canine (lions typically use their canines to hold their prey). Rinderpest may have decimated those lions’ prey, causing them to slaughter about 30 people – disrupting John Henry Patterson’s plan to construct a railway to the port of Mombasa.

10. The emerald ash borer is an Asian beetle with hard forewings; it belongs to the Coleoptera family. Its larvae create an S-shaped trail when they eat cambium; the larvae then bore a D-shaped exit hole to leave their trees. Adults are about a half-inch long and are metallic green.

11. The oropendola is the largest member of a family that includes meadowlarks, blackbirds, and orioles. It builds nests on a yearly basis that are suspended from branches; it often steals nest material from other colonies. It also typically builds its nests near hornets’ nests – deterring parasitic rice grackles which covet their eggs.

12. Totem poles have many regional varieties; for example:

  • Tlingit poles have one figure above another (with no overlap); the top figure is often a bird with vertical wings
  • Kwakiutl poles often feature colorful birds with outstretched wings
  • Haida poles are marked by extremely wide heads (the width of each head is half of its pole’s height).

The museum is expansive, and one can spend an entire day browsing through its numerous exhibits. I especially enjoyed the exhibit on Pacific Island cultures, as it was interesting to compare and contrast the customs of different islands.

I don’t have any quibbles with the museum at this time.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to those who happen to be in the Windy City.

The Art Institute of Chicago August 8, 2022

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Several years ago, I visited The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago. The museum presents the history of various societies through their art.

Here are twelve nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. The Kuba kingdom was located in the present-day Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The art of the Kuba was marked by raffia, cowrie shells, and glass beads. The Kuba viewed elephants as symbols of wealth and leadership; their warriors also esteemed buffaloes. The Kuba creation pantomime featured a triad of royal masks, including the female Ngady Mwaash, the king (or mooshambwooy), and the bwoom.

2. The history of warfare includes some odd weaponry. For example, Henry VIII of England was so impressed by the gun shield that he commissioned a set from the gunsmith Gianbattista of Ravenna. Each gun shield included a matchlock pistol and was composed of plywood, hemp, and wool. Another example of odd weaponry was the siege helmet, which weighed thirteen pounds and included a binocular visor.

3. The list of notable Flemish painters is not confined to Peter Paul Rubens; examples include:

4. The richness of Persian literature is exemplified by the following works:

Persian literature was marked by nastaliq script and rubai (a type of quatrain). This genre blossomed during the reign of the Safavid rulers Tahmasp and Abbas.

5. In the Javanese poem Smaradahana, Shiva’s meditation is disturbed when the god of love, Smara, shoots flowered arrows at him. He angrily turns his burning third eye on Smara, reducing him to ashes, which floated throughout the world – spreading feelings of desire.

6. Hindu mythology has its fair share of interesting characters, including:

  • Vamana (an avatar of Vishnu) who took one step to cover the earth, a second step to cover heaven, and a third step to push the demon king Bali into the underworld
  • Kartikeya (the god of war) who grew six heads to nurse from his mother, the Pleiades
  • the aforementioned Shiva, who beheaded his son, Ganesha, for attempting to prevent him from seeing Parvati as she bathed.

7. Artistic depictions of the Buddha vary throughout Asia; for example:

  • in Burmese art, the Buddha is typically crowned and bejeweled
  • Thai depictions of the Buddha during the Dvaravati kingdom included the ushnisha as a flame representing wisdom; those depictions also revealed the Buddha’s body while he wore monastic clothing – inspired by the art of the Gupta dynasty.

8. The Bronze Age in modern-day China included these dynasties:

  • the Shang; during this dynasty, grain was fermented to make an ancient form of wine, and ancestor worship was practiced
  • the Western Zhou; during this dynasty, feudalism reigned supreme, and the doctrine of a mandate of heaven (where the emperor was viewed as a deity) was developed.

9. Ancient Japanese art developed over several historical eras, including:

  • the Jomon period, which was marked by the production of earthenware with cord-marked decorations
  • the Yayoi period, which was marked by the production of bronzes
  • the Kofun period, which was marked by the construction of old burial mounds; those mounds often contained haniwa and other clay objects arranged in a ring.

