Comments on: "My Favorite Museum Exhibit": A collection of beloved collections http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 07:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: PressPlug http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1335427 PressPlug Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1335427 I realize this isn't quite a collection of artifacts per se, but it is a remarkable collection of 336 marble columns plundered or taken from the ruins of older cities. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Cisterna_Basilica_Junto_a_Santa_Sofia_Estambul_.JPG/800px-Cisterna_Basilica_Junto_a_Santa_Sofia_Estambul_.JPG They were repurposed in the construction of the Palace Cistern in Istanbul. According to Wikipedia, "is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey" Until the late 20th century they were filled with silt and used as makeshift hideouts. Once people realized what the structure was, the cistern was excavated, revealing a cavernous room. To visit it now, it has a ten foot pool of water with fish in it, and is well lit. When I visited I thought it was lovely and fascinating. Until I saw THIS. And now I cannot forget. In the far corner, hidden and upside down are two giant medusa heads, poking out of the water. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Basilica_Cistern_Constantinople_2007_011.jpg/226px-Basilica_Cistern_Constantinople_2007_011.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/3/30/20070811222546%21Basilica_Cistern_Constantinople_2007_011.jpg I realize this isn’t quite a collection of artifacts per se, but it is a remarkable collection of 336 marble columns plundered or taken from the ruins of older cities.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Cisterna_Basilica_Junto_a_Santa_Sofia_Estambul_.JPG/800px-Cisterna_Basilica_Junto_a_Santa_Sofia_Estambul_.JPG

They were repurposed in the construction of the Palace Cistern in Istanbul. According to Wikipedia, “is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey”

Until the late 20th century they were filled with silt and used as makeshift hideouts. Once people realized what the structure was, the cistern was excavated, revealing a cavernous room. To visit it now, it has a ten foot pool of water with fish in it, and is well lit. When I visited I thought it was lovely and fascinating.

Until I saw THIS. And now I cannot forget. In the far corner, hidden and upside down are two giant medusa heads, poking out of the water.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Basilica_Cistern_Constantinople_2007_011.jpg/226px-Basilica_Cistern_Constantinople_2007_011.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/3/30/20070811222546%21Basilica_Cistern_Constantinople_2007_011.jpg

]]> By: J Marshall Hart http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1334493 J Marshall Hart Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1334493 That panorama is my favorite museum piece as well. To get a view from above the scene you could go upstairs to a little balcony and look out but you had to walk through these hallways that were full of different kinds of snakes in tiny enclosures and they'd always be slithering up the glass and kind of freaking me out. That museum also had that cutaway tree with an opening to the outside so you could see bees making a hive in it. And another floor up, if my memory serves, there's Commanche, a taxidermy horse that was one of the few survivors of Little Bighorn.  That panorama is my favorite museum piece as well. To get a view from above the scene you could go upstairs to a little balcony and look out but you had to walk through these hallways that were full of different kinds of snakes in tiny enclosures and they’d always be slithering up the glass and kind of freaking me out. That museum also had that cutaway tree with an opening to the outside so you could see bees making a hive in it. And another floor up, if my memory serves, there’s Commanche, a taxidermy horse that was one of the few survivors of Little Bighorn. 

]]> By: Steve Wildstrom http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1333481 Steve Wildstrom Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1333481 Gallileo's mummified middle finger from the Museo Gallileo (formerly the Museum of the History of Science) in Florence. http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/MiddleFingerGalileosRightHand.html Gallileo’s mummified middle finger from the Museo Gallileo (formerly the Museum of the History of Science) in Florence. http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/MiddleFingerGalileosRightHand.html

]]> By: lux_aurumque http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1333477 lux_aurumque Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1333477 Oh man, when I was a kid, I used to LOVE going to the Streets of Old Milwaukee/European Village in the Milwaukee Public Museum. It was so very detailed: I loved peeking in all the windows, pumping the water, shopping for old candy in the general store... European Village: http://www.mpm.edu/exhibitions/permanent/eurovillage/ Streets of Old Milwaukee: http://www.mpm.edu/exhibitions/permanent/oldmil/ Oh man, when I was a kid, I used to LOVE going to the Streets of Old Milwaukee/European Village in the Milwaukee Public Museum.

