Themes in American History

When I explored “The Lost Museum”, I was surprised to find that even though this museum was a virtual space, from the digital 3-D technique, it likes a time machine, and bring you into 19^th century to experience the social life and the cultural history at the age. It was pity that the original museum was destroyed by fire in 1865, but from the website, we can learn something about the museum was the institution at the time, and it combined sensational entertainment, natural history in its menageries, taxidermy exhibits, paintings and so on. I surprised to find that there were some “unusual person” in the museum and it attracted people to visit the museum to satisfy their curiosities. As Barnum advertised the museum as the home of “millions of curiosities,” These unusual person like Nova Scotia Giantess-Anna Swan, who worked in the museum and she was more than seven feet tall and probably was the tallest woman at that time. The conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker from Siam, agreed to a six-week engagement at Barnum’s American Museum. The other especial person, Charles Sherwood Stratton was the four year old son of a Bridgeport, Connecticut, carpenter in 1842 when P.T. Barnum “discovered” him and transformed him into General Tom Thumb, an eleven-year old European marvel. Barnum trained the child to sing, dance, and imitate famous persons. Under the guidance of Barnum, Tom Thumb performed at the American Museum and toured the world as one of the best-known midgets. The special person’s performance became one of the attractive entertainments for people.

On the other hand, the museum not only tells us the entertainment but also the cultural history. For example the industrialization of Glassmaking, by the 1840s, glassmaking had shifted from a highly skilled craft to a more industrialized process. By the 1860s a “shop system,” involving gatherers, blowers, flatteners, and cutters had replaced the individual glass blowers common at the beginning of the century. Despite the growing industrialization of the work, glass workers maintained their skilled worker status and apprenticeship system through strong unionization. The three excerpts below describe the glassblowers’ skills and the industrialization process. The glassmaking reflected the technology and the science development. 

I think this website is interesting; it uses the 3-D technique to attract the visitors to explore the museum. But it also has its weaknesses, that there is not enough documents, and explanation for its exhibitions and the images for its paintings are too small that you will miss some artist history. But overall, the website is successful, not matter it is for education or for the entertainment.

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The “Lost Museum” website leads me to get into the 19th culture history of NYC. Through the video guide of the museum, I can feel that all those art works are the footprints of human from the industrial age to the 19th century, they witness our evolution. In this warm and romantic sitting room, the art of living in every location become touched detail. The woodiness flooring and the soft lights ensure the quietness and the stable room temperature.  The completed information is provided by the Museum website, as the pictures showed on the right hand side. On the 2nd floor, it displays visitor the pictures; and it provides the text  information to people on the 3rd floor. This website has illustrated features . The fire destroyed the Barnum Museum in1865, and it was permanently gone. I believe that it will be forever in people’s heart, because the history it witnessed is indelible.

From the Picture, we can see that  the young men who were standing in front of posters . As result of  wearing a shionable long sideburns,They have been  called Bowery boy or Soaplock.  Their jobs were to attract people to get attention on the posters whcih were behind them.

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Half fish, half human (is it possible?)

The lost Museum created by Barnun in the 19th century

I think that Barnun’s entertaiment in the 19th Century was original for the time. He was trying to combine what he thought about American History and a Freak show at the same time. Let’s be real, what is that fish thing in the picture above. He had a collection of birds and beasts living in the same cage happily that is odd. Besides I believe that if one went missing he replaced it right away. What I really liked a lot was the “Glass Steam Engine” even though, there is no clear picture of it, from an angle it looks amazing. The museum also have a small theater where there was different types of shows.

The museum tried to entertain and educate with exhibits on natural history, American history, and with attractions of enormous nature. What shocked me was that everyone was allowed to enter to the museum with the exception of African Americans until the Civil War. New Yorkers of diverse ethnic, gender, and class identities mingled in the museum’s shared cultural space. People likes entertainment of all types and shapes and this shows it.

One of the strengths of the museum website as a historical tools is that this museum was real. It entertain people in the 19th century. The main weakness is that most of the pictures that are available to see doesn’t have any type of description so people like me doesn’t know who they are or what they did in history.

Maria Leon

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The previous comment identified British as one of the most important figures of that time period. To this agree, with their removal of the native American and development of wall street they played an important role for NYC development. However in my opinion I think  that the development of the economic engine know as NYC  must be attribute to Petrus Stuyvesant. A house is only as strong as its foundation. Petrus Stuyvesant introduce a measure of control and organization in NYC. He focused on the Economic potential of the city as the central means of control and life setting the foundation for economic growth of NYC.

Thinking of what NYC is today, its wealth and riches, the most valuable asset is and would always be the diversity of its people.     Extensively the dutch acceptance of various religions and culture spawned the melting pot city that is known today. Their recognition of strength through diversity and trade has molded NYC into its unique diversity . This diversity makes  NYC as the most diverse place in the world. That is in my opinion the greatest event and accomplishment achieved in that time period.

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