10. The city of Teotihuacan was laid out in a north-south-east-west grid. Resident nobles and officials often wore mirrors on the small of their back to signify their rank and status. Its denizens used decorative masks made of spondylus shells in various rituals; they also observed the New Fire ceremony every 52 years to mark the beginning of a new century.

11. The painting Nighthawks may have been inspired by the intersection of two streets at Greenwich Avenue. Archibald Motley was definitely inspired by Nighthawks to paint Nightlife – typical of his oeuvre – which depicts a dancehall in the South Side neighborhood of Bronzeville.

12. The Arts and Crafts movement originated in England before spreading to the United States. It emphasized simple designs, geometric motifs, and the usage of plain materials. Its adherents included Frank Lloyd Wright and Gustav Stickley – who founded the United Crafts company and propagated his ideas in both The Craftsman and Mission furniture.

The museum is expansive, and one can spend an entire day browsing through its numerous exhibits. I especially enjoyed the special exhibit on African masks, including its elucidation of the similarities and differences between masks from diverse regions such as North Africa, Coastal West Africa, and Central Africa.

My only quibble with the museum is that the exhibit on Korean art was rather sparse.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to those who happen to be in the Windy City.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum March 22, 2020

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I recently visited the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose. The museum showcases the history of ancient Egypt.

Here are seven nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. The Rosetta Stone is inscribed with decrees promulgated by Ptolemy V Epiphanes. These decrees were inscribed with hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Greek. In order to decipher the hieroglyphs and Demotic script in this case, researchers leveraged their knowledge of Greek and the common word “Ptolemy”.

2. Mummification included the following steps:

  • removing the intestines, liver, lungs, and stomach – which were then placed in canopic jars that were sealed with images of the four sons of the falcon-headed deity Horus
  • preserving the body in natron for about 30 days
  • rubbing the body with an oil
  • adorning the body with sundry ornaments
  • placing an image of a scarab over the heart – to maintain silence in the afterlife, where the heart was weighed against the feather of Maat.

3. Some of the deities of the Egyptian pantheon were worshiped as household gods, including:

  • Hathor, the goddess of love and beauty
  • Taweret, the goddess of pregnancy and childbirth
  • Bastet, a goddess symbolized by a cat, who could protect a home from mice
  • Sobek, a god symbolized by a crocodile, who could protect children from Nile crocodiles.

4. Imhotep served as a vizier (among other roles) to Djoser, who reigned during the Third Dynasty. He constructed the Step Pyramid at Saqqarah in Memphis for Djoser, who was the first Egyptian ruler to be buried in a pyramid. After Imhotep passed away, he was deified and worshiped in the form of the Greek deity Asclepius.

5. The decline of the Old Kingdom period – which saw the adoption of the mastaba as a funerary practice – was at least partly due to a drought in Central Africa that eventually affected the Nile. The Old Kingdom period was followed by the First Intermediate period, where power devolved from the central government to various regions called nomes. During that period, each nome developed a distinctive artistic style.

6. Thirty squares comprised the “game board” in the ancient game of senet. Two players placed their game pieces on these squares; the objective was to be the first to move all of one’s pieces off the board. Each move depended on the outcome of throwing a stick. The ancient Egyptians believed that one needed to win a game of senet (relying on a combination of strategy and luck) after death to enter the afterlife.

7. Ushabti were small statuettes placed in the tombs of ancient noblemen. The Egyptians believed that after one died and entered the afterlife, deities could order them to perform various tasks – including menial tasks. By placing ushabti in their tombs, reincarnated noblemen could order them to assume the responsibility of performing such divinely appointed menial tasks.

The museum is relatively small, with only four galleries to peruse (along with a special exhibit on alchemy). I was pleased to encounter an entire section of one gallery that focused on Mesopotamia, as the ancient Egyptians traded with the Mesopotamians – thereby accumulating sundry items. I also appreciated the “curator’s notes” that were placed at the end of certain displays, which offered additional insights.

My only quibble with the museum was that many of the artifacts were only replicas from other museums (e.g. the British Museum), though I suppose each museum must operate within its constraints.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to tourists visiting the Bay Area.

Detroit Historical Museum October 8, 2018

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I recently visited the Detroit Historical Museum in Detroit. The museum showcases the history of Detroit.

