So, just 5 years back I learned about wax museums…I knew about the ones that have wax figures that you pay an admission price for, that are works of art, but this was different. This was children acting out the part of a historical figure in history as a school project. Now we are not only talking about presidents, astronauts and heros that we know but many others too. People that I hadn’t heard of before (or slept with my eyes open during that lecture) were many and so I learned from the children that came in to chose a costume…some of these people in history that I had never heard of were inventors (Elijah McCoy), early warning riders (Sybil Ludington), and pioneers (Queen Bess Coleman) I never heard of these wonderful folks before the little people came into my shop requesting costumes…they have delighted and educated me as to the huge world of fun history out there. (and I continue to learn)
In case you don’t know (and I didn’t ), here’s how a wax museum works:
1. the teacher gives the child a character in history to portray (or the child gets to choose)
2. The child does research into the character and time in history wherein they wish to portray their character
3.They dress like the character in a wax museum program where parents and other students visit. (which is where I come in with my Costume Shop)
4. The visitor to the museum pushes a button or tag placed on the child (wax figure standing very still) and they come to life as the historical figure…i.e. – I am Sybil Ludington, known as the female “Paul Revere” . I was born in …
5. The child goes on for about a minute and we learn and are entranced with history (which I always found to be a bit of a bore as a youth)…the child has history come alive with insight and color…the observer is delighted by this mini museum of knowledge that is fun and much like a play.
This is one more facet of “the costume shop”…we are not just Halloween…we exist for much more….plays, school projects, business presentations and so much more.
So as much as I thought I was done learning my ABC’s and the history of our world, I am not, thanks to my little shop and the wonderful folks who continue to educate me…my customers!
(shown left is one of them…can you guess who he might be…a famous composer)
Till next time…this is the local Queen of Costumes saying History can be fun!
Happy regards,
Nacheska
