Guided through Iowa History

     Recently, I had my fiance, Randy, meet me at the museum for us to tag along for a tour. Drew and Andrew were to give a tour to a group of local 5th grade students. We began in the entrance diorama of the Marquette-Joliet arrival in Iowa. The kids sat in front of the large display and asked questions about its contents. One little girl asked about the noises she was hearing. Of course, if you've been inside the museum and stood in front of the diorama, you know that you're surrounded by a few trees and leaves above your head and there's a distinct whistle of birds in front of the diorama. The children were looking around trying to discover the source. Drew just told her that the museum is set up to feel like you're actually out walking around in Iowa. Our University museum has a great interactive feature within those sections that include sound and outside elements that can make you feel more involved. As we pulled out of the entrance, we began our tour in the archaeology section of Iowa Hall discovering the past artifacts and the changing faces that were present in Iowa. The students visiting were pressed all the way up against the glass trying to identify different artifacts within the displays and asking Drew questions about the ones that intrigued them. Clearly the tour guides are well trained in touring with children and ask them questions and keep them involved and interested during the whole event.
     As we started to move towards the geology section of Iowa Hall, the group turned the corner and you could hear "Oooh" and "Awww" through the halls instantly. As you turn the corner, you're immediately faced with the Devonian era exhibit which houses the very dynamic Dunkleosteus, warmly referred to as "Dunky". As we moved through the geology exhibits, Drew was very able to pick and choose the pieces to talk about that the kids would enjoy the most. He was able to inform all of us about the grand history of our state and made the tour enjoyable for both the students and the adults chaperoning them. I learned lots of great new facts that I previously had not heard which included that the Meskwaki Indians sometimes settled disputes with a game of lacross. Finally, we made it to our last stop with Rusty the Giant Sloth. Rusty, clearly a treasured gem of our University, has been decked out in a Hawkeyes tie since the semester started. One of the students asked why it was there. With a little laugh, all Drew could respond with was that "he was dressed up for the semester". I think all of us University students forget how an outsider would view our common desire to dress up our beloved sloth!

"Dunky"

     After the tour ended, Randy and I were still in the mood to look around. So, we headed on up to Mammal Hall where Randy had not previously been. The minute you step into the hall, you can see a bit of the grand whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling. He wandered in and we viewed the skeletons and animals of the world on display. We took the trip through the auditorium and made our way to the Hall of Birds. Randy seemed to enjoy the Laysan Isand exhibit which quickly has become one of my favorites also. It's not only a unique set up, but also very well organized and a true gem of the University of Iowa as a personal quest done by a previous museum director. If you've never made it up to the cyclorama, it is quite the beautiful display. Finally, we ended up at the Biosphere off of Bird Hall where we watched some of the videos on the crisp updated displays in the biosphere, which is clearly the newest section of the museum. The displays are new and modern throughout that space. There are videos about archaeology in Iowa and methods used in archaeological digs.

Randy viewing the cyclorama

     Overall, the tour was a great success. See the information below taken from the MNH's website to learn more about scheduling a formal tour. Even if you've visited the museum several times, like me, you will absolutely see a new side of the museum by taking a tour with the well trained and informed tour guides! Any age and any group would great enjoy the experience. Until next time, keep exploring and let me know if there's any questions you've always wanted to ask and I will do my best to find you the answer!