Here are seven nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac founded the city of Detroit in 1701 (“detroit” is actually the French word for “strait”). Cadillac founded Fort Ponchartrain at the present-day location of Detroit; its namesake was the French Marine Minister. Fort Pontchartrain was replaced by Fort Lernoult after the Seven Years’ War. American forces took control of Fort Lernoult in 1796 and renamed it Fort Detroit.

2. The city of Detroit was devastated by a fire in 1805. Augustus Woodward played a critical role in the rebuilding efforts, creating a street plan modeled after the diagonal streets in Washington, D.C. The development of Detroit was spurred by several factors, including:

  • the construction of the Erie Canal, which reduced the travel time between Detroit and the East Coast
  • Lewis Cass, who extolled the virtues of Michigan to prospective pioneers; he served as the governor of Michigan Territory from 1813 to 1831
  • the construction of the Soo Locks, which connected Lakes Superior and Huron; the Lower and Upper Peninsulas furnished the timber, iron, and copper that was used to build railroads, ships and stoves.

3. African-American inventors with Detroit ties included:

  • Elijah McCoy, who invented an automatic lubricator, enabling the oiling of moving trains; his sundry innovations inspired the phrase, “real McCoy”
  • William Davis, who invented the refrigerator car; George Hammond bought the associated patent from him and used a refrigerator car to ship a load of beef to Boston.

4. August Fruehauf hitched a modified wagon to his neighbor’s Model T; that wagon served as the first “semi-trailer,” as it carried his neighbor’s pleasure boat. Some of Fruehauf’s other innovations included:

  • using hydraulics to develop dump trailers
  • developing the first refrigerated trailer, which featured a trap door above its ice and salt
  • the first container trailer that could carry liquids.

5. The discography for Motown includes several protest songs, such as:

6. Abolitionism in the United States extended to Michigan. For example, on the Underground Railroad, “midnight” and “Canaan land” were cryptonyms for Detroit and Canada, respectively. One of the conductors on the Underground Railroad, William Lambert, founded the “Colored Vigilant Committee” which was Detroit’s first civil rights organization. Finney’s Barn was one of the Detroit-area stops on the Underground Railroad; ironically, it was near a hotel that was frequented by slave catchers. In 1855, a personal liberty law was enacted in Michigan in response to the Fugitive Slave Act; it gave slaves the right to an attorney.

7. The Algiers Motel incident was sparked by police reports of sniper fire from the vicinity of the motel. One unarmed black youth was slain while lying in bed, while a second black youth was slain while obeying an order to assemble. A third black youth was slain while several policemen intimidated a group of seven blacks and two whites. Two all-white juries would later acquit one officer of murder and two other officers of conspiracy, respectively; both trials occurred outside Detroit.

The museum had a neat exhibit featuring toy trains at its basement level; I marveled at the skill that was required to assemble it. I also enjoyed an exhibit that highlighted machinery from an actual Cadillac plant, where a robotic arm repeatedly lowered a car body onto a chassis. In addition, I was enlightened by the exhibit on the fiftieth anniversary of the Detroit riots.

I don’t have any quibbles with the museum at this time.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to tourists in Detroit.

The Henry Ford August 6, 2018

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I recently visited The Henry Ford in Dearborn. This “cultural destination” consists of four venues that present a slice of Americana.

Here are fifteen nuggets that I gleaned from my time at these venues.

1. Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac may have been inspired by the color of the sediment in the Rouge River when he christened it. In 1915, Henry Ford built his Rouge Plant on wood pilings in its watershed. The Rouge Plant was the site of the watershed Battle of the Overpass in 1937. Today, the Rouge Plant has been ISO 14001 certified and has a “living roof” that consists of sedum.

2. The engine of the Model A had twice the capacity of that of the Model T. The Model A was the first car to be completely assembled at the Ford Rouge Plant and debuted in 1927. In contrast, the Great Depression impacted the design of the engine of the V-8; in particular, each V-8 engine was made from a single block of metal – reducing its weight and cost. Noted criminals John Dillinger and Clyde Barrow both wrote letters to Ford, praising the V-8 as a getaway car.

