In an effort to not let screens rot Sam's brain (ha ha), and also because it's just a good thing to do, I have a new goal to take him out to do at least one educational or cultural thing each month. Last month we went to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA. It far exceeded my expectations and was really well done. I would definitely go back there again. There was a special reverent feeling there, which you wouldn't think because of war, but when people fight and sacrifice their lives for good causes, and when good fights against evil (as in the case of WWII), you are on hallowed ground.
There was a really good re-enactment of a WWI trench (which I don't have pictures of) that gave a good feel for what it might have felt like to be there, and then there was a good interactive WWII display, and then you go out to this huge arena of actual vehicles used in actual wars. There were so many! What an amazing collection.
This is only one side of the auditorium--there are many more vehicles than this.
It was weird to see BMWs and Mercedes-Benz cars, but they're both German companies and were used by the Nazis.
It was neat to see this display about Russian sharpshooter Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Last fall for book club I read
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn, a really well-written historical fiction book about her and her life.
(Sam is a giant!)
It was cool to look down into this tank and see what it was like in there.
This actual vehicle was used by Nazi Germany, and decades later it was in a movie.
These types of planes will always remind me of Sam's fun
Planes phase in preschool.
Check out the missile shooter on the right. My mom made fun of me for calling it that because it's a missile "launcher," but "shooter" works too. Same thing!
There was a video about 9/11 that made me tear up. It was at times a pretty emotional experience being there, and it was so educational. It brought the wars and what they entailed much more to life. Sam and my mom both liked this museum, and I did too. I highly recommend The American Heritage Museum!
Five out of five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