It was so very detailed: I loved peeking in all the windows, pumping the water, shopping for old candy in the general store…

European Village:
http://www.mpm.edu/exhibitions/permanent/eurovillage/

Streets of Old Milwaukee:
http://www.mpm.edu/exhibitions/permanent/oldmil/

]]> By: David http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1333065 David Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1333065 The Panorama is fantastic, and as a diorama junkie it's now added to my list of places I must experience first-hand. Thank you! But "one of only three dioramas like it in the whole world?" Nearly every Cabela's store has extensive multi-habitat dioramas that seem almost as comprehensive (albeit limited to game animals) and as impressive as the Panorama, not to mention the even more impressive (to me) such displays at the giant Scheel's store in Reno NV, which includes massive fresh- and saltwater aquaria to boot. They're not museums, of course, but entrance is always free! The Panorama is fantastic, and as a diorama junkie it’s now added to my list of places I must experience first-hand. Thank you! But “one of only three dioramas like it in the whole world?” Nearly every Cabela’s store has extensive multi-habitat dioramas that seem almost as comprehensive (albeit limited to game animals) and as impressive as the Panorama, not to mention the even more impressive (to me) such displays at the giant Scheel’s store in Reno NV, which includes massive fresh- and saltwater aquaria to boot. They’re not museums, of course, but entrance is always free!

]]> By: Mister44 http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1333021 Mister44 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1333021 I LOVE fluorecent rocks! I have a hand held black light and a UV flashlight that I have used to find some specimens in decorative rock people have around their bushes, etc. Most of it glows orange and probably from calcite deposits. Nothing as cool as the 'real' stuff - but it's free! I LOVE fluorecent rocks! I have a hand held black light and a UV flashlight that I have used to find some specimens in decorative rock people have around their bushes, etc. Most of it glows orange and probably from calcite deposits. Nothing as cool as the ‘real’ stuff – but it’s free!

]]> By: journey46 http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332917 journey46 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332917 thanks, maggie, well done. you rock. for sure, one day, when the internet has been killed, someone will build an internet museum and you will be in it. might be a good time to get in good with a wax sculptor. you always inform and delight. keep on rocking ! thanks, maggie, well done. you rock.
for sure, one day, when the internet has been killed, someone will build an internet museum and you will be in it.
might be a good time to get in good with a wax sculptor.
you always inform and delight.
keep on rocking !

]]> By: cousin229 http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332777 cousin229 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332777 If you visit the Province of Alberta in Western Canada, remember to go to  The Royal Tyrrell Museum, it is located in Drumheller in the middle of the area where they are extracting dinosaurs bones from the soil! For me it was a dream come true!  http://www.traveldrumheller.com/royal-tyrrell-museum.html If you visit the Province of Alberta in Western Canada, remember to go to  The Royal Tyrrell Museum, it is located in Drumheller in the middle of the area where they are extracting dinosaurs bones from the soil! For me it was a dream come true! 

http://www.traveldrumheller.com/royal-tyrrell-museum.html

]]> By: StephenJJohnson http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332775 StephenJJohnson Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332775 Absolutely the best thing about the KU Panorama: the prairie dog that peaks out of its hole and ducks back down once a minute or so. Absolutely the best thing about the KU Panorama: the prairie dog that peaks out of its hole and ducks back down once a minute or so.

]]> By: cjporkchop http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332770 cjporkchop Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332770 When I was at KU, I remember a walrus in that diorama had a huge crack going through it vertically. It always made me sad. When I was at KU, I remember a walrus in that diorama had a huge crack going through it vertically. It always made me sad.

]]> By: Commodore Crush http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332759 Commodore Crush Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332759 Pft.  This is nothing compared to the Pencil Sharpener Museum:  http://blog.commodorecrush.com/index.php/2012/01/we-visit-the-pencil-sharpener-museum-seriously/ Pft.  This is nothing compared to the Pencil Sharpener Museum: 
http://blog.commodorecrush.com/index.php/2012/01/we-visit-the-pencil-sharpener-museum-seriously/

]]> By: gabsan http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332667 gabsan Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332667 biological dioramas must have been the rage in 1893, http://www.biologiskamuseet.com/ crappy wideo; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W29q0i7NfL8 biological dioramas must have been the rage in 1893, http://www.biologiskamuseet.com/
crappy wideo; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W29q0i7NfL8

]]> By: Substance McGravitas http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332449 Substance McGravitas Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332449 <a href="http://houseofsubstance.blogspot.com/2011/01/museum-of-dead.html" title="∈✹∋" rel="nofollow">The Beaty Biodiversity Museum</a> makes science as scary as it should  be. The Beaty Biodiversity Museum makes science as scary as it should  be.

