Drum; Musical instruments; Musical instruments -- Korea; Percussion instruments; Dance; Folk dancing; Folk music -- Korea; Korea -- Rites and ceremonies; Korea--Social life and customs
This type of drum, called a sogo, is played by dancers while performing nong'ak, or instrumental folk music. The music is featured during village rites, shamanic rites, collective work sessions (such as weeding or planting) and as entertainment for...
World War, 1914-1918; Germany; Germany -- Politics and government -- 20th century; Military uniforms; Helmets; Prussia (Germany) -- History
Nothing stands out more in the history of military uniforms than the spiked helmet, or pickelhaube, which literally means "pimple hat." The pickelhaube was originally part of Prussian military headgear. The Prussian King, Friedrich...
This mineral, which can be found in white, blue, green, and violet, can be found in sedimentary and igneous rocks. The United States is the largest producer of fluorite, mostly from Illinois, Kentucky, Colorado, and New Mexico. It is used to smelt...
Quilts; Quilting; Quilting -- Patterns; Patchwork quilts; Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841; Indiana; Governors-- Indiana; Presidents; 19th century
The “Harrison Rose” quilt pattern can be identified by the triangular shapes that circle the outside edges of the roses. The Harrison Rose quilt pattern was popular in the Midwest from about 1840-1880. The pattern was named for William Henry...
Morpho; Butterflies; Insects; Butterflies -- South America; Butterflies -- Mexico
There are about eighty species of Morpho butterflies, all of which are confined to the neotropics, the area from the southern tip of South America up to Mexico. Not all of them can be found with the typical metallic blue coloring. As you can see,...
These insects are all cicadas from the tropics. Cicadas are rather large insects that have membranous wings. The males have sound-producing organs below the base of the abdomen which they use to attract a mate. Each species has its own distinctive...
Riley, James Whitcomb, 1849-1916; Indiana; Authors--Indiana; 1900s
One of James Whitcomb Riley's best known poems is "Little Orphant Annie." Annie, a girl who lived with Riley's family in Greenfield, Indiana when he was growing up inspired Riley. The poem was published in this book form in 1908. In 1924...
But Where Do You Sit? Frivolous, fun furniture in bright colors and kitschy themes expanded furniture's playfulness in the 1960s. Innovative Italian designers pioneered new ideas, materials and "anti-design" shapes in domestic...
Velociraptor is the Asian cousin to the North American Dromaeosaurus, both of which were two legged meat eaters. They were probably very fast, standing on two toes, and having a third toe which was curled back. On the end of this toes was a large,...
Caiman (Genus); Schneider's smooth-fronted caiman; Crocodiles; South America;
The Dwarf Caiman lives a semi-aquatic life, being found in swamps, ponds and lakes in Central and South America. They eat fish, crustaceans and mollusks. The length of adult males is about four and half feet long, with females being smaller. Adults...
Indians of North America; Seminole Indians; Seminole Indians -- Social life and customs; Toys; Dolls; Indian dolls
By the late 19th century, Seminole people created their own distinctive cotton patchwork clothing. This particular doll represents a Seminole woman in her patchwork outfit. The body is made from palmetto fiber. Palmetto are low-growing palms with...
These Japanese puzzles are called kumiki, meaning “to join wood together”. Because of the common threat of earthquakes in Japan, traditional craftsmen developed ingenious ways of interlocking wood joints rather than using nails to help ensure...
China; Clothing and dress; China--History; Dragons in art; 20th century
A man of nobility or royalty in the Chinese court probably wore this winter robe at the beginning of the 20th century. Made of black silk, embroidered with gold thread and lined with the fur of ermine, the robe is decorated with dragons, a symbol...
Computers; Computers -- History; Apple Computer, Inc.--History; Computer industry -- United States -- History; Apple II (Computer)
This 1984 Apple II home computer is an example of the first "user friendly" computer, the original of which was first developed in 1976 by Steve Wozniak and Steve jobs –a couple of electronics buffs in a California garage. The computer...
Dance; Clothing and Dress; Headgear; Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea--Social life and customs
Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the tropical island of New Guinea (which it shares with the Indonesian territory of Irian Jaya) as well as numerous smaller islands and atolls in the Pacific. The Blackwater River originates from...
Minangkabau (Indonesian people); Minangkabau (Indonesian people) - social life and customs; Indonesia; Sumatra (Indonesia); Dwellings; Models and modelmaking
The Minangkabau people live in the Padang highlands of West Sumatra. The typical way of constructing buildings in Southeast Asia is to build on stilts. Minangkabau houses called rumah gadang (large house) are unique because of their distinctive...
Buddha was once a living man named Siddhartha Gautama, a wealthy and privileged man. When he was 29 years old, Siddhartha asked his driver to take him to a local village so he could see how the common people lived. Shocked by the poverty and...
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...
Cliff-dwellers; Indians of North America -- Southwest, New; Pueblo Indians; Implements, utensils, etc.; Anasazi
The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) lived in the present-day Four Corners region, which includes New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. They lived in this area from AD1 and AD1300 and are thought to be the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians now...
T-shirts; Clothing and dress; Hip-hop; 1980s; 1990s
The 'hiphop' fashion of the 1980s and 1990s were heavily influenced by the music entertainment industry. Many of these fashions were either designed or promoted by rap artists. Fubu attire was designed by four black designers who wanted to create a...
