White Glove Tours
If you used to visit
children's museums when you were younger, you'll remember the joy
of having the chance to touch and hold objects from exhibits.
Unfortunately, not all places can offer tactile learning for the
public; the fragility of museum objects allow for only
professionals to handle them, and very carefully at that. Staff at
some national historic sites, however, are working to introduce
more hands-on interpretation into their programs- educating the
public on how historical objects feel, and how to use the tools
correctly.
This new hands-on approach not only excites new interest in a
historic site, but also interprets the story and context of an
object in a different way. Additionally, staff can tell stories
that aren't featured in the exhibits.
This approach is not as easy as donning gloves and picking up
the nearest object. Careful planning and consideration go into
these types of programs. For one, many collections are fragile and
require expert knowledge on how to properly handle them. Certain
materials can snag on the gloves' material, while others might be
too delicate move. Fortunately, interpreters can tailor collections
they show for specific groups to better connect visitors to a
place.
The White Glove Tour at
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada, in
Baddeck, Nova Scotia, is an excellent example of an historic place
that offers exciting hands-on experiences to visitors. The museum,
which commemorates Bell's innumerable accomplishments as a teacher,
scientist and inventor, holds artefacts relating to his scientific
experiments in sound transmission, medicine, aeronautics, marine
engineering and space-frame construction. While on site, visitors
can hold artifacts from his collection - from his many experiments,
to his journals and diaries and even some of his clothes! All this
is done with the strictest rules of collection preservation.
Fort Calgary National Historic Site of Canada, in Alberta, is
another museum that offers hands-on interpretation of artefacts.
Built in 1875 as a North West Mounted Police post (later renamed
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police), the fort was the location for
what would become the City of Calgary. The police stationed here
were tasked with bringing law and order to the area, and to prevent
the illicit trade of whiskey. Visitors are permitted to handle
artefacts from throughout Fort Calgary's active years, learning
about local Acadian, Inuit and Prairie communities. Another
activity for visitors is to don a Sherlock Holmes' hat to
investigate luggage of early Calgarians!
At
Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, British
Columbia, interpreters engage visitors by showing a selection of
artefacts from the site's collection that are not usually available
to the public. The artefacts, including historic weapons such as
firearms, edged weapons, cannons, cannonballs, and tools for
blacksmithing, carpentry and coopering, relate to Fort Langley's
era as a Hudson's Bay Company fur trade post and to its role in the
creation of the colony of British Columbia. Visitors have a chance
to look behind the scenes at special items usually not on display,
and learn about Langley's history and stories. The fascinating
collection was acquired by a local group in the early 1900s.
Holding artefacts from a certain historical period not only
brings visitor and place closer together, but also offers visitors
a chance to learn. Visitors will learn about the care and
maintenance of such artefacts, a behind-the-scenes look at the
world of museums and historic places that many do not have the
opportunity to see. The explanations and stories related by the
interpreters connect visitors to the objects that they now hold in
their hands, bringing history to life. Check your local historic
places to see if you too, can get a real feel for history!