]]> By: LightningRose http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332338 LightningRose Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332338 And spoil the fun of looking? :) If you ask at the entrance, they'll give you a list of the known elves/gnomes and where to find them. Or you can download a pdf here: http://www.dmns.org/media/214267/museum%20find-and-seek_revised.pdf And spoil the fun of looking? :)

If you ask at the entrance, they’ll give you a list of the known elves/gnomes and where to find them. Or you can download a pdf here:

http://www.dmns.org/media/214267/museum%20find-and-seek_revised.pdf

]]> By: Maggie Koerth-Baker http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332261 Maggie Koerth-Baker Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332261 He is, although he is taking up a lot less space in the museum these days. The floor that used to be all-Comanche is now mostly dedicated to a really great exhibit on evolution.  He is, although he is taking up a lot less space in the museum these days. The floor that used to be all-Comanche is now mostly dedicated to a really great exhibit on evolution. 

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332247 Noctilucent Studios Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332247 Wow....I had no idea. That could explain a lot actually... Too bad the guy who made the video didn't provide a little more context over which elf was where. Wow….I had no idea. That could explain a lot actually… Too bad the guy who made the video didn’t provide a little more context over which elf was where.

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332241 Noctilucent Studios Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332241 Wow....I had no idea. That could explain a lot actually... Too bad the guy who made the video didn't provide a little more context over which elf was where. Wow….I had no idea. That could explain a lot actually… Too bad the guy who made the video didn’t provide a little more context over which elf was where.

]]> By: LightningRose http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332230 LightningRose Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332230 I was thinking of suggesting the hidden gnomes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSbBrxAydm0 I, too, practically grew up at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (as it's now called), but that was before the newer exhibits with the gnomes were added. I was thinking of suggesting the hidden gnomes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSbBrxAydm0

I, too, practically grew up at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (as it’s now called), but that was before the newer exhibits with the gnomes were added.

]]> By: stand http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332209 stand Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332209 The museum is also famous for being the home of Comanche the horse from Custer's army that survived the Battle at Big Horn. I remember back when I went to school there that he got water damaged but I believe he is still there. The museum is also famous for being the home of Comanche the horse from Custer’s army that survived the Battle at Big Horn. I remember back when I went to school there that he got water damaged but I believe he is still there.

]]> By: Maggie Koerth-Baker http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332168 Maggie Koerth-Baker Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332168 My second favorite thing at the Dyche Museum: The little side room in the basement with the fluorescing rocks. You wouldn't even know it was there if you didn't know the museum. Go in, close the curtain behind you, switch off the lights, and voila: You're own private Pink Floyd laser light show.  My second favorite thing at the Dyche Museum: The little side room in the basement with the fluorescing rocks. You wouldn’t even know it was there if you didn’t know the museum. Go in, close the curtain behind you, switch off the lights, and voila: You’re own private Pink Floyd laser light show. 

]]> By: gregzilm1 http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332158 gregzilm1 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332158 I used to love this museum, it was always the highlight of any trip to Lawrence. For me my favorite part was the basement full of dinosaur fossils. I even did a week long archeology summer camp one year. Sadly, some how I made it through 5 years as a KU student without visiting the Natural History Museum once. I used to love this museum, it was always the highlight of any trip to Lawrence. For me my favorite part was the basement full of dinosaur fossils. I even did a week long archeology summer camp one year. Sadly, some how I made it through 5 years as a KU student without visiting the Natural History Museum once.

]]> By: jamsie http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332147 jamsie Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332147 I am really loving this museum series.  Thanks! I am really loving this museum series.  Thanks!

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2012/01/30/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-5.html#comment-1332139 Noctilucent Studios Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141236#comment-1332139 Maggie have you seen the dioramas at the Denver Museum of Natural History? Countless hours of my childhood spent in wonder at that place.  Really left a strong imprint on me. Awesome idea for a blog post btw. Maggie have you seen the dioramas at the Denver Museum of Natural History? Countless hours of my childhood spent in wonder at that place.  Really left a strong imprint on me. Awesome idea for a blog post btw.

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