3. Ford’s observations of workers at meatpacking and textile plants spurred him to develop the concept of the assembly line. Initially, Ford’s employees labored for about twelve hours to produce a single Model T; the introduction of the assembly line reduced that time to roughly ninety minutes. Currently, about 1200-1300 F-150 trucks are manufactured on a daily basis at the Ford Rouge Plant.

4. Several innovators in Massachusetts contributed to the Industrial Revolution, including:

5. While the first colonists brought ladderback chairs to Colonial America, the Windsor chair only appeared in colonial homes starting in the mid-1700s; George Washington actually ordered a set of Windsor chairs for his estate at Mount Vernon. Innovations in chair design did not cease at that point, though. For example, the 19th-century inventor Lambert Hitchcock based his eponymous chair on the design of clocks in Connecticut. Also, the 20th-century designers Charles and Ray Eames were inspired by their work for the U.S. Navy during World War II when crafting their unique line of chairs; they used plywood and fiberglass to that end.

6. The farming industry has seen its share of successful – and failed – innovations, including:

  • the Fordson tractor that was designed by Ford in 1918; his intention was that it would serve as the “Model T” of tractors
  • the mechanical reaper that was patented by Obed Hussey; his fifteen minutes of fame were ended by the marketing campaign of Cyrus McCormick
  • the mechanical cotton picker with an innovative spindle that was designed by Daniel Rust
  • the grain drill, which allows planting before corn is ready to be harvested
  • the no-till harvester, which was developed in 1978.

7. In 1983, Atari buried about 750000 video game cartridges in the desert outside Alamogordo. Some of the buried cartridges were unsold copies of E.T. which was designed by Howard Warshaw in five weeks. E.T. is considered to be among the worst video games ever produced. Although Atari denied any knowledge of buried cartridges outside Alamogordo, they were eventually unearthed in 2014.

8. George Corliss invented his eponymous steam engine and fought a legal battle with Noble Tuckerman Greene over patents for a valve mechanism for speed control. William Seward served as Corliss’ counsel. When Corliss emerged victorious, Greene was obliged to wait until 1870 to market his steam engines, as Corliss’ patents expired that year.

9. Raymond Orteig offered a prize to the first person to complete a trans-Atlantic flight. Charles Lindbergh responded to this announcement by working with the Ryan Airline Company to modify its M-2 three-seater; for example, five fuel tanks were placed on the Spirit of St. Louis. Since Lindbergh wanted to travel light, he only packed five meat sandwiches, one flashlight, one rubber raft and one wicker chair for his landmark achievement; in fact, he did not bring a parachute or a radio.

10. Roy Allen operated a root beer stand in California before founding A&W Restaurants with his business partner, Frank Wright. “Tray boys” and “tray girls” provided curbside service at A&W drive-ins. Walt Anderson, who worked as an A&W fry cook, developed a novel approach for cooking hamburgers. He would later found White Castle with his business partner, Billy Ingram.

11. U.S. presidents have adopted diverse modes of transport, including:

  • Theodore Roosevelt’s brougham
  • Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Sunshine Special, which was modified to accommodate his disability
  • Dwight Eisenhower’s Bubbletop, which enabled crowds to view him even in inclement weather.

Also, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, an armored top was added to presidential limousines. Yet Ronald Reagan successfully requested that his limousine include a modified sunroof, which enabled him to stand and wave at crowds.

12. Orville and Wilbur Wright lived about three blocks from the first bicycle shop that they opened in Dayton, Ohio; they would eventually rent five different shops. They constructed their first prototype plane – in sections – in one of these shops; it was 40 feet long, 21 feet wide and 9 feet high. They then wrote to the National Weather Service (NWS) for advice regarding a suitable location for testing their prototype; the NWS recommended Kill Devil Hills, a windy locale with an abundance of sand that would prove useful in mitigating the effects of crash landings. They accepted that recommendation and then spent three years learning how to glide. On a side note, Orville Wright was invited to the dedication of Greenwich Village in 1929.

13. Thomas Edison held nearly 1100 patents during his lifetime. His first patented invention was an electronic vote recorder that was intended for use in state legislatures. He was supported in his endeavors by a capable staff, including his foreman, John Kruesi, and a talented chemist, Alfred Haid. Their innovations included:

  • a filament for an incandescent light bulb that was made from carbonized cotton fiber
  • a dynamo that could convert mechanical energy to electricity.

