Expo Tuhogar

Amit Kumar asked:


While enjoying your travel, it is also interesting to visit some educational places like the museums. Generally, when we speak of museums, many of the travelers would think that it is a boring kind of experience. However, why settle to those less interesting museums? Listed below are the few of the most unusual and interesting museums in the world that I am sure every traveler would enjoy visiting.

Museum of the medieval tortures in Prague – this museum is perfect to those who love to know the historic way of punishing people who have did something wrong to the government. Visitors in this museum will get the 45 minutes chance to be introduced with the 60 instruments use in torturing with the full details of how the said instrument work during the torturing and the next event happened to the person tortured by the said instrument. At the cost of $12, you will learn a lot from this amusing and unusual museum from Prague.

Museum of Bad Art in Boston – this is the home of those terrible painting artwork. Well at least if you knows nothing about art, you will now see the difference between a good and a bad work of art. For sure, those who are not knowledgeable with painting will definitely find it still beautiful and artistic. You might think why there is a museum for bad art. Founder Scott Wilson has apparently got a good taste for everything that stink that is why the moment the horrible “Lucy in the Field with Flowers” painting by an unknown author appeared he have thought of creating a museum wherein the said painting was the masterpiece. If you love paintings, visiting the Museum of Bad Art will let you enjoy about 400 works with no entrance fee.

The Three Musuem Of *** in Amsterdam, Paris, and Iceland – In the red lights district of Paris you will see The Parisian Musee de l’Erotisme that is located in a seven storey building in Quartier Pigalle. This *** museum is famous of its numerous *** shops, and the cabaret Moulin Rouge can also be seen in this place. You will also see various ****** items in this place including those coming from South Africa and Asia. Seeing all these ****** items will only cost you $12 for entrance. In Amsterdam on the other hand, you can visit the Museum in Amsterdam or the Venus Temple wherein various paintings, sculptures, manuscript and unusual ****** toys are presented. You will definitely find them ticking and exciting. See these items at $5. In Iceland, get the chance to visit The Museum of Phallology, which is located in a small town called Husavik. In this museum you will see about 250 kinds of phalluses, all natural, dried, and hung on the walls or been preserved in alcohol. People say that these are phalluses of every mammal in Iceland. Founder Hjartarson started his collection in 1974 that also includes salted horse penises. If you will visit the museum, you will see one empty glass, this is intended to host for a human’s example and has been already granted to the founder of the museum. At $7.50, you will see all of these phalluses.

Anna Poelo asked:


Among Boise’s many featured and famous museums are the Idaho Black History Museum and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center. These two museums differ from the rest of the museums in Boise by dedicating itself to the history and culture of their respective communities.

The Idaho Black History Museum was founded in 1995, built to educate people about the history and culture of African Americans, especially the African Americans from Idaho.  It now stands at the former St. Paul Baptist Church Building at Julia Davis Park. St. Paul is one of the two African American churches founded by the Boise people, and is one of the oldest buildings built by the African Americans of Boise. It was a gathering place for the African Americans of Boise long before other social gatherings were established. The church was given to a preservation committee when the St. Paul congregation moved to a new church in 1993, and two years later ws the birth of the Idaho Black History Museum.

The Basque Museum and Cultural Center, on the other hand, focuses and promotes the history and culture of the Basque communities in Idaho. It was established in 1985 at the historic Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga House at Grove Street. It is here where the museum grew and flourished. More artifacts and exhibits were shown and developments were made to the place because of the need for more space and exposure. As the years went by, the Basque Museum and Cultural Center grew more and more with many dedicated people investing in making it  a proud cultural institution in Idaho.

The Basque Museum and Cultural Center aims in promoting and interpreting the rich and colorful history of the Basque communities, their origins, and their life in America. It aims to preserve Basque history and tradition by researching and educating the people about the background of the Basque communities and the Basque collections.

The museum includes history archives, a library, records and tapes, manuscript materials, artifacts and photographs. The museum also branches out to supporting the Basque community in the area, like, for instance, establishing the first Basque preschool, the Boiseko Ikastola. Currently, the museum is focusing on offering more services to the community such as educational programs, technological improvements, and more Basque social activities.

The Idaho Black History Museum is evidently promoting the same things, and others. Aside from promoting awareness to the people of Idaho, the museum also presents educational and community outreach programs such as literacy programs, workshops, and musical performances.

