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published on 01/24/2007
The Amazing Castle Exhibit
By Contributed Article
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The magnificent world of The Amazing CastleTM comes to Creative Discovery Museum starting Jan. 27. The Museum's newest temporary exhibit invites children inside the stone walls of a fantasy castle where everyone works together to make a community. The Museum will host the exhibit Jan. 27 through May 13, 2007.
Visitors become villagers as they meet the citizens of the castle, build their own fortress, cook a royal meal, put on a puppet show or dress up in royal costumes. In the Royal Workshops, they can become a tailor, carpenter or blacksmith. They can even wake a sleeping dragon!
In The Amazing Castle, children and adults can playfully explore a setting inspired by fantasy and history. As they move through the eight themed areas of the castle, children meet seven citizens who each have a special job to do and experience the interconnectedness of the parts that make up the castle community.
“The Amazing Castle is a great exhibit to have here since it teaches children about the importance of working together as a community, and Chattanooga is a wonderful example of what happens when a community works together,” said Henry Schulson, executive director of Creative Discovery Museum.
Exhibit Entry & Big Book -- The adventure begins as visitors walk through the gates of the castle and read the story of The Amazing Castle and its citizens. "Lord Ben" and "Lady Evolent" welcome children and adults. (Ben-Evolent… get it?)
The Great Hall & Garden -- Prepare a royal meal with "Kipper the Cook" or join "Posey the Gardener" to plant and pick vegetables in the royal garden. Children can select ingredients from the larder or choose a main course from one of the meats hanging from the ceiling, then cook their meal in a cauldron over the glowing fire.
Royal Puppet Theatre -- Children and adults can become castle entertainers when they visit "HiJinx the Jester" and put on a puppet show. They can dress up in fancy robes as the Lord or Lady or even don the jester's costume and become HiJinx himself!
The Royal Workshops -- In the Tailor Shop, visitors can try their hand at sewing when they help "Trim the Tailor" make and repair clothing for castle citizens. In the Carpenter's Workshop, "Gable the Carpenter" needs help building tables and chairs. Over in the Blacksmith Shop, "Synge the Blacksmith" could use a hand patching a hole in a big, iron cauldron.
The Dragon Tower -- "Herald the Dragon" announces important information to citizens of The Amazing Castle. But Herald keeps falling asleep. Visitors can wake Herald by matching each of the six electronic castle character puzzle pieces with his or her tool or symbol.
The Keep -- In this fortress for the youngest royals, toddlers can play with a castle-inspired dollhouse, build their own castle, or play with a castle "busy wall."
CDM Background:
Creative Discovery Museum is recognized as one of the top children’s museums in the nation. It is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to educational enrichment for children ages 4-months to 12-years-old through interactive, hands-on experiences that foster creative and critical thinking. CDM focuses on a broad range of areas encompassed by Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Technology and the Sciences. In addition to its exhibits, CDM provides local residents and visitors with special events, educational programming, teacher resources for the classroom, field trips, after school programming, early childhood education classes, artist residencies, camps, art lessons, science demonstrations, and a branch of the local library. Creative Discovery Museum is a funded agency of Allied Arts and Tennessee Arts Commission.
Exhibit Background:
The Amazing Castle, created exclusively by Minnesota Children's Museum, first appeared at the Museum in 1997. In 2001, Minnesota Children's Museum conceptualized, developed and designed a new, more in-depth version of The Amazing Castle for a national audience of 2-to-12 year olds.
©2004 Minnesota Children's Museum. All rights reserved. The Amazing Castle was created by Minnesota Children's Museum with funding from Curtis & Marjorie Nelson and The Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation. Graphic support provided by 3M. Promotional support provided by KARE 11, Star Tribune and Yellow Book™.
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