Indians of North America -- Dwellings; Woodland Indians
Long ago, before trade brought different goods and lifeways to this region, Native Peoples of the Woodland area made their homes, wiikiaami, from strong wood frames with natural coverings. This contemporary model was made from the traditional...
Tutankhamen, King of Egypt; Ships; Ship models; Egypt--Civilization--To 332 B.C.; Egypt--Social life and customs--To 332 B.C.; Egypt--Antiquities
Model boats like this royal ship were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen, pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt (ruled 1334 BC/1333 BC – 1323 BC) during the period known as the New Kingdom. Such boats were probably meant to assist the...
This is a model of a Mongolian home called a yurt or ger. It is said that Mongolians do not appreciate the term yurt as much as ger, because yurt is the term used by Western invaders. Many Mongols are nomadic people, thus ger make wonderful homes...
Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), 1836-1911; Sullivan, Arthur Seymour, Sir, 1842-1900; Opera; Nineteenth Century; Music; Musical theater; Theaters; Savoy Theatre
Englishmen Sir William Schwenck Gilbert and Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan joined their talents of librettist (writer of operas) and composer to create fourteen operettas between 1871 and 1896, paving the way for modern musical theater. Their...
This toothpick sculpture is a model of the "Huey Hog" helicopter used during the Vietnam War. Terry Woodling used over 8,500 toothpicks in 1991 to finish his model. As a teenager, Terry taught himself to build airplanes. Few people build...
Airplanes; Airplanes -- Models; Toys; Paper toys; 1940s; World War 1939-1945
General Mills cereals made these toy model airplane kits complete with instructions in 1944. When tin toys were so popular, why would the toy be paper? During World War II (1941-45 for the United States), kids as well as adults had to "make...
Coal; Coal miners; Coal mines and mining; Nineteen thirties; United States. Work Projects Administration; Depressions -- 1929; ; New Deal, 1933-1939
This bituminous (soft) coal model demonstrates the types of soil and rock underground and how coal is mined in the 1930s. It was created as part of the WPA (Works Projects Administration) during the Great Depression. The Children’s Museum of...
What would you do if you couldn’t go to the fair? In the late 1930s, a 7-year old boy with polio couldn’t go to the county fair not far from Vincennes, Indiana. His neighbor promised to bring the fair to him. The model includes a carousel, a...
Taxis (Vehicles); Models and modelmaking; Bicycles; Khatmandu (Nepal); Khatmandu (Nepal) -- Social life and customs; Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Its streets are overcrowded with gasoline and diesel-run cars, motorcycles and auto-rickshaws, filling the air with pollution. Due to the overcrowding, many people travel by bicycle...
Toys; Transportation; Railroads; Railroads -- Models; Lionel Corporation; Bridges; New York (N.Y.); East River (N.Y.); 1920s
This Lionel toy bridge is a beautiful copy of the real Hellgate bridge located just north of New York City. Lionel carefully replicated the 1917 bridge that crosses the East River. Despite the proper name of East River Arch Bridge, the bridge is...
Jammu and Kashmir (India); Houseboats; Boats and boating; Boats and boating -- Models
This boat model is from Kashmir, in the far north of India. A houseboat like this might have belonged to Maharajah (Indian royalty). The main boat is fitted with furnishings to make the occupants comfortable. The small boat that follows houses the...
Imagine sailing on the British H.M.S. Victory in 1805 during the Battle of Trafalgar between Britain, France, and Spain. Can you hear Admiral Nelson's commands above the ship's 120 cannons? Dr. James Hamacker made this ¼ inch scale model of the...
Thomas Hall, an engineer, introduced his very successful typewriter in 1881. Does anything look strange about this one? Instead of having keys that the operator pushes down, one places the small stylus over the correct letter while the other hand...
Toast for breakfast anyone? The “Universal” model by Landers, Frary and Clark featured electric heating for even toasting and two swinging doors that opened for easy removal of warm toast. Electric toasters became available about 1895, though...
Pagodas; Models and modelmaking; China; Soapstone; Architecture -- China
Chinese architecture relies on symmetry and balance. Buddhist temples, other than the Great Wall of China, are among the most recognizable architecture in China. The pagoda is a type of Buddhist building that mainly housed sacred objects. These...
Using a little imagination, an unknown railroad hobbyist made this bridge using Carlisle & Finch track between 1900 and 1945. Similar to the company’s No. 57 cast iron bridge, this bridge uses track, wood, electrical wire and paint. The...
Thailand; Thailand - social life and customs; Dwellings; Models and modelmaking
Stilt houses are raised on stilts over soil or a body of water. These houses in Thailand are made of bamboo with harp angled roofs and wooden floorboards. The ceiling is typically high to provide good ventilation. The mattress would be laid on the...
Automobiles -- Models; Gordon, Jeff, 1971-; Automobile racing; NASCAR (Association); Stock car racing -- United States; Automobile racing drivers; Souvenirs (Keepsakes)
Jeff Gordon is also known as the “Wonder Boy” for his many racing accomplishments. He began racing when he was 5 years old, and his family moved to Indiana when Jeff was 15 so that he could pursue a racing career. In 1993 he was named the...
Planetariums; Solar System; Planets; Models and modelmaking; Germany
Made to represent how the planets in our Solar System orbit around the sun, orreries were regarded as essential teaching tools for Eighteenth Century lecturers of science. In 1713, under the patronage of Charles Boyle, Earl of Orrery, clockmaker...
Toys; Helicopters; Models and modelmaking; Vietnam; Art -- Vietnam; Folk Art -- Vietnam; Nineteen nineties
Toys made from recycled materials have developed into an art form all their own in many parts of the world. Sometimes, children make them to play with. However, often times, teenagers and adults create them to sell to tourists or to distributors of...
