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Celebrate International Museum Day!
Ever since 1977, International Museum Day has been celebrated worldwide. Every year museums across the globe offer specials and programs around May 18 showcasing museums as institutions in service to society. In honor of International Museum Day, the The Wisconsin Historical Museum will offer free admission on Saturday, May 19. Visiting museums on International Museum Day is a sure way to participate in celebrating 40,000 years of diverse human creativity and universal heritage.
This year the International Council of Museums announced "Museums and Universal Heritage" as the theme for International Museum Day 2007. One tie that binds the cultural diversity of our society with a universal heritage is the concept of toys and play. Despite various family, religious or ethnic backgrounds, many of us share fond memories of the same childhood toys. The stories embedded in the memories of our toys help us share our respective and common heritage.
Many of the toys in the Toy Stories exhibit were not unique to the United States. Many, like the Hula Hoop, got their start overseas. People have been swirling hoops around themselves since Egyptian times, but the story of the Hula Hoop began in Australia when toymaker Alex Tolmer heard about a teacher who used bamboo rings to exercise her students. She called them Hula Hoops because they required the hip movements used by hula dancers. Tolmer struck a deal with WHAM-O to distribute the hoops, and sold 25 million of them after Hula Hoops appeared on the Dinah Shore show.
Lincoln Logs were inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright in Japan. Wright's son John became fascinated with his father's Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and its interlocking design. John Lloyd Wright produced his toy based on the same construction principles. Since their introduction, more than 100 million sets have been sold worldwide.
Toy Stories closes on May 26, so don't miss out on your chance to not only see the exhibition, but also to play with some of your favorites in the interactive toy area — for kids age 3 to 103! With free admission on May 19 and many exhibit-themed books and toys on sale in the museum store, there has never been a better opportunity to visit.
:: Posted May 14, 2007
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