These two aren’t the only notable museums in Boise, Idaho. The Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Historical Museum, and the Discovery Center of Idaho are among the featured places to go to when in Boise. However, if you’re interested in learning about the different communities in Idaho, especially the African American and Basque communities, then the Idaho Black History Museum and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is just right here in Boise, waiting to educate and share with you the history and culture of the communities.

andrew.regan.2006@googlemail.com asked:


Sir William Bragg, the eminent physicist, once stated, “The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.” The profundity and truthfulness of this statement seems nowhere more relevant than in the National Science Museum in London - one of the country’s most loved historical institutions. As part of the National Museum of Science and Industry, the Science Museum is more than a tourist attraction for London’s many visitors: it preserves some of the world’s most impressive scientific artefacts, while constantly showcasing new talent and the latest in scientific innovations from across the globe.

The Science Museum first opened in 1857 from the collection of the Royal Society of Arts, as well as surplus items from the Great Exhibition of 1851 to promote the achievements of science and technology. Initially created as part of the South Kensington Museum, the museum went through several incarnations before being officially titled the Science Museum in 1885.

Today, the Science Museum holds over 300,000 exhibits. Its most famous items include Stevenson’s Rocket, an early steam locomotive built by George Stevenson in 1829, James Watson’s model of DNA and Charles Babbage’s Difference engine, a special-purpose mechanical digital calculator. The Museum itself is made up of a series of permanent and temporary galleries, including ‘Space’, a historical gallery that tells the story of human space exploration, ‘Flight’, which contains a number of aeroplanes and helicopters, and ‘Making the Modern World’, a new gallery which houses some of the museums’ most iconic collections.

Since December 2001, the museum has been free to all visitors, and is therefore a popular attraction for families in Britain. In fact, the Science Museum also organises “Science Night” - described as an “all-night extravaganza with a scientific twist”. On these evenings, up to 380 children aged between 8 and 11 are allowed to spend an evening in the museum performing enjoyable, science-based activities before being allowed to spend the night among the exhibits. In the morning, the participating children can awake to breakfast in the museum, more scientific-based fun and an IMAX film - an altogether unforgettable scientific experience!

But the Science Museum doesn’t simply provide a place for children to learn and play amongst some of the world’s most important scientific developments: it also opens up forums for controversial scientific debate. The Dana Centre, a groundbreaking urban bar and café, was opened in 2003 in an annex to the Museum, and is currently the UK’s only dedicated scientific discussion venue for adults.

As an integral part of the National Museum of Science and Industry (which includes York’s National Railway Museum and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford), the Science Museum plays a crucial part in the scientific education of much of Britain’s population.

If you’re hoping to visit the Science Museum, you’re sure to find a range of London hotels located in South Kensington through a variety of online travel sites. So choose to spend a day - or a night - in the Science Museum, not just because it provides fun for children and adults alike but because, as an institution of scientific progress and learning, it’s virtually unparalleled.

Cary Ordway asked:


Sacramento is not just any old state capital — it’s also a virtual theme park for historians, art lovers and just about anyone else who wants to learn more about the state of California.

It’s tempting to say it’s a theme park for adults - but it’s really not just for adults. In fact, a visit to Sacramento probably will be one of the most beneficial field trips your youngsters will ever take. They’ll learn about government, the Old West, railroads, Native Americans, the Gold Rush and several other subjects featured in dozens of Sacramento exhibits and museums.

We stopped by the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, where we obtained maps and a long list of attractions in the city. The CVB is just around the corner from highlights like the Governor’s Mansion and the many beautifully maintained Victorian homes and architecture found throughout the downtown area.

We then drove over to take the obligatory pictures of the State Capitol Building, keeping an eye out for California’s movie-star governor. But, alas, no Arnold at either the Capitol or the Governor’s Mansion — although we’re told the governor is frequently spotted having lunch at the Esquire Grill or dining at Lucca and Biba restaurants. In any event, the State Capitol Museum makes the stop more than worthwhile with its exhibits and artifacts from the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and a newly unveiled 3-D movie on the disaster.

Nearby we found several other museums to explore. For example, the Crocker Art Museum is located in one of the city’s most beautiful Victorian homes and is, in fact, the oldest art museum in the West. Founded in 1873, the museum today displays original European and master drawings as well as 19th-Century California paintings, sculptures and Asian art.

We stopped in the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts, which offers colorful and descriptive displays about many of the women who have been instrumental in helping California grow to its present stature. As with most museums we visited, visitors could spend several hours in just this museum soaking up fascinating facts about the Golden State.

