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Orphan Train Immersive

Page history last edited by Jennifer Friend 12 years, 1 month ago

Project Title:  Orphan Train

Museum/ Institution: DiMenna Children's Museum, New York Historical Society 

http://www.nyhistory.org/childrens-museum

 

Program Created: Orphan Train Immersive 

 

Media Category: Immersive/Theater 

Program URL (if available):  

http://www.nyhistory.org/node/70322 

 

Project Image(s) and/or Video  

 

http://www.nyhistory.org/childrens-museum/visit/about/map#

 

 

Media Source(s)/Credit(s):

The New York Historical Society Collections

Children's Aid Society

Lee H. Skolnick Architecture and Design Partnership

 

Program Description: (150-250 words)

The Orphan Train was designed to give visitors a look into the lives of New York orphan children during a specific time period. Approximately 200,000 orphans from east coast cities were transported from New York and relocated to rural and farm communities throughout the country to begin a new life. The Orphan Train ran from the mid 1800's to about 1920's; a 75 year span. The 3D train model allows children to sit next to a cut-out figure of a child while listening to conversations of the orphans enroute to their new homes. To the right of them, designed to emulate 'looking out a window', will be two flat video screens depicting footage of the landscape that would be seen on their journey, along with the sounds of train whistles and passengers talking.  Original photographs, letters, and artwork created by the children are also viewable throughout the train, posted on the walls of the train car and near the flat screens. 

 

Firsthand or secondary review/critique: (150-250 words) 

I have always thought of myself as a person well versed in history, but quite honestly, I have not heard of the Orphan Train. As I sat on the bench next to the orphan cut-out, I could hear conversations of the children as they wondered what life would be like for them when they reached their final destinations. Some were excited, and others were nervous, not knowing what to expect. Photgraphs and print copies of letters, artwork, and journal entries of the social workers involved can be seen posted throughout the train add to the authenticity of the event. I was mesmerized by the notion of transporting children like goods, but the more I read and interacted with the accompaning materials, I came away with mixed feelings. It was an important part of history that is not known to many, especially other children. The exhibit is done tastefully for children to learn about what life was like for other children; relating the audio and video to what modern children feel and think about. Originally, I was visiting the museum to discover new ideas for another museum in implementing interactives that would be beneficial for visitors with special needs and disabilities. My team and I all discovered the Orphan Train seperately, but all felt it could be used for all visitors; especially those with hearing or visual impairments by adding a few additional Access components to the exhibit.  We loved the idea that children could partake in an activity in which they could catch a glimpse of history about children, just like them, that could be a truly immersive experience.  

 

Technologies incorporated:Audio/Visual (video/movie)

 

 

Internally or externally produced: Externally and Internally:  Funding for the program (including the idea, construction, and creation of the DiMenna Children's History Museum) came from Joseph A. and Diana DiMenna. The exhibit was produced and designed by Lee H. Skolnick Architecture and Design Partnership working with the museum curators and exhibit design team.

http://skolnick.com/#/service_type/

http://skolnick.com/#/portfolio/nyhistorical/ 

 

Entry Contributor and Date: Jennifer Friend/7 February 2012

 

Related projects:  
Near the Orphan Train, on the "Nation" side of the Children's Museum, is another interactive which corresponds with the Orphan Train, that enables visitors to follow or track the lives of several of the children who rode the train. This is accomplished by way of an interactive US map. In the process they will also see what other parts of America were like during that time period compared to the busy streets of New York.

In addition, a large archive from the Children's Aid Society which consists of journal entries of the social workers, photographs, artwork and letters by the children accompany the Orphan Train exhibit.

 

The link below is an interesting article relating to the 'riders' of the Orphan Train

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/13/nyregion/riders-of-orphan-train-meet-to-tell-life-stories.html?ref=childrensaidsociety

More information on the history of the Orphan Train can be found at:

http://www.orphantraindepot.com/

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