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- Baseball Hall of Fame
Going to Cooperstown was a pretty amazing experience. I didn’t really think I would be all that into it. Even though I enjoy baseball I have never felt a need to visit the Hall of Fame. However, as I walked through the hall of plagues recognizing the great men (and one woman who I saw) of baseball was very exciting. I got goosebumps seeing the names of some of the greatest ball players in history. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, the number of plagues was astounding. They not only recognize great players but also great couches and umpires. We had a wonderful guide who gave us some information about bringing the hall of fame into our classrooms and also gave us some hard materials to take home. We were able then to go explore the huge building where I saw how baseball was used in art and the movies. We also saw tributes to great players and teams. I was moved by the area remembering the role woman played in the great American pastime during the second world war. I love that I can take this information home and use it right away with my kids. I can see how it will be a great tool for catching the attention of the boys as well as the girls. I enjoyed how they use baseball to teach lessons in so many areas such as math and geography. I think it will be a fun way to teach the different subject areas.
After leaving the Baseball Hall of Fame and having some lunch in Cooperstown, we went to the Fenimore Art museum. The museum had some really great exhibits that made you stop and think about history, both long ago and more recent. I enjoyed the Bodies, Bustles, and Lace exhibit with all the fashion pieces. The Magnum Collection made me stop and think about how some history is not that far in the past and yet it plays a huge role in our every day life. As I looked at some of the pictures in this collection I wondered if at the time some were taken the people in them or the people taking them knew how important they would become. I want my kids to understand that their actions will all become history. Some of that history will never be remembered but some might make a big enough impact that it will always be remembered.
The last stop of our day was at the Farmer’s Museum. It was a town that was set up and run like a town in the early and mid 1800′s would have. It was different than most living history museums I have ever been to because not only do they dress the part and work the part, but they run the entire town like it would have run in the 1800′s. Everything that is made or grown there is sold or used there. The people in each building are very knowledgable and will discuss what they are doing and answer any questions you might have. I wish we had had more time to explore this town and really get into the feeling of stepping back in time.
One of the experiences I can’t wait to share with my kids is the excitement we all felt as we were told we would be allowed to ride the carousal they have for the county fair experience! When the guide told us we would all get a chance to ride, the rush of energy was contagious as everyone pushed on looking for the best place to ride. Giggles echoed through the tent as we all clamoured onto a squirrel, horse, goose, or boat for a ride that would transport us back to childhood. I think it is important to share experiences like this with the kids so they can see that even adults still like to have fun. The carousel was put there in 2005 and was put together showing the state history of New York by over 1,000 volunteers. It was very neat to see the paintings around the inside as you rode around and around the wonderful piece of history.