For history buffs, maybe the best place in town to go is Old Sacramento, which has a number of museums including the California Military Museum, Discovery Museum History Center, the Old Sacramento Interpretive Center, the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum and the Wells Fargo History Museum.

Topping the historical list is the California State Railroad Museum which is said to be one of the country’s best railroad museums. The 100,000-square-foot museum features many actual railcars as well as various real locomotives. You can see what a 19th Century train station was really like with a very authentic replica right on the premises.

We were amazed by the Railroad Museum because so many different types of rail cars and locomotives were on display indoors all in one place. The trains are in tip-top condition and you can always find one of the museum’s volunteers to explain how this or that worked or why this particular steam engine was important. There is an elaborate model railroad upstairs as well as exhibits explaining the history of model railroading. We’ve got to say this museum was a favorite for both the adults and kids in our crowd.

Old Sacramento, as one local visitor official told us, was once the skid row of Sacramento until, in the 1960’s, a major re-development project was initiated to restore many of the historic buildings and attract new business into the area. The history of Old Sacramento dates back to 1839 when this became the first commercial settlement in the area. When gold was discovered in nearby Coloma in 1849, the business community along the Sacramento River began to boom. Local miners had to have such services as hotels, saloons, outfitting stores and bathhouses.

Nowadays, Old Sacramento is bringing back that early atmosphere and everyone seems to love it - it now attracts more than 5 million visitors each year. Although we noticed several commercial vacancies in the area, that might just be because Old Sacramento is now considered one of the most expensive places in Sacramento to do business.

The area has been restored with cobblestone streets, gaslamps and wooden sidewalks, and you do get the feeling of walking through a town from the Old West. Of course there are a few tip-offs that this particular Wild West town has been somewhat tamed: T-shirt shops seem to abound and there are plenty of candy and chocolate stores, not to mention pizza and just about anything else today’s explorers may want to eat.

The shops in Old Sacramento - no matter how tacky some of them may be - are almost all housed in historic buildings. Among those 53 buildings still standing is a firehouse built in 1853, California’s first threater, and the B.J. Hastings Building which was the western terminus for the Pony Express.

For a unique overnight adventure in Sacramento, try staying on board the Delta King, an early 20th Century paddle-wheeler riverboat. The boat once offered prohibition-era drinking, jazz bands and gambling for its fun-loving passengers and, just like passengers back in the 1920s, today’s guests enjoy enchanting river views, great food and drink and a cozy stateroom unlike any other accommodation you may have experienced. But unlike those early passengers, you will have to be content with scenery that remains pretty constant. The Delta King isn’t going anyplace anytime soon.

On this particular visit, we stayed overnight in a great choice for landlubbers, the Hilton Sacramento Arden West. About five miles from Old Town, the hotel is located in the Point West part of Sacramento and is a particular favorite with business travelers because of its endless amenities and typical Hilton upscale, polished look and feel. We found the spacious rooms to be tastefully decorated and well insulated from any street noise. With its marble counters, pillow-top mattresses and 250-threadcount linens, this hotel proved to be a luxurious respite after a long day of museum-hopping in Sacramento.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Sacramento is about 85 miles northeast of San Francisco and 385 miles north of Los Angeles in the San Joaquin Valley.

WHAT: Sacramento is the state capital of California and the home of the state’s governmental offices. Numerous museums, exhibits, historical buildings and other attractions make the city a popular travel destination.

WHEN: The climate is moderate in Sacramento so visits can be planned anytime of year. Check ahead to see when the Legislature’s in session if you would like to see government in action.

WHY: You’ll find many attractions located in a close area, most of them quite illustrative of early Californian history.

HOW: For more information on Sacramento, contact the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-292-2334 or visit www.discovergold.org.

George Papas asked:


The construction of a new Acropolis museum is an idea that dates back to the ’70s. It was initially tied to the longstanding demand for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum to Greece. It was meant to counter the argument that Athens lacked the facilities to house the remarkable marble sculptures. After years of delays a new committee was set up to oversee the project under professor of archaeology Dimitris Padermalis. Further delays and some controversy on both architectural and archaeological issues related to the project ensued, and the museum finally broke ground on 2004. Its initial construction was completed in 2007

The project was undertaken by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, Dean of Architecture at Columbia University in New York. Working with his Greek colleague Michalis Fotiadis, he tried to overcome several problems at the site (the small size of the lot, the archaeological finds underneath the soil) and create a museum that was light and “alive”. The end result is a simple, clean building with a spectacular view over the sacred rock. British daily Guardian called it “orchestrated simplicity”, and added “a visit to the top floor will be a journey into the world of cultural politics and propaganda, as well as great art.” The museum features 21.000 sq. meters of space, of which 14.000 sq.m. are exhibition space, ready to welcome over 4000 exhibits. There are two basement levels, three stories and an open-air space that operates as an open museum/ dig. The entire building is set on top of one hundred thin cement pillars, hovering over an entire ancient suburb that was unearthed during the excavation of the site. The dig will be visible through the transparent glass floors of the museum’s entrance and the balcony.

