Learning in London

The museum that I felt was most worthwhile to visit was the V&A. Our first walking tour encouraged me to take the time to go and see how Prince Albert's dream had developed. Exhibitions at the V&A are missionally defined as showcases of creativity, art, performance, and design. Every room I walked into was gorgeous. There were so many beautiful things on exhibit that I enjoyed simply standing in rooms and absorbing my surroundings. Exhibit halls are curated based on geography, time period, or subject matter. My favorite areas featured sculpture and funerary art. There were also interactive elements like when I had the chance to try on a hoop skirt!   While wandering through the museum, my travel buddies and I reflected on our class visits and discussed how best to visit a museum. We each agreed that it is often difficult to retain the information that we have read or seen in a museum after our visit. This is indicative of the different types of users that visit museums...

The Royal Observatory is situated at the top of a small hill and showcases a beautiful view of London's skyline. The observatory was commissioned by King Charles II in an effort to enhance nautical ventures with astronomical information. This included studies that would improve navigation and map making. Astronomers, their households, and other staff lived on the observatory property to conduct their studies. Today, visitors to the Royal Observatory have the chance to explore the living and working spaces of historic astronomers, view the tools they used, and stand on the Prime Meridian. The observatory is conveniently located next to a planetarium.  In reflecting on my time at the observatory, I remember that navigating the site was easy. An audio tour was available and exhibit signs were direct and informative. I felt comfortable exploring the site at my own pace and taking in the view. My favorite experience at the observatory was the camera obscura where I could watch a real ti...

  I was very excited to visit the National Maritime Museum as I used to intern at a maritime museum! That internship is what solidified my love for museum work and I credit the experience with placing me on my current career path. The museum I worked at focused on North Carolina's maritime history and coastal ecology. The National Maritime Museum shares the story of the UK's maritime history and global involvement. Topics of piracy, the slave trade, war, exploration, and current research were all addressed.  I arrived in the arctic exhibit section just in time to hear a presentation on Ernest Shackleton. The presenter was one of the most confident and engaging that I have ever witnessed. I was also very impressed with the level of interactivity and technology within the exhibits. Some displays had projections of ghostly figures wandering around model ships, others had maps that combined audio with visuals depicting sea voyages, and a kids' zone had an area to experiment wit...

  Kew Gardens preserves a botanic collection and is included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally created as a garden for the royal family, Kew is now a historic attraction and a site for botanic study and preservation. An estimated 20 staff work in Kew's archive and library. There is only one conservator on staff. Materials in the archive and library focus on plants and fungi from various regions as well as their conservation, notable botanists, site history, and landscaping literature. Objects in this collection include flat artwork, photos, artifacts, journals, and letters. User groups utilizing these resources are made up of Kew staff, students, researchers, and the general public. Those who wish to read items in the collection must make appointments, but walk-in visitors can come in and view displays.  An aspect of our visit to Kew that stood out to me was the fact that their archive and library faces the same collection challenges as many other historic sites I ha...

  During the class visit to Bletchley Park and the National Museum of Computing, I had the chance to learn about the UK's WWII history. Bletchley Park showcased the history of the Codebreakers who used computers to decipher coded German messages. Exhibits and tours through the places where those involved with code breaking lived and worked told the story of people who courageously tied their lives to secret work where their contributions remained unrecognized long after the end of the war. Their nation's security meant more to them than public acclaim. Standing where they stood brought this reality to life. The National Museum of Computing is in the same location as Bletchley Park and houses the largest collection of historic computers. These computers are still operable and are on display to document technological development.  Visits to both of these sites reaffirmed my opinion that volunteers make historic sites engaging and enjoyable. The passion that the walking tour guid...

One of my favorite parts of this cross cultural experience was the day trip to Stonehenge and Bath. Stonehenge is designated as a World Heritage Site. It is a monument from prehistoric times that continues to prompt study today. While it's full purpose to prehistoric peoples remains a mystery to scholars, it is an impressive testament to the technology and creativity of that time. The story of Stonehenge and it's creators is accessible to visitors via audio tours, a walking path around the stone circle, museum exhibits, and a Neolithic village. I admire how the site has been made so engaging. With a variety of things to do and see, visitors are prompted to consider our prehistoric ancestors and become curious about the origin and construction of the monument. I think that the site is well put together to appeal to the interests of different types of visitors while preserving history.  I wish that we had more time to experience Bath. It was beautiful city with a relaxed atmosphe...