14. Henry Carroll was the head of one of the wealthiest families in antebellum Maryland. He owned about 200 acres of land, and he adhered to the standard practice of planting tobacco for three to five years – before allowing that parcel of land to lie fallow for about twenty years. His slaves were ingenious, using crushed oyster shells to repel vermin and creating whitewash from a mixture of salt, water and milk. Some of them subsequently escaped, declaring themselves as “contraband of war” to avoid re-enslavement; this was permitted by the Confiscation Acts.

15. Noah Webster included about 70000 words in his eponymous dictionary. He only invented one of those words, though: “demoralize.” A strict Calvinist, he viewed slavery as an economically inefficient endeavor – yet he was opposed to abolitionists’ acts of civil disobedience. He remodeled his home to include a first-floor bedroom for his wife; contemporary homes lacked first-floor bedrooms. As he disapproved of his son-in-law, he raised his grand-daughter, Mary.

This “cultural destination” is expansive, and I actually toured it over two days. I especially enjoyed my tour of the Ford Rouge Plant; the sight of workers playing their roles in assembling a Ford F-150 truck was humbling and awe-inspiring. I also enjoyed my stroll through the Greenwich Village, as the staff members were pleased to share various nuggets.

One point worth noting is that at the main venue, a 6-dollar parking fee is automatically added to the cost of admission; guests should request that this fee be removed if they do not park at that venue.

Overall I enjoyed my time at this “cultural destination,” and I would recommend it to those who happen to visit Michigan.

Motown Museum May 7, 2018

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I recently visited the Motown Museum in Detroit. The museum showcases the history of Motown.

Here are five nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. Berry Gordy Jr.’s father worked as a contractor, while his mother sold real estate. Gordy initially struggled to find a regular source of income; he worked on a Ford assembly line, received plaudits as a pugilist and even owned a jazz record store. Eventually he tried his hand at songwriting; when Smokey Robinson laughed at his meager remuneration of three dollars and nineteen cents, he was spurred to form his own company. He took out a loan of eight hundred dollars from his parents with the stipulation that he repay it within one year at six percent interest. He coined the term “Motown” for his new company in honor of his hometown.

2. Gordy spared no expense in developing his stable of talent, including:

  • purchasing an upright piano and labeling the keys to assist those who lacked formal musical training
  • hiring Maurice King to teach music theory and serve as a voice coach
  • hiring Cholly Atkins to teach choreography
  • hiring Maxine Powell to teach comportment.

3. The Miracles were one of the earliest Motown acts to achieve commercial success. Their lineup included Robinson and Claudette Rogers, who would later marry. Their hits included Bad Girl, which was their only release on the Motown Records label, and You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me. They also wrote the hit song My Girl for The Temptations. Last but not least, they broke a color barrier by performing on American Bandstand.

4. Gordy eventually moved to Los Angeles in 1972, as he wanted to use the silver screen to promote Motown. He co-produced the Billie Holiday biopic Lady Sings the Blues, starring Diana Ross, Richard Pryor and James Earl Jones. He also directed Mahogany, starring Ross and Billy Dee Williams. He would later write the book for Motown the Musical.

5. Gordy purchased seven homes on one side of West Grand Avenue in Detroit (and one home on the other side of that street) and repurposed them for his company. Recording sessions occurred in the renowned Studio A. Vocals and instrumental tracks were mixed in a control room, while another room was designated for billing and collection. One room contained a vault of master tapes. This set of buildings was later designated as a historical landmark in 1987. Gordy’s sister, Esther, founded the museum itself in 1985.

The exhibits in the museum can only be viewed in the context of a guided tour. That being said, our tour guide was friendly and well-informed. She related several anecdotes and even led us in several renditions of Motown hits, including Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

I don’t have any quibbles with the museum at this time.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to tourists in Detroit (supporting the theory that I advanced in the final paragraph of this post).

The Metropolitan Museum of Art October 29, 2017

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I recently visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The museum presents the history of various societies through the lens of their art.

Here are twelve nuggets that I gleaned from my time at the museum.