The gift shop will be located on the ground floor of the museum. A space for temporary exhibitions is also located there. The first floor will feature exhibits from the Archaic to the Roman era, while the second will feature sculptures from the old Acropolis Museum, as well as a multimedia hall, a bar and a restaurant with a spectacular view at the Acropolis.

The last floor, the one with the large glass openings, is “twisted” by 23° compared to the rest of the building. This way, it is exactly parallel to the Parthenon itself. The most important exhibits of the museum, the Parthenon sculptures and the parts of the frieze that survive will be on display there. The visitor can look at them, then turn around and look at the Parthenon Itself, and imagine them in their original context. There’s also a space designated to welcome parts of the frieze currently located at the British Museum. Copies of those sculptures, covered with transparent veils, will be displayed there. Until, that is, the originals are returned. Bernard Tschumi was adamant on the subject - he likened the frieze to a novel whose pages have been scattered around the world. “Their absence from the museum can playa significant part to their return”, he says. New York Times architectural critic, Nikolai Ouroussof, agrees. “It’s impossible to stand in the top-floor galleries, in full view of the Parthenon’s ravaged, sun-bleached frame, without craving the Marbles’ return”, he writes.

The building is an impressive, modern one. Built of stainless steel and glass, it has a distinct high-tech, extroverted character. Some called it “too modern”. Tschumi replied:

“Some people have said it is disrespectful to the Parthenon not to have Doric columns on the new museum, but I am not interested in imitating the Parthenon. I am interested in achieving that level of perfection in my buildings, and for early twenty-first-century architecture to match it in its own way”.

The New Museum cost about 130 million euros, and will be officially inaugurated in March 2009, with a spectacular opening ceremony. The transfer of 4246 exhibits weighing 297 tons from the Acropolis is being completed as is the repatriation of several sculptures from other Greek and foreign museums. The ground floor has been open for several months, and is ready to welcome its new “symbol”, the sculpture of an owl, the sacred bird of Athena. The old museum up on the hill will be converted and display sketches, posters and photographs that showcase the temple as it used to be in the past.

You can visit the New Acropolis Museum daily from 10:00 to 17:00. On Thursdays the museum is open from 10:00 10 22:00, and on weekends from 10:00 1015:00. You can gel a sense of the architecture and see the open-air dig below the glass floor as well as the temporary Nostoi-Nostoi exhibition in the ground floor.

(New Acropolis Museum, D. Areopagitou Str., tel.: 210-9241043)

Cary Ordway asked:


There’s no doubt that travelers along Interstate 215 just south of Riverside have noticed the collection of military and vintage aircraft a short distance from the freeway, but those who have not bothered to stop are truly missing something. The March Field Air Museum is a remarkably detailed look at the history of aviation and, in particular, the use of aviation in modern warfare.

Sprawling alongside the runway at March Air Force Base are more than 60 aircraft of all sizes and shapes, from little single-engine prop planes to the mammoth B-52 bomber. And then, just a few steps away is the indoor museum that tells the story of how aircraft were first used in warfare and how they have become a vital part of our nation’s military power. Thousands of artifacts are on display to bring it all to life.

Our afternoon at the museum turned out to be one of the most entertaining and informative museum visits we can remember. We hadn’t really heard much about the museum, even where we live in the San Diego area. But we had noticed those airplanes on various drives northward, and this time we decided to stop.

On this sunny Saturday, the rather sizeable parking lot was about two-thirds full ‘ so word about the museum is getting out somehow. The visitors we saw seemed to fall in two general categories: retirees who we guessed may have had some military background, and families of all sizes. It was obvious that kids of all ages were eagerly exploring one aircraft after another, climbing up to look into the cockpits, examining the bomb doors or landing gear and just gazing at some of the larger aircraft with a look of amazement.

Upon entering the museum visitors are given a map of the museum floor as well as the aircraft displayed outdoors on the flightline. Rather than just displaying airplanes, the museum has organized a sequential series of exhibits that take visitors through the 20th Century beginning with World War I and the creation of March Field in 1918. A call had gone out from our forces in Europe that the Germans were having great success in the war with their new “flying machines.” Congress then appropriated money for the development of more fighting aircraft and, as part of that package, several training bases were funded, including March Field.

