Last Tuesday I had a mini breakdown in my head and knew that it was going to be a major breakdown if I didn't take some time away from the office so I checked with to Supervisors I work with then asked my boss for this week off. Thankfully he said yes and I didn't have to go beg and tell him that I was about to break. I've been working there for over 17 years so I'm pretty sure the boss man has figured out that if I'm asking on a Tuesday for the entire next week off that there is a really good reason and considering there wasn't anything too date oriented happening at my desk he figured he'd give me the break I was asking for. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Boss Man.
I've spent this week away from the office doing various things at home, but the one thing I did away from home that counts as touristing is that I visited Shelburne Museum on Sunday and Monday. I've been there a dozen or so times and never tire of the place, but I can't go more than twice, maybe thrice a season or I do become a little bored. It's nice that they have different exhibits that keep people coming back again and again. This season there are eight showcased exhibit. Seven of the eight appealed to me and I was able to see five of those seven.
I took my 15 month old friend Keagan with me both days and though he was a great companion I did have his stroller and it seemed each time we got to a spot where I'd have to take him from the stroller to carry him up or down some stairs he was fast asleep and I was not about to deal with Mr. Cranky McCranky while trying to enjoy an exhibit. Therefore, I WILL be going back to the museum before the end of the season to see those other two exhibits.
First a little bit of information about Shelburne Museum. You can find them at www.shelburnemuseum.org for updated information, but this is what's inside the brochure I picked up: Open May 13 - October 28 (daily including holidays)
Museum Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 12pm-5pm (open until 7:30pm Thurs between June 21-Aug 9).
One very cool thing about the admission is that VT residents get in for $10 (non-res $20....see website for the breakdown of kids, babies, etc) and that you can go back the next day for free with your receipt from the first day. On Sunday I went with Keagan and his mom, then Monday I was with Keagan and my son Quintyn. They don't take your names when you buy the ticket the first day but I was prepared to 'fib' should someone remember me and the fact that I was with a female Sunday and a male on Monday.
I remember years back we went to the museum with my mother who lives in New Hampshire and when I showed my VT id we all were given the discount, but on Sunday Caeliegh hadn't brought her id with her so we were charged for a non-resident. I love the museum and I understand they need to make money, but come on...but, as I said, you can use the ticket two consecutive days and honestly, I'd pay $20 a pop to get in every time anyway. It's a fantastic place.
This is the inside of the brochure.
A map of the grounds. This place is HUGE! If you can break it up over the two days I recommend it. If you're like me and soak it all in you really will appreciate taking your time to see it all. If you need to skip some parts then skip the permanent stuff and focus on the changing exhibits.
I love elephants so when I saw these I was in awe...can't wait for a trip to Thailand or Africa to see the elephants up close and personal.
From the brochure: Circus Elephants: Kat Clear
Burlington, Vermont-based sculptor Kat Clear creates the Museum's first exhibition of outdoor sculpture. A parade of elephants - nearly life-size - extends from the Round Barn to Circus Building and is made entirely of recycled metal forms such as heating fuel tanks, wheelbarrows, and trivets.
Elephants in the Circus Building.
Giraffes lining the aisle inside the Circus Building.
I love the Beach Lodge. It's a hunting lodge and has lots of trophies from game hunting. Kids will love it. Vegans will cry. But you must remember this was a way of life way back when.
If you have read my earlier blogs you know I have a 'thing' for fireplaces. In this building I imagine myself as being the wife of a hunter on a nice wintery evening laying on a rug (not an animal rug, because....gross), cuddling, having a drink and doing the sexy in front of the roaring fire.
This is the Railroad Station. It's next to the Rail Car called "Grand Isle". When my kids were younger we'd go to the station to look around and I'd pretend we needed to buy tickets to get on the train to look around. Of course the station is only a replica and no one is selling tickets but the kids would believe me and we'd walk around the station looking for the ticket master then after a while I would tell the kids that we ought to go on the train anyway and if we get caught we will just pay for tickets then. My kids would freak the heck out and not want to be bad or break the law but I'd assure them that we would explain we had waited for someone. We'd tour the train then move on. I swear I did this three or four visits before one of the kids wised up and said that I was probably an idiot for thinking I had to buy tickets when I had bought a ticket to the whole place before we walked in. That's what I get, I guess.
Trunks at the Rail Station. I love trunks and baggage. So glad I have my big ole backpack now. Hauling trunks would be so cumbersome and I'd really hate travelling with those things.
A seat on the train. Gosh, I love this kind of stuff.
A bathtub on the train. A little small but it could be fun.
The steamboat Ticonderoga. A land locked boat....it was transported from Lake Champlain to Shelburne Museum via roads and Route 7. This is a fantastic piece of history. (That's Caeliegh under the RRX sign taking a picture).
I would love to have been a Purser on a boat...would probably go for a job like that now if not for the awesome one I have now...security vs. writing material and travel...ugh.
My buddy Keagan on the handicap ramp on the boat. He was a champ and a great companion to the museum. I'm excited to bring him again when he's a few years older.
The Horseshoe Barn Annex has wagons, stagecoaches, etc, but my favorite piece in here has always been this hearse from 1849. It reminds me of the movie Harold and Maude and I end up thinking of Bud Cort and then I think about the movie M*A*S*H and then I think about Donald Sutherland and then I think about when he was in Animal House and showed his butt and then I realize I'm at the other end of the annex and I tell myself that next time I go in that building I need to go in the other side because seeing the hearse at the other door distracts me. He had a nice butt, admit it...
A long view of the Annex.
This is the Webb weather vane on top of the Horseshoe Barn. The Webb's are the folks who founded the museum.
This and the following five photos are from the exhibit as described in the brochure as:
Time Machines: Robots, Rockets and Steampunk
Fanciful exploration of dreams of the future from Flash Gordon to Robbie the Robot. Toys and textiles, decorative, graphic and fine art representing the Golden Age of sci-fi - the 1930's-1950's - as well as work by contemporary artists and designers. Webb Gallery.
We had these when we were kids and I remember my mother telling us to use the robots to end our fight as opposed to us fighting each other.....yeah, we demolished those little robots.
Time Machine.
Robot Octopus Sculpture.
Darth Vader and friend...what/who is that guy?
If not for my son Ben I'd have no idea that this is no ordinary call box.....Dr Who apparently has a swinging shagalicious home inside this thing...I think that's what I was told...or maybe I was thinking about Donald Sutherland again...
From the brochure:
Man-Made Quilts: Civil War to the Present.
A unique selection of quilts made by men, from a civil War soldier's quilt to the innovative digital quilts and sculptures of quilts. Hat and Fragrance.
That's Quintyn in the tie-dyed shirt.
I love the permanent quilt display but man, some of these exhibit quilts showed how boring some of the other ones are. Loved all the colors and brightness.
Time for a rest. We sat and enjoyed the scenery.
Bird on a rock.
From the brochure:
Snow Mobiles: Sleighs to Sleds
The transformation of travel over snow from horse drawn sleighs of the 19th century to motorized snowmobiles. Featuring vintage snowmobiles from the experimental early days to the heyday of the 1970's through the present. McClure Round Barn.
This blog has concentrated on the exhibits but please keep in mind the permanent displays are fantastic as well. I didn't hit up most of them this trip because after 20+ years of going to the museum I've learned to check out the new stuff first then review the permanent stuff the next trip. I really hope you get a chance to see all there is to see at the museum.