1. Many natives of Kwangtung migrated to present-day Thailand. They founded several kingdoms, including the:

They also practiced a conservative strain of Buddhism that was influenced by religious practices in Sri Lanka, as Muslim conquests of India marred its reputation as a stronghold of Buddhist orthodoxy.

2. Present-day Burma has been shaped by several kingdoms, including the:

The first king of Burma, Anawrahta, was a devout adherent of Theravada Buddhism. He also subdued the Mon people, enabling the Pagan to control Burma until it was toppled by repeated Mongol invasions.

3. The Srivijaya kingdom was a maritime and commercial power that originated in Palembang. It controlled the strategically vital Strait of Malacca. The early years of its influence overlapped with that of the Shailendra dynasty that controlled Java. The notable Buddhist monument of Borobudur was constructed during the reign of a Shailendra king.

4. The Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II rebuilt the city of Calah. His citadel was surrounded by a wall that was five miles long; it covered an area of 900 acres. It was guarded by two large statues; each statue included the features of a human, a bird and a bull. The extant reliefs from the citadel include a depiction of a sacred tree and Akkadian inscriptions; Akkadian was written in cuneiform script (“cuneiform” is derived from a Latin root that means “wedge-shaped”).

5. The Licchavi dynasty in Nepal actually originated in India. It was succeeded by the Thakuri dynasty; later, the Malla dynasty would rule over the Kathmandu Valley. Eventually the Kathmandu Valley was dominated by three city-states: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The Shah dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of Nepal, ruling until 2008.

6. The Chenla kingdom controlled much of present-day Cambodia. Later, Jayavarman II founded the Khmer Empire at Phnom Kulen. One of his successors, Yasovarman I, moved the Khmer capital to a location near Angkor. There, another Khmer ruler, Suryavarman II, constructed Angkor Wat. The Khmer Empire reached its greatest territorial extent under Jayavarman VII, who is often depicted with a protective naga, or snake spirit.

7. The Diadochi warred over Cyprus after the death of Alexander the Great. Eventually, Ptolemy I gained control over that island; he established his capital at Nea Paphos. The Cypriots would later devote themselves to the worship of various deities, including:

After Cyprus became a Roman province, Cicero briefly served as its governor.

8. The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula and The Denial of Saint Peter were the last two paintings of Caravaggio. The former work depicts the Hun siege of Cologne; the titular saint allegedly led eleven thousand virgins in an attempt to lift the siege, yet she was slain by an arrow fired by Attila the Hun. The latter work depicts a woman pointing two accusing fingers at the titular saint; a soldier is also shown pointing a third accusing finger at him.

9. The development of Norwegian art was facilitated by Norway’s declaration of independence from Denmark in 1814. Notable artists in this movement included Johan Christian Dahl and Peder Balke. Dahl’s status as the founder of this movement, though, overshadowed the contributions of Balke for many years. Balke successfully avoided military conscription by leaving his boyhood home for Stockholm. He would later travel to Dresden and study with Dahl. Some of his best paintings were influenced by his visit to the North Cape in Finnmark.

10. Kraters were large vases that often depicted prothesis – the laying out of the body of a deceased person while surrounded by mourners and soldiers in boats and chariots. Kraters exemplify the Geometric style and were often made from terra cotta.

11. The mao, the pi and the jian featured prominently on the battlefields of ancient China. In particular, the jian was optimized for close-range striking and stabbing. The rise of iron production during the Han Dynasty impacted the design and development of these Bronze Age weapons.

12. Inlaid celadon was developed during the Koryo dynasty, where slip was poured into carved clay and fired. During the Choson dynasty, buncheong ware was eventually replaced by porcelain, as it reflected the Confucian virtue of simplicity. The demands of the nobility for porcelain were met by the bunwon kilns near Hanyang.

The museum is expansive, and one can spend an entire day browsing through its numerous exhibits. I especially enjoyed the special exhibit that included a section on warfare during the Qin and Han dynasties; I was impressed by its detailed animal figurines and plethora of ancient weapons.

My only quibble with the museum is that the staff gradually closed the exhibits as the afternoon progressed. It would have been better to allow unrestricted access to the entire museum during its operating hours.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the museum, and I would recommend it to those who happen to be in the Big Apple.