As it turned out, March Field was opened just a few months before the end of the World War 1 and, while training continued for a few years, the base all but shut down in 1923. It re-opened in 1927 and was then used to train some of the U.S. military’s most famous flying aces and generals. Exhibits depict this history and then move onto the stories of World War II and how March was used extensively during the war for training. Various battles are explained and visitors learn the different types of aircraft and missions undertaken during the war. One exhibit, for example, focuses on the famed Tuskegee Airmen who were a group of African-American pilots that played a vital role in the war. Another exhibit offers photos and a mockup to tell the story of American POWs shot down over Germany and the conditions they endured until the end of the war.

The progression of exhibits takes the visitor forward to the Korea War, the Vietnam War and, finally, Desert Storm, offering photos, diagrams and artifacts from each period to convey these experiences and the role that air power played in each.

Throughout the museum, the staff has assembled a treasure trove of authentic equipment from each of these eras. A complete historic gun collection is on display offering a look at handguns, rifles and machine guns from the various time periods. Several B-52 simulators are on display including those used to train gunners, navigators and electronic warfare officers. An assortment of missiles and bombs helps visitors understand the various armaments being employed by our military, past to present. Jet engines, piston engines, radar systems ‘ anything you can imagine that is found in an aircraft ‘ are available for up-close viewing.

The museum also has a few novelty items ‘ for example, you can see the B-47 mockup used by Jimmy Stewart when he filmed the movie “Strategic Air Command.” For the thrill-seekers in your group, try the simulation ride that duplicates the G-forces you would experience if you were actually flying in an F-14 fighter jet.

Several aircraft are on display in the museum itself, including vintage fighters from both world wars and some of the first jet aircraft ever built. But then step outside and, there on the flightline, is a fleet of airplanes probably larger than most third-world countries’ air forces. All the airplanes are neatly organized with descriptive plaques telling visitors exactly what each aircraft is and why it’s important.

Many of the aircraft at the March Air Museum are not all that easy to find nowadays. For example, the museum has one of only four combat B-17’s that exist in the United States today. Another is the SR-71 Blackbird ‘ the fastest airplane ever built and used for spy missions during the Cold War. The B-52’s on display are incredibly large when you get close up ‘ visitors can walk right under the rear wheel well and see just where the atomic bombs were stored as the B-52’s were used as a deterrent during the height of the arms race.

The airplanes are great but, as often is the case at a museum of this sort, the volunteers give the whole experience texture. Generally the people who are there to answer your questions have some personal history with these aircraft and John Monahan is no exception. Retired after a 28-year Air Force career, Monahan was on duty in the P-38 Museum the day we visited and was more than willing to share his stories about flying the twin-engine P-38 fighter from the time it was brought on line in 1941.

A veteran of numerous combat missions, Monahan’s eyes were gleaming as he recalled the increased firepower he had with this revolutionary new fighter aircraft. He also remembered it as being a little cantankerous at times ‘ lose one engine on take off and most pilots crashed because one side was so overpowered. Another little issue with the P-38 was, when pilots ejected, they were often chewed up by the tail structure. So the answer when something went wrong was to turn the airplane upside down, open the canopy and just fall out of the aircraft.

Just next door to Monahan’s building was a cockpit display of the P-38 where the volunteer this day was Toni Olson, daughter of 1st Lt. Jack “Fox” Olson who flew a P-38 named Miss Bow Legs in World War II. With Glenn Miller music creating just the right effect, Toni took a few minutes to explain to us that two of the top three P-38 “aces” came from March AFB ‘ one of whom was Tommy McGuire, with 38 combat kills.

Such “living history” makes a trip to March Air Museum even more enjoyable ‘ an especially meaningful experience now that the U.S. military is back on page one of the newspaper and once again truly appreciated by most of the country’s citizens.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: March Air Museum is just south of Riverside on Interstate 215. Take the Van Buren exit going either north or south.

WHAT: A surprisingly complete and detailed collection of aircraft and military artifacts that is an enjoyable experience for the entire family.

WHEN: Spring and Fall are best, as it can get hot in the summer and rain more often in the winter. Various special events are held.

WHY: The museum is both entertaining and educational and especially suitable for families.

HOW: For more information, call 951-697-6600 or visit www.marchfield.org. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children 5-11, free under 5.