Tag: museum

Calling all NPS History Buffs!

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The National Park Service has a long and storied history.  Starting with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, NPS has taken seriously its mission of preserving and protecting America’s natural resources and historical places for the benefit of current and future generations.  Over the years, the agency has collected more than four million artifacts, photographs, documents, uniforms, and other memorabilia that document the stories of our nation’s culture and history.  Most of those items are carefully stored and preserved at the NPS Harper’s Ferry Center in West Virginia, where few of us will ever be privileged to see them.

But now there’s good news for NPS history buffs – the agency’s history collection can be accessed virtually through a new behind the scenes experience. You can follow the guided tour or choose your own path to discover objects, art, photographs, and uniforms that span over 100 years of NPS history. 

Another fascinating resource is the NPS online museum collection, a searchable online database that provides access to thousands of images and records from numerous parks’ individual museum collections. You can simply browse the online database or search the themed collection highlights that group together the parks’ artifacts by particular themes, types of objects, or locations.  Each week, NPS features a Collection Highlight of the Week that can range from historic clothing to model ships to prehistoric artifacts.  (Warning – you can quickly get absorbed by these fascinating items and lose all track of time!)

Finally, teachers will want to check out the NPS online resource  Teaching with Museum Collections. The site provides lesson plans by theme and park as well as guides on How to Read an Object and How to Read a Photo.  

Happy snooping!

It’s Music to Our Ears

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Can you guess which of JNPA’s museum stores sells harmonicas, a guitar-shaped bottle opener, and a St. Louis license plate magnet?  If you said the gift shop at the National Blues Museum, you’re right!  JNPA has operated this unique retail location since 2019, and you’ll find it chockful of cool music-related products that are found nowhere else. 

Credit: Explore St. Louis

If you haven’t paid a visit yet to the National Blues Museum, it’s high time to treat yourself.  The museum celebrates the blues as the foundation of all modern American music with high-tech exhibits, unique artifacts from famous musicians, and a state-of-the-art concert venue.  It’s open daily from 12-5 p.m.

The site’s location in downtown St. Louis is intentional.  Situated along the historic Blues Highway (Highway 61), the city had an important influence on the evolution of blues music.  Musicians and song writers performed there as they traveled from the South to the recording studios of Chicago.

The museum traces the development of the blues and its various styles.  It recognizes the musicians who created the musical genre as well as those who contribute to it today. To keep the traditions alive, part of the museum is devoted to an intimate concert space where audiences can hear local and touring blues artists perform.  And at the Thursday night Sittin’ on the Porch jam sessions, aspiring blues players are welcome to bring a musical instrument and sit in with the pros during the musical numbers.

When you visit the National Blues Museum, be sure to stop by our handsome store.  We feature a wide range of blues-themed merchandise, from books, CDs and instruments to hip apparel, bar glasses and gifts.  For instance, check out this snazzy hand-painted glass ornament . Proceeds from product sales – either at the museum or from our online store – help support the educational